Agenda reports pack
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 August 2025
Back to Cowal Transport Forum — 11 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Council Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal Agus Bhòid Executive Director: Douglas Hendry Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT Tel: 01546 605522 DX 599700 LOCHGILPHEAD 4 August 2025 NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of the COWAL TRANSPORT FORUM will be held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2025 at 10:00 AM, which you are requested to attend. Douglas Hendry Executive Director BUSINESS 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3. MINUTES (Pages 3 - 8) Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on Friday 9 May 2025 4. POLICE SCOTLAND Update from Police Scotland 5. FERRIES UPDATE (a) Dunoon - Gourock Ferry Timetable (b) Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members 6. PUBLIC TRANSPORT (a) 907 Bus Service (b) Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members 7. ROADS UPDATE Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members 8. TRANSPORT SCOTLAND Update from Transport Scotland Public Document Pack
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9. TIMBER TRANSPORT GROUP Update from Timber Transport Group 10. DUNOON COMMUNITY COUNCIL UPDATE (Pages 9 - 14) Report by David Clough, Transport Lead Dunoon Community Council. 11. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS 12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Cowal Transport Forum Councillor Daniel Hampsey (Chair) Contact: Stuart McLean. Committee Manager - 01436 658717
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MINUTES of MEETING of COWAL TRANSPORT FORUM held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on FRIDAY, 9 MAY 2025 Present: Daniel Hampsey (Chair) Councillor William Sinclair Councillor Ross Moreland Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Alister McLudie, Western Ferries Allan Comrie, Strathclyde Passenger Transport SPT Andrew Boyd, Transport Scotland David Clough, Dunoon Community Council Gordon Ross, Western Ferries Ian Woodcock, Transport Scotland Neil Stewart, West Coast Motors Victoria Shaw, CalMac Iain Slorach, CalMac Kirsty Taylor-Walsh, CalMac Catriona Renfrew, Kilfinnan Community Council Jim Fairlie, MSP Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Laurence Kennedy, Scottish Government Attending: Anthony Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter The Chair welcomed Jim Fairlie, MSP Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity to the meeting. Mr Fairlie provided the background to the community needs based assessment and the decision to remove 3 sailings for the Dunoon-Gourock route. Mr Fairlie added that this decision was reached following careful consideration and engagement and that the revisions being made will ensure that the service remains efficient and effective. Mr Fairlie advised that consultation will now be undertaken to determine which of the 3 sailings will be removed from the timetable and encouraged all stakeholders to engage with this process. A full discussion was had on the implications and the next steps of the change to the service with Partners requesting that the following points be taken into consideration: - Half hourly sailings would be many customers preference, thereby reducing confusion. - Any future service must be more reliable and efficient than it currently is. - One of the vessels should be identified as a back-up and should only be used in the event that the primary vessel is unable to operate and/or is undergoing maintenance. - Cognisance should be given to peak and off-peak provision. - Integration with other transport providers should be enhanced. - The consultation should be broad, with community groups that have undertaken similar studies invited to contribute. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Page 3 Agenda Item 3
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The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Gordon Blair and Audrey Forrest, Sophie Marshall and Bart Simonis Police Scotland, Ewan Tait, Scotrail, Graham Revill, Hunters Quay Community Council, Simon Stuart, Timber Transport and Michael Breslin. Forum members raised concerns that there was no representative from Argyll and Bute Councils Roads Department. The Chair agreed to liaise with Roads and Infrastructure Services regarding their representation at future meetings of the Cowal Transport Forum. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on Wednesday 29 January 2025 were approved as a correct record. The Chair highlighted that since the last meeting of the Forum there will be a wider discussion on the community needs assessment which will be reported back to the Forum. The Chair noted the pilot for ticketing at the Dunoon-Gourock service and welcomed the announcements of two new vessels being procured by Western Ferries. 4. POLICE SCOTLAND The Forum were provided with a written update from Inspector Bart Simonis on the ongoing work of the service and the priorities for the Cowal, Bute and Helensburgh areas. Outcome The Forum noted the written update from Police Scotland. (Reference: Report by Police Scotland, submitted) 5. FERRIES UPDATE Page 4
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Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members Western Ferries Gordon Ross updated for Forum on dredging work being undertaken which had made a difference and that the service had not been affected. He further advised that improvements will be made to the berthing facility at Kilmun to coincide with the delivery of 2 new vessels. Outcome The Forum noted the update from Western Ferries. CalMac Victoria Shaw advised that the MV Argyll Flyer being unavailable has had a significant impact on operation, investigations around the issues faced by the vessel are ongoing and updates will be provided as soon as possible. The ticketing trial on the Gourock – Dunoon service is due to begin on Monday, 12 May for two weeks, which will provide more front line support for customers. Iain Slorach advised of the formation of a ferry sub-group, which the Forum supported. Outcome The Forum noted the update from CalMac. 6. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Page 5
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Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members West Coast Motors Neil Stewart provided an update on works being undertaken including the parking ban, Dunoon Grammar School capacity and the change of the app provider. He advised there had been an overall 5% drop in passengers due to changes in the CalMac timetables. A question was raised about Council bus signage at the Dunoon ferry terminal, specifically that some routes were not being listed. The Chair advised that he would liaise with Argyll and Bute Councils Roads Department regarding this. Outcome The Forum noted the update from West Coast Motors. SPT Allan Comrie provided an update on the current activities and that all services were operating as usual. Outcome The Forum noted the update from SPT. 7. ROADS UPDATE The Chair advised that there was no representative from the Roads Department present but he would take back any questions received and update the Forum accordingly. There were no questions raised. 8. TRANSPORT SCOTLAND Page 6
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Ian Woodcock proved the Forum with a verbal update highlighting recent activities including: - The motorcycle safety guidance document for local authorities and prime motorcycle sites will be sign posted and chevrons marked. - Ongoing works at the Rest and Be Thankful specifically the installation of debris flow netting, the A83 will be closed over the next few months with dates being finalised shortly. - Other works – A82, 5 weeks of drainage works under temporary traffic management; third party works at Arrochar for 6 weeks with 3-way set of traffic lights; A78 current works at Inverkip and the Bowling round about resurfacing. David Clough, Dunoon Community Council raised a concern around the awarding of a contract by the Ferry Directort. Mr Clough appreciated that Mr Woodcock was not in a position to comment on this and that he would continue to pursue this matter. Outcome The Forum noted the update from Transport Scotland. 9. TIMBER TRANSPORT GROUP Timber Transport The Chair advised that Simon Stuart had submitted his apologies for the meeting but he would take back any questions received and update the Forum accordingly. There were no questions raised. 10. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS Gordon Ross asked a question on the Scottish Governments new free travel for under 22 year olds and why Dunoon had missed out. The Chair advised that the new travel scheme was for inter-island travels but he would raise Mr Ross’s concerns with the Scottish Government. Gordon Ross asked a further question on the islands connectivity plan and that there was no reference to shore side infrastructure improvements associated with the Gourock to Dunoon routes. The Chair advised that he would raise this with parliamentarians, specifically those representing Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde. 11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Page 7
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The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting and the Forum noted that the next meeting would be held during the week beginning 6 October 2025. Page 8
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1 of 5 update for cowal transport forum 11th august 2025 1.1 Update for Cowal Transport Forum 11th August 2025 Dunoon Community Council Gourock – Dunoon route On behalf of the Cowal – Gourock Transport Link group, from Alan Stewart While it has been fairly quiet, we have been moving in the background. Since we met with Cmal and Transport Scotland, Tom Warren, Michael Breslin and I have met with ScoƩ Reid, head of harbours for A&B council. This was organised by Councillor Ross Moreland who also aƩended. We had a good discussion and we outlined what our plans were with the linkspan and associated area, and how we wanted to aƩract an operator to the route. ScoƩ came armed with a number of quite in depth quesƟons and I'm fairly confident he was saƟsfied with all the answers we gave. We asked how much it had cost the council to run the berth and Ross managed to find that it had cost the council in excess of £500k in the previous year. I dont think ScoƩ was keen for us to know this figure, as it makes it easier for us to jusƟfy our plan to take over the berth. It was an amicable meeƟng and it culminated in ScoƩ offering to send us some info on the linkspan and its current state of health, we have sƟll to see this yet though. He also agreed that the council would allow a commercial operator to use the linkspan if we found one, and they would offer them a discount to their published charges. This could be useful if we are unsuccessful in the asset transfer bid. David Clough managed to get our group registered on the governments Find a Tender website, and we have been working on an Expression of Interest to be published on the site. This should be ready to go fairly soon. We are hoping that this will aƩract interest from exisƟng ferry companies who may want to pick up the route. Tom has hopefully managed to get access to a list of UK ferry companies and I intend emailing a link to the tender to all of them. We will include Western Ferries in this mailshot. Finally, though I have been in touch with the Community Ownership Support Service about the Asset Transfer, I have not yet started the process. The reason for this is simply that we don’t want to end up with ownership of the berth and not yet have an operator in place to take it over. Once we start meaningful discussions with the operator we agree to go with the CAT process can begin. Hopefully the Expression of Interest will get a few responses, at that point things should start to get busy! I'll let you know how it goes. Alan Stewart CalMac Complaint ref CAS-44699-B5D3Q0 – 28th July 2025 On 26th July in the waiƟng room office at 22:10 there was a query over displayed informaƟon by the CalMac employee present which said the next ferry was at 23:40, and not 22:40. Several passengers aŌer conversaƟons with the CalMac member of staff leŌ to catch a taxi and Western Ferry. The ferry came in from Dunoon, and departed at 22:40. Those that had leŌ for McINroys Point presumably incurred the addiƟonal expense of a taxi ride to McInroy's Point, Western Ferry Ɵcket and presumably another taxi or a friend coming out to Hunters Quay. Page 9 Agenda Item 10
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2 of 5 update for cowal transport forum 11th august 2025 1.1 CalMac have been asked to propose what they intend to do about the extra costs incurred by the travellers who took the informaƟon provided and went by taxi / Western Ferries to get home. Issues with replacement bus service from Dunoon – 11:45 Friday 25th July Extracts from Dunoon CC Councillors What’s App group CalMac have advised incorrect sized bus provided for the service. How long do the residents of Dunoon have to put up with this 3rd world service? Lobbying of Cowal and Inverclyde MSP’s, Jim Fairlie and Transport Scotland Dunoon Community Council are now wriƟng to the above on a regular basis with updates on the shocking service on this route, which I’m personally now calling the worst ferry service in Europe. Emma Roddick wrote to Jim Fairlie because of our lobbying, and on 26th June Emma Roddick MSP received a reply from Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and ConnecƟvity, and within it he said; “Regarding the new vessels project, I answered a Parliamentary QuesƟon about this on 24 June, quesƟon reference S6W-38562, which stated that Page 10
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3 of 5 update for cowal transport forum 11th august 2025 1.1 A range of new vessel opƟons for the Gourock to Dunoon and Kilcreggan ferry services are being considered within the wider Outline Business Case for investment in the routes, which also includes port infrastructure upgrades. When complete, the Outline Business Case will be reviewed by Transport Scotland Investment Decision Making Board in the first instance, currently expected to be around the end of 2025, and then presented to Ministers for decisions.” We have been pressing Transport Scotland for a response to our query about new vessels (e-mail communicaƟon dated 22nd April) and have yet to receive a response. A Community Needs Assessment was carried out, and what did that lead to? The cancellaƟon of 3 return sailings per day 6 days per week further adding to the poor service which Cowal and Inverclyde residents must deal with. How on earth can that be progress? Other points worthy of note 1. The reason for the Argyll Flyer having been taken out of service is that exhaust gases at the rear of the vessel were found to exceed safe working limits when berthing stern to at Gourock and Dunoon. This despite the vessel having been in service since June 2011. Why has it taken 14 years for this issue to be idenƟfied. 2. There was recent press furore over the 10,809 cancelled CalMac sailings for technical faults in the period of January 2023 and the end of April this year. CalMac have provided me with the cancellaƟons on the Gourock / Dunoon route and that total was 6,735. That is staggering. 3. Since April 2025, cancellaƟons on the Gourock / Dunoon route are running in excess of 650 per month. Outcome of discussions between Dunoon CC / CTF Chairperson / CalMac ref the required 3 cancelled sailings. Following the decision made by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Agriculture and ConnecƟvity on the advice of Transport Scotland in March 2025 CalMac were instructed to remove 3 return sailing per day on the Gourock – Dunoon route aŌer consultaƟon through a Community Needs Assessment carried out in 2024. CalMac have met with representaƟves of Dunoon Community Council and the Chair of the Cowal Transport Forum, and Dunoon Community Council carried out a resident’s engagement survey to seek their views. That survey demonstrated the strong majority view of the residents that a further reducƟon in the level of service on this route is simply not acceptable as it adds further delays and inconvenience to residents aƩending educaƟonal, essenƟal medical services, NHS DenƟstry and work/leisure acƟviƟes. There is no saving on crew hours, and only a marginal saving on operaƟonal costs - £100,000 against the backdrop of a £3.4m deficit in operaƟng costs. The Gourock Dunoon route has been subjected to ridicule for its unreliability and not fit for purpose vessels and berthing faciliƟes ever since the introducƟon of a passenger only service in June 2011 What was clear that there needs to be consistency in approach, and so the concept of half hourly services at peak Ɵmes, with an hourly service within a single off-peak window would be less confusing to customers. With this backdrop, CalMac. Dunoon Community Council and the Cowal Transport Forum have reluctantly agreed a revised Ɵmetable that meets that consistency in approach – copy aƩached. The Minister has instructed that this needs to be introduced at the start of the winter Ɵmetable. Page 11
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4 of 5 update for cowal transport forum 11th august 2025 1.1 The Minister and Transport Scotland need to understand that this agreement has been forced upon the parƟes and should not be taken as acceptance of the decision made in March which Dunoon Community Council on behalf of its residents strongly object to and believe should be reversed forthwith. The Minister has been ill advised – Transport Scotland have shown that they are detached from the realiƟes of living on the Cowal Peninsula and just do not understand the impact the 3 cancelled sailings will have, whilst presiding over possibly the worst ferry service for reliability in Europe. CalMac submiƩed the changes and the summary to Richard Hadfield's team on Monday 21 July. They asked the team to brief Mr Fairlie and for him to note that the changes will commence from the start of the winter Ɵmetable on 20 October. Required outcome from the Cowal Transport Forum – that the acƟons outlined above regarding the Gourock – Dunoon route have the support of the CTF Possible re-introducƟon of the 907 Bus Service Alan and I met with Gordon Ross at the end of May about priority boarding, and Gordon is sƟcking to his policy of no priority boarding. The Ferry CancellaƟon survey which Dunoon Community Council ran in May has indicated that of the 147 respondents, 95 of them used the foot ferry to get to a train connecƟon to Glasgow, and 30 or so did someƟmes. Which then gave us the thought of running a Ɵmetabled shuƩle service between Dunoon and Gourock Railway StaƟon using smaller vehicles in addiƟon to a less frequent service to Glasgow Buchanan Street. Gordon also outlined that McGills, if 'stuck' awaiƟng boarding, used to give vouchers to the bus passengers to board the Western Ferry as a foot passenger so they could get the ferry that was 'full' of vehicles. That seemed a good idea, and that's when the thought of a Ɵmetabled shuƩle service came up. Remember we don't want passengers standing outside at either McInroys Point or Hunters Quay so the coach actually travelling on a ferry is important. So, with that in mind....... Service opƟon 2. Full size coach running a 2 hourly service from Dunoon to Glasgow calling at Gourock Railway StaƟon (set down only) then running to Buchanan Street making a minimum number of stops in order to aƩract the concessionary fare scheme. First coach aiming to be at Buchanan Street for 8.30am ish. Mini coaches running a more frequent service between Dunoon and Gourock Railway staƟon picking up / seƫng down only between Dunoon Ferry Terminal and the penulƟmate stop before Hunters Quay. If it were 3 an hour at peak and 2 an hour at off peak that would fit beƩer with WF/ Scotrail Ɵmetable? We would also need to invesƟgate actual passengers per current sailing to ensure we had capacity - and perhaps offer a pre-booking service to 'guarantee' a seat. If there was a delay at either end in order to board the voucher system could be used meaning the mini coach waiƟng on the other side could become the conƟnuaƟon mini coach for those passengers? Perhaps too complicated to run in reality? Page 12
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5 of 5 update for cowal transport forum 11th august 2025 1.1 We submiƩed this to West Coast Motors for a cosƟng proposal at the beginning of June and are anƟcipaƟng a response prior to the CTF meeƟng. Required outcome from the Cowal Transport Forum – that the acƟons outlined above regarding the possible re-introducƟon of a bus service have the support of the CTF Bus service between Kirn and Dunoon via the seafront (Alexandra Parade – A815) A local resident pointed out the lack of a bus service along this route at a DCC meeƟng meaning the residents of Cragroy and Ashgrove Care Home have no means of using public transport to get into / out of Dunoon. DCC and West Coast Motors have met, and the proposal is to route the 480 service along Alexandra Parade with effect from the start of the winter Ɵmetable which will provide an hourly service between 9 to 5 weekdays and Saturdays. DCC would also like to place on record their thanks to Strachur CC for their help and assistance in idenƟfying suitable other opƟons that could have affected their residents. Argyll Rally 2025 Another successful event. Dunoon CC carried out a post event Facebook / web based survey and the results will be reported shortly on the DCC Web site. Dunoon residents remain overwhelmingly in favour of the event. David Clough Transport Lead Dunoon Community Council 31st July 2025 Page 13
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