In a move that has sparked outrage among the local community, ferry operator CalMac has announced plans to reduce the frequency of its Largs-Cumbrae ferry service from four sailings per hour to just three. This reduction, set to take effect on 27 March, has been met with fierce opposition from Cumbrae residents who warn that it will put the island’s fragile economy under immense pressure.
The proposed changes are a result of CalMac’s decision to scrap the simultaneous loading and unloading of passengers and vehicles, a practice the company claims is necessary for safety reasons. However, Angus Campbell, the chairman of Cumbrae Ferry Committee and a community council member, has strongly disputed this justification, stating that there have been no safety issues on the route for the past 40 years, during which time over 28 million passengers have been carried.
“We do not believe that the end of simultaneous loading and unloading is justified,” Campbell said. “It is a backdoor way of imposing large-scale service reductions to our island and to our fragile economy.”
Islanders fear that the reduction in ferry crossings will significantly limit the number of visitors to Cumbrae during the peak summer season, dealing a devastating blow to the local economy. Campbell warned that “cutting capacity on a busy, well-performing route reduces revenue, damages the fragile island economy, and increases the subsidy burden on the public purse.”
CalMac, however, maintains that the changes are necessary and that the company has been in discussions with the Cumbrae Ferry Users Group about the plans since October. Chief executive Duncan Mackison stated that “safety is our number one priority and following a thorough review we are not comfortable with the risk to customers, crew and shore staff when loading and unloading cars and foot passengers at the same time.”
Cumbrae residents have vowed to protest the proposed changes, with a demonstration scheduled to take place on the island this Saturday. They are calling on Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop to intervene and prevent the new timetable from taking effect, arguing that the reduction in ferry services will leave the local community “under pressure.”