Kilcreggan residents are being invited to have their say on Argyll and Bute Council’s preferred option for the redesign of village’s ferry terminal.

The controversial proposals would see the Gourock ferry cease calling at the village's historic pier - which would be retained for "leisure and recreational use" only.

A new concrete pontoon is proposed to be built to the west of the existing pier to provide access to and from the Gourock ferry.

The council says it needs to make improvements to the existing infrastructure at both Dunoon and Kilcreggan to ensure safe and reliable berthing for the new passenger-only vessels being brought into operation in 2025.

The authority's plans sparked widespread concern when they were first unveiled last year - with a local campaign group expressing fears the new-look terminal would "destroy the village".

The local authority says upgrades will deliver a range of benefits for passengers and will ensure both terminals can accommodate larger vessels.

It is hoped this will result in wider economic impact throughout the areas.

Several requirements have been identified for the Kilcreggan berth through discussion with council personnel and CalMac Ferries Ltd.

These include the use of future-proofed solutions for a 60-year design life – two generations of vessels – and the improvement of ferry service reliability.

The requirements also state that the facilities should also allow for continued use of the Waverley paddle steamer, and that passenger waiting facilities should be maintained.

Options for improvements to onward transport connections are also to be explored during the detailed design stage, but the requirements note that they should be located in close proximity to the ferry berth.

The project team developed several options to meet the set requirements, and have selected option 4a – which provides a large, reinforced concrete pontoon to the west of the existing pier.

This option would see the existing timber pier remain as a supplementary facility for leisure and recreational use.

Initial wave modelling results indicate that it is likely the breakwater will be required.

Councillor Andrew Kain, policy lead for roads and transport, said: “The existing pier at Kilcreggan is 125 years old, it is Category B listed, and it has limited structural capacity to accommodate the new, larger ferries.

“These planned improvements will have a significant impact on the local area and will benefit our local communities for years to come. It is vital that we seek the views of our local residents though, and I would urge everyone to give us their feedback.”

To take part in the consultation, click here.