COUNCIL bosses have announced £385,000 to improve bus stop and queuing facilities for the Largs to Cumbrae ferry service.

Councillor Alan Hill, SNP cabinet member for the islands, says the cash can bring serious improvements.

He said: “We need to create an ability for CalMac to be able to marshal some of the traffic, so cars can be booked onto specific sailings.

“We need to be prepared to make some brave decisions.”

Conservative councillor Todd Ferguson, who lives on Cumbrae, says the announcement is a big step forward to making the service fit for purpose.

He explained: “It is fantastic news.

“As an islander, I am all too familiar with the problems currently facing vehicles queueing for the boat, especially at peak times.

"This is a statement of intent to address that."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch says five years of consultation must come to an end and a decision finally made to improve the service for everyone.

He said: “We need two ferries on the route all the time.

“We need to do something with the ferry queue and surrounding logistics of traffic management on both sides, and this funding should help with that.”