Don't 'sink' Burgh ferry

Published 26 Jan 2012 09:30

A MAJOR row has erupted over the scrapping of Helensburgh's only ferry service.

The Helensburgh leg of the service - which has connected the town to Gourock for more than 30 years - will be withdrawn due to a slump in demand.

The area's MSP Jackie Baillie has condemned the decision, taken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), for leaving Helensburgh without a ferry service for the first time since the Victorian era.

On Friday, SPT decided to end the Helensburgh stop of the Gourock to Kilcreggan service as it was revealed SPT spend £20 per passenger due to low patronage.

The decision was made despite complaints by politicians that the axing of the service would damage attempts to boost tourist numbers to the town.

The scrapping also comes during Comet sailing, which saw the first passenger steamboat service on the Clyde linking Helensburgh to Glasgow and Greenock - the first commercially successful service in Europe.

Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute condemned the decision and hopes that further talks will reverse the decision.

He said: "It would be a scandal if the cross Clyde sailings from Helensburgh came to an end during the 200th anniversary year of the Comet sailing between Helensburgh and Greenock.

"It's obvious that the drop in demand was due to the seabus having too deep a draft to dock at Helensburgh at all states of the tide.

"The new vessel has a much shallower draft and I hope that the outcome of the talks will be that the Helensburgh

sailings will resume."

The service will continue between Gourock and Kilcreggan, which will be served by a smaller vessel operated for nearly £200,000 a year less than the current service.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 26 Jan 12

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