More safety fears have arisen over islanders taking cans of petrol to Cumbrae in their cars.

A councillor has warned that the lack of a fuel facility on the island had resulted in some people transporting fuel via the ferry and storing it in houses and garages - putting themselves and others in danger.

Councillor Alex Gallagher brought up the issue at a recent meeting of North Ayrshire Council, having previously raised concerns at a local area committee meeting. He said: “I have been told fuel is being taken across on the ferry and that ‘everybody does it’.” The Labour member has claimed that the risk posed by the transportation of fuel in jerry cans on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry had been increased because there is no access to fuel on the island.

Councillor Gallagher said Cumbrae Community Development Company had already been identified as the best placed group to provide such a facility but it had made ‘excuses’ about a lack of resources.

“There are questions of both safety and utility for the island. The obvious body to run a project like this is the Cumbrae Community Development Company. But for some reason CCDC is refusing to get involved.

“I believe the excuse being given by CCDC is that they don’t have the resources, but only last year they hatched a plan to run the marine research facility.

“Now they claim that they are unable to even contemplate a much more simple and fully funded operation to deliver much needed fuel to the island. I don’t buy that!” CCDC had previously indicated that although they were not able to spearhead the project, they would be happy to speak to the councillors, and try to make progress and support anoy group willing to take the plan forward.

At the meeting of North Ayrshire Council, Cllr Gallagher asked: “At my request, the council ran a consultation on the supply of fuel on the island. 100% capital grants are available to community and social enterprise groups for the provision of a fuel facility and in addition revenue support for up to five years to alleviate the running costs.” “What was the outcome of the consultation, what is the council’s policy is on this matter and what action is being taken to ensure the adequate supply of fuel on Cumbrae?” Councillor Marie Burns, cabinet member for economy and employment responded: “There is potential for a facility to be viable, subject to the proposal securing external capital funding via a community group. The Council would not be eligible to draw down the funding available.” She added that around a third of islanders surveyed stated that if a fuel facility was operational they would ‘always’ use it , 40% indicated that they would ‘usually’ use it and 6% stated that they would ‘never use’ such a facility. Fuel prices would be a defining factor on whether they used a fuel facility.” Councillor Burns indicated that CCDC was going to give further consideration to the provision of a facility.

She added: “In terms of action being taken to ensure an adequate supply of fuel, this is not a direct responsibility of the council.

“The council has actively pursued an alternative to this by leading on work to explore the feasibility of a community fuel facility as described above. While officers will continue to assist in this process where possible, ultimately a suitable community group requires to show a sufficient level of interest and capacity to deliver the project. To date, such a group has not come forward.” Cllr Gallagher responded: “The supply of petrol and diesel on the island of Cumbrae has been a question since before I became a councillor 7.5 years ago. I have raised it on a number of occasions with officers and at the Area Committee.” A spokesman for Cal Mac re-iterated its position: “We do not allow members of the public to carry small quantities of petrol on the ferry for safety reasons, but fuel can be carried if it meets dangerous goods legislation requirements.

“We carry out weekly checks for dangerous goods including petrol and if found we refuse shipment or allow travel minus dangerous substance. “