Cowal Transport Forum - 24 November 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 2 December 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Committee — 2 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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MINUTES of MEETING of COWAL TRANSPORT FORUM held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2025 Present: Councillor Daniel Hampsey (Chair) Stuart McLean, Committee Manager David Clough, Dunoon Community Council Victoria Shaw, CalMac Ewan Tait, Scotrail Kirstie Reid, Strachur Community Council Gordon Ross, Western Ferries Neil Stewart, West Coast Motors Dave Cooper, Hunters Quay Community Council Ed Pybus, Kilfinan Community Council Ian Woodcock, Transport Scotland Kirsty Taylor-Walsh, CalMac Diane Nicolson, Kilmun Community Council David Torrance, Head of Ferries and Contract, Transport Scotland Simon Stuart, Timber Transport Group Michael Breslin, Sandbank Community Council Tom Murray, Lochgoilhead Community Council John Brint, Ardentinny Communiy Council Attending: Andy Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Gordon Blair, William Sinclair and Audrey Forrest. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on Monday 11 August 2025 were approved as a correct record. Public Document Pack
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4. POLICE SCOTLAND The Chair advised that there was no representative from Police Scotland in attendance and that should Partners have any questions he would pass these to Police Scotland and update the Forum accordingly. Kirstie Reid raised concerns around the number of cycles that are continuously being ridden, by adults, on the pavements on Argyll Street, Dunoon, and the resulting safety implications, specifically for elderly people. David Clough, Gordon Ross and Victoria Shaw raised issues of staff facing verbal abuse from the public, and that while staff are always encouraged to report incidents to Police Scotland, this is not always practical, specifically by the time it is reported the offender has left the scene. Outcome The Forum agreed to pass any related questions to the Chair who would pass these to Police Scotland for a response. 5. FERRIES UPDATE (a) Western Ferries Update Gordon Ross confirmed that the 2 new vessels were progressing well and should come in to service during autumn 2026, and that the Shuna was expected back from the repair yard imminently and that the reliability on the service remains very high. Mr Ross delivered a presentation that compared Western Ferries performance with CalMac, the measurables included carrying figures, scheduled sailings, reliability, vessel numbers, fares and level of community involvement by each transport provider. Outcome The Forum noted the update from Western Ferries. (b) Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members CalMac Victoria Shaw confirmed that the redevelopment of Gourock waiting room is continuing, with work to begin on the public toilets very soon. Miss Shaw advised that the redeveloped waiting room will also host large digital screens that will display customer updates and partner information. Ed Pybus raised concerns around the withdrawal of the 1800 Tarbert to Portavadie Service and the implications this was having on children returning from school.
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Action Miss Shaw to raise the issue of Tarbert to Portavadie Service with colleagues and respond to Mr Pybus. Outcome The Forum noted the update from CalMac. 6. PUBLIC TRANSPORT West Coast Motors Neil Stewart provided an update on behalf of West Coast Motors. Mr Stewart advised that the 480 service re-route has shown a dip in usage and that the 489 service is performing well with changes being made to the timetable following feedback from customers. Partners raised several concerns around bus provision within the locality, specifically: - The lack of current, readable timetables being available at bus stops. - Poor communication around services being reduced or removed. - Transport apps not being integrated. - Bus providers having to alter timetables due to Scotrail altering their own. - The lack of evening buses and the resulting negative social and economic impacts. The Chair advised he would like Community Councils to be involved before any service changes are introduced and that this would solve many of the issues. Action Chair to invite Argyll and Bute Council, Contract Officer to attend future meetings of the Forum. Outcome The Forum noted the update from West Coast Motors. Transport Scotland David Torrance advised that the procurement process around the new ferries is progressing and that a significant amount of new information has been gathered and will be incorporated to determine future vessel options. Mr Torrance also advised that information is being analysed to determine what the infrastructural requirements will be at Gourock. Outcome The Forum noted the update from Transport Scotland.
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Scotrail Ewan Tait advised that Scotrail is in direct contact with SPT and CalMac regarding timetable changes, and that going forward these discussions will now include West Coast Motors. Mr Tait also advised that the recent introduction of a flat pricing scheme not only saves passengers money but makes the payment scheme easier to understand. Kirstie Reid asked if connecting trains to ferries could be highlighted on signage at Glasgow Central Station, as not all trains connect. Ms Reid also asked if combined ferry and train tickets would be available to purchase on ferries again. Mr Tait confirmed that he would explore these points. Outcome The Forum noted the update from Scotrail. 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. The Chair also advised that he would be inviting a representative from the Roads Department to attend future meetings. Kirstie Reid raised concerns that lorries are having to hug the side of the road along Loch Eck due to its narrow width and there are also flooding issues at Loch Eck. Miss Reid also advised that roads are being widened at Strachur to facilitate the transportation of blades to wind farms. Tom Murray asked if the Roads Departments could confirm with the Community Council when the Rest and Be Thankful is going to be closed, as this often results in increased traffic within Lochgoilhead. Mr Murray also advised that the Hells Glen to Dunoon road has poor visibility due to vegetation overgrowth and that there are a number of trees on the Lochgoilhead to Dunoon road at Carrick Castle. John Brint advised a number of culverts need to be cleared at Ardentinny and that road signage, promised by May 2025, has not yet been installed. Mr Brint also advised that a number of trees have almost fallen and are now resting on telephone wires. Ed Pybus advised that the Community Council meeting in November will focus on roads, speed limits, pot holes, cycle lanes and that they hoped a representative from the Roads and Infrastructure Service, Argyll and Bute Council would be in attendance. Action Chair to take forward the points raised by members of the Cowal Transport Forum. Outcome The Forum agreed to pass any related questions to the Chair who would pass these to the Roads Department for a response.
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8. TRANSPORT SCOTLAND Consideration was given to a verbal update from Transport Scotland which provided information on a variety of different works recently completed and planned along the A83, the Rest and be Thankful plus information on works recently completed and planned along the A82. Outcome The Cowal Transport Forum noted the information provided. 9. TIMBER TRANSPORT GROUP The Chair advised that there was no representative from Timber Transport Group present, and there were no questions received. 10. FUTURE MEETING ARRANGEMENTS The Chair advised that, going forward, he would be responsible for the administrative arrangements of the Forum rather than Committee Service. Councillor Hampsey confirmed that he is looking forward to continuing to work with Partners. 11. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS There was no other competent business raised. 12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting and the Forum noted that the next meeting would be week beginning 23 February 2026.
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