For Argyll

The design of a new CalMac ferry being built at a yard in Poland and due to complete in 2011 produced a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) in 2003. This has now led to planned developments at both terminals concerned on the route between mainland Argyll and the Isle of Islay - Kennacraig and Port Ellen. Caledonian MacBrayne Assets Ltd (CMAL) will have responsibility for and ownership of the project. Following the 2003 Guidance, feasibility studies were done from 2006 to 2007 and Halcrow Group was appointed as engineering consultants to the project in 2008. At a meeting in Islay;s Machrie Hotel, Joe Durkin, Legal Advisor to CMAL, said that the project would require a Harbour Revision Order for Port Ellen as the necessary works will change public navigational access. CMAL will submit an application for this to the Scottish Government and there will be a forty-two day period for public consultation.

The port at Kennacraig on West Loch Tarbert will see changes to Car Parking and the building of a new two-storey passenger terminal with raised, covered walkways to the ferries. At Port Ellen on Islay, land will need to be reclaimed north of the current pier, featuring a new linkspan and dolphin built specifically for the new ferry. The existing pier will remain in use as a second facility. Construction is planned to start in Summer 2009, completing in mid-2011 to coincide with the new CalMac Islay ferry.

Given the recent problematic upgrading of the harbour at Post Askaig on the east of Islay, leaving the neighbouring Ise of Jura with a depleted ferry service from Port Askaig over to Feolin - and no night-time air ambulance cover, public response to the planned developments at Port Ellen and Kennacraig may be cautious.

The copyright on the photograph of Port Ellen (above - looking east from the current ferry terminal) is owned by J M Briscoe and is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.