SOUTH Ayrshire Councillor Peter Convery has told the Troon Times that he has to ‘trust’ the transport minister as the decision looms over the Arran ferry.

It has been a battle between North Ayrshire’s Save Our Ferry campaign and the Choose Troon campaign over the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route possibly being relocated to Troon harbour.

The decision is expected to be made in late-March as the transport minister decides whether ABP’s bid to bring the ferry route to Troon is successful.

Convery said that he has to trust Humza Yousaf to choose Troon.

He said: “All I can say is I have to trust Mr. Yousaf.

“The key thing in this is going to be the STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) assessment.”

The Troon councillor also believes that the reports of a CalMac ferry hitting the harbour wall does NOT damage Troon’s chances.

He added: “I don’t think so. The sailing masters are professional and it was far better on that day to bring the ferry to a safe port.” 

The councillor did however seem apprehensive when talking about North Ayrshire’s influence in Edinburgh.

He commented further: “There is Mummy and Daddy in North Ayrshire, I wonder if they have been chinning the First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon). I don’t know.”

Peter Convery also believes that the process has not been drawn out despite appeals from Ardrossan and Arran for a decision to me made immediately.

He said: “I can understand the annoyance, ABP came in with a late a bid. I don’t think it has been a long time. I just want to know when the STAG assessment will take place.”