Following SNP Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson’s visit to Dunoon today to make an announcement about the future of the Dunoon-Gourock ferry service, Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute said,

“The SNP Transport Minister confirmed that his Government would break their election promise of two new ferries. This is a disgrace. The SNP have betrayed the people of Dunoon.

“The Minister had very little to tell us about the new service that will replace the CalMac one in June 2011. All that he could tell us was that the subsidy will be for passengers only.

“The operator will be able to carry vehicles if they want, but without boats it’s hard to see how they will be able to. In response to a question from myself, the Minister admitted that he had not been able to find any boat to offer to the operator. He also said that he is only looking for one boat. That won’t be any good because with only one boat, the present frequency restriction of one vehicle carrying sailing an hour will stay. With the tender due to be published before Christmas, time is running out for the SNP to find a boat for the route.

“If the SNP had built two new boats when they promised, they would not be desperately scrambling around at the last minute hunting for one. The SNP should apologise to the people of Dunoon for their broken promise.