The new ferry fares for Cumbrae have been announced for October, with return tickets for passengers coming in at £3.30, and cars £12.20.

And Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson has said it is important that ‘Largs does not become a car park’ for the expected rise in visitors to Cumbrae.

To counter this possibility, there is a greater focus on train travel for Glaswegians coming ‘doon the watter’.

Mr Gibson attended a recent summit on the island to discuss the introduction of cheaper ferry fares through the R.E.T (Road equivalent tariff) system, which is being locally for Cumbrae in October.

A total of 14 island groups were represented at the recent meeting held in The Garrison.

Mr Gibson told the ‘News’ it was a very fulsome debate which took place, involving Transport Scotland, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, Caledonian MacBrayne, and councillors Alan Hill and Grace McLean. Many island organisations attended, including the elderly forum, Cumbrae Coaches, the ferry users group, and the community council.

Ken Mapes, treasurer of the Isle of Cumbrae tourist association told the ‘News’ the ferry fare reductions were as expected, and said that various forms of “demand management” for busy periods were put forward at the recent summit.

Mr Gibson said: “We discussed what is possible and not possible. What is fundamental is that Cumbrae has to have a unique delivery of the road equivalent tariff. It can’t be a cut and paste of what has already happened in Arran, where it was introduced last year.

“RET has been very successful in Arran, Everyone is delighted. All the hotels are booked in advance, and the first quarter has shown that there has been a £16m spend on the island, after the Scottish Government spent £2m in the cost of RET.” Mr Gibson said the views of the island organisations present at the Garrison meeting was that they want a bigger discount for passengers than vehicles.

He added: “The Scottish Government want a vehicle fare reduction, but at the same time we can’t have a situation where Largs becomes a car park for Cumbrae, and we need to meet the community needs.

“One thing that many favoured was integrating train journeys, so that people from Glasgow will arrive by train and not by car when travelling to Largs. There was a clear wish for more foot passengers.

The introduction of the RET is all about helping to sustain jobs in island economies, and create jobs too.

“It is important to point out that it is still at an embryonic stage, and won’t be introduced until October. That is why we are hosting consultation meetings just now in order to prepare.” Minister for the Islands, Derek Mackay MSP said: “Lower fares will inevitably lead to an increase in traffic on these services, but CalMac will have the opportunity to bring forward plans to manage this demand. The operator will engage with communities in due course, and any demand management measures will be agreed with these communities before they are introduced.” At present, both Largs-Cumbrae, and Wemyss Bay-Rothesay routes offer people access to cheaper fares by purchasing booklets of multi-journey tickets.

This ticket type will be replaced (along with saver returns and other forms of multi-journey ticket) by single RET tickets. The guarantee is that the price of an RET ticket will be competitive with the single-journey equivalent of a multi-journey ticket.

Island businesses in Millport have expressed concerns that a dramatic decrease in car fares on the Cumbrae ferry could adversely impact the island, which is renowned as a cycling friendly place, and is also used regularly by runners and walkers.

The new ferry fares for Cumbrae have been announced for October, with return tickets for passengers coming in at £3.30, and cars £12.20.

And Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson has said it is important that ‘Largs does not become a car park’ for the expected rise in visitors to Cumbrae.

To counter this possibility, there is a greater focus on train travel for Glaswegians coming ‘doon the watter’.

Mr Gibson attended a recent summit on the island to discuss the introduction of cheaper ferry fares through the R.E.T (Road equivalent tariff) system, which is being locally for Cumbrae in October.

A total of 14 island groups were represented at the recent meeting held in The Garrison.

Mr Gibson told the ‘News’ it was a very fulsome debate which took place, involving Transport Scotland, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, Caledonian MacBrayne, and councillors Alan Hill and Grace McLean. Many island organisations attended, including the elderly forum, Cumbrae Coaches, the ferry users group, and the community council.

Ken Mapes, treasurer of the Isle of Cumbrae tourist association told the ‘News’ the ferry fare reductions were as expected, and said that various forms of “demand management” for busy periods were put forward at the recent summit.

Mr Gibson said: “We discussed what is possible and not possible. What is fundamental is that Cumbrae has to have a unique delivery of the road equivalent tariff. It can’t be a cut and paste of what has already happened in Arran, where it was introduced last year.

“RET has been very successful in Arran, Everyone is delighted. All the hotels are booked in advance, and the first quarter has shown that there has been a £16m spend on the island, after the Scottish Government spent £2m in the cost of RET.” Mr Gibson said the views of the island organisations present at the Garrison meeting was that they want a bigger discount for passengers than vehicles.

He added: “The Scottish Government want a vehicle fare reduction, but at the same time we can’t have a situation where Largs becomes a car park for Cumbrae, and we need to meet the community needs.

“One thing that many favoured was integrating train journeys, so that people from Glasgow will arrive by train and not by car when travelling to Largs. There was a clear wish for more foot passengers.

The introduction of the RET is all about helping to sustain jobs in island economies, and create jobs too.

“It is important to point out that it is still at an embryonic stage, and won’t be introduced until October. That is why we are hosting consultation meetings just now in order to prepare.” Minister for the Islands, Derek Mackay MSP said: “Lower fares will inevitably lead to an increase in traffic on these services, but CalMac will have the opportunity to bring forward plans to manage this demand. The operator will engage with communities in due course, and any demand management measures will be agreed with these communities before they are introduced.” At present, both Largs-Cumbrae, and Wemyss Bay-Rothesay routes offer people access to cheaper fares by purchasing booklets of multi-journey tickets.

This ticket type will be replaced (along with saver returns and other forms of multi-journey ticket) by single RET tickets. The guarantee is that the price of an RET ticket will be competitive with the single-journey equivalent of a multi-journey ticket.

Island businesses in Millport have expressed concerns that a dramatic decrease in car fares on the Cumbrae ferry could adversely impact the island, which is renowned as a cycling friendly place, and is also used regularly by runners and walkers.