Millport Pier is the front door to the island and must be saved - that was the strong message from Save Millport Pier campaigners at NAC HQ this week.
The Save the Millport Pier campaign handed in a petition of over 9,200 signatures to Council leader Joe Cullinane at Cunninghame House in Irvine this week, and the matter is set to be brought up at a Cabinet meeting this Tuesday.
Campaigners Mari and Graham Wallace, and Cumbrae Community Council chairman Phil Lonsdale, were present for the petition hand-over.
NAC are set to put forward a number of options to Cabinet to decide upon the future development of the pier. The ‘News’ understands that a community asset transfer is not one of the options.
Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “The process will be the campaigners will come along to the next cabinet meeting on 14 November - that will be a two part agenda item because they will provide a presentation, which will be followed by a council report with the options for the future of Millport Pier. 
“I have been to Millport quite a number of times as council leader, but the pier has not featured in our discussions, and I had to ask our officers 'what is this was all about', and I was advised that three and a half years ago, there had been a report to cabinet.
“ We will listen to the petitioners and consider the council report at the Cabinet meeting.”
Campaigner Mari Wallace said: “This is a big moment for the campaign because it is not just about handing in the petition, it is about the 9200 people who signed the petition including all the people in Millport, and all the people who visit, making their voices heard that they want Millport to retain a working pier.
“Millport Pier is the front door of our island, and with it being closed, it is already having a detrimental effect on our economy. 
"The Waverley can’t come in to Millport Pier, and neither can the Hebridean Princess, or other boat such as the Vic 32 puffer. The number of visiting yachts to the moorings has also reduced this year. That is partly due to the weather, but we are boat owners and sailors and it is also due to the fact that sailors can’t easily land their dinghies. 
"They are wanting step ashore facilities.
“The pier has to operate in the flood prevention scheme, but you still need a pier and you can’t just have a pile of rocks at the end of the existing concrete pier.
“The petition is not just about the pier, it is about the future economy of our island because with offshore breakwaters, and we maintain a pier, we have the facilities for the future development of Millport marine tourism, and it does open up the possibility of a new marina.”