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The last ferry service used the MV Claymore. |
THE first bi-lateral meeting in Scotland with Northern Ireland has produced more hope that Campbeltown will get back its ferry service to Northern Ireland.
First Minister Alex Salmond met with First Minister of Northern Ireland Ian Paisley and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in Edinburgh on Wednesday and said afterwards: ‘Significant progress has already been made towards appointing a consultant to carry out an appraisal of the proposal to reinstate the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service.
‘That appraisal will be completed by the summer and we will be eagerly studying its assessment, which will allow us to decide the best way forward.’
He added: ‘We need to establish strong links if we are to fully harvest our resources. We need the transport links to realise our economic and tourism potential.’
It was the first bi-lateral meeting in Scotland, held in Edinburgh Castle, and the Ministers agreed to sign a declaration making ‘a commitment to give urgent consideration to the feasibility study on the possible reinstatement of the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service as soon as it is available’.
The Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) appraisal of a renewed Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service will be completed this summer. Then the politicians must decide whether to reinstate or not.
Officials from both administrations have been in discussions.
The Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson discussed this with his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Nigel Dodds, at the end of November. During those talks, it was agreed that a fresh economic appraisal, using the STAG should be undertaken.
Jim Mather MSP said it was ‘a significant step and that the economic appraisal will get the urgent consideration that has been promised’. He added: ‘I will be flagging up the true potential of this route and the moral and social imperative to have it re-instated. The appraisal must also consider the potential flow-through from Europe into the West Coast via Campbeltown and the huge benefits that could accrue from that.’
Alan Reid MP welcomed the news: ‘I am pleased that both governments have promised to give urgent consideration to the study when it is published this summer because a quick decision will be needed if the service is to be advertised in the tourist brochures for the 2009 summer season.’
The talks also looked at Scotland and Northern Ireland working on renewable energy together including a sub-sea grid.
Mr Salmond said: ‘Today’s joint declaration is a commitment made from dialogue, effort and mutual ambition. It is a sign of our commitment to working together for the benefit of both our countries.’
