COMMUNITY activists have slammed a 'foolish' suggestion calling for the ferry terminal in Largs to be closed down.

Cumbrae Community Council say that switching the terminal to Fairlie is a 'non-starter' and would cause considerable inconvenience to residents on the island.

Ferry traffic congestion in and around Largs town centre led to Councillor Alan Hill floating the idea that the Cumbrae link should be switched out of town.

However, the chairman of Cumbrae Community Council Phil Lonsdale says the move would not suit islanders.

Mr Lonsdale told a meeting of the community council: "The ferry crossing would be longer, and would be more liable to cancellations as the ferry would run broadside to the east wind.

"It would cause chaos for many islanders who do their shopping in Largs, or use the shops in the town such as the opticians.

"Anyone going for a train would have to leave an hour earlier, and it would be a nightmare for commuters.

"It would mean that school pupils would have to leave for the ferry earlier, and then you would have to bus them from Fairlie to the new Largs Campus.

"It simply isn't feasible.

"While it would help solve the Largs ferry car parking congestion problem, I think it is an absolute non-starter and fairly foolish."

Community councillor Sharon Hagen also pointed out that businesses in Largs would miss out from valued custom from the island.

Mr Lonsdale added: "We certainly understand the Largs plight - that cars are parking there and people are going over on the ferry to Millport and they are not getting anything out of that.

"I see their complaint, but moving the ferry terminal to Fairlie is simply not the answer.

"Shouldn't Cal Mac assist with helping to find car parking facilities?"

Mr Lonsdale added that when he was in Largs during recent weeks he noticed that the seafront car park was very busy but pointed out: "Half of it was taken up by containers with building materials, and fairground rides."

He added: "I just don't see moving the ferry terminal to Fairlie happening."

News readers have been quick to comment on the call for the terminal to be moved.

Ross Clezy posted on our Facebook page: "Moving the terminal to Fairlie would be a disaster for Cumbrae in terms of pedestrian passengers and for anyone coming off the island by ambulance, who would then be sent to Crosshouse instead of Inverclyde."

Fairlie resident Margaret Symington said: "We need to keep on a wee boat for shoppers and day trippers to and from Millport. Otherwise it would be good to move the terminal to Fairlie."

And now Cllr Alan Hill has confirmed that he is not in favour of relocating the Cumbrae ferry to Fairlie and is not embarking on a campaign to achieve this.

Cllr Hill said, “What I actually meant when I raised this issue at Largs Community Council was that with hindsight it was perhaps not the best idea to locate the Cumbrae ferry within the town centre of Largs. This is, I think, the only town centre location where Cal Mac operates a ferry service without the ability to marshal traffic off the main roads.

"At the time that the new ferry slip was built on Cumbrae it was done to produce the shortest crossing aimed at getting cars across the water. It was not built with pedestrians in mind. The focus was wrong and I believe that the ferry service should have remained within the town of Millport. I also think that Fairlie, which at that time had a railway station and a pier, might have made a better long term solution as a ferry base.

"However, if you pardon the pun, that ship has sailed and we are now left to try and make the best of the current situation. The new road markings are aimed at trying to ensure the smooth passage of ferry traffic which on busy days can cause huge problems. Last year on a number of weekends, or whenever the sun shines, the queues could reach almost to Charles Street. It is incumbent on the council and the police to find a suitable solution to this problem.

"Having a busy ferry terminal within Largs can be a source of irritation at times to local residents however everyone also needs to remember that 750,000 journeys are taken on this route every year and that this brings huge benefit to Largs as well in terms of tourism and much needed business for local shops and businesses.”