CalMac’s new independent Community Board was unanimous in delivering a strong message on behalf of its communities to the firm’s managing director, Robbie Drummond, and other members of the management team following its second meeting, held in Largs and Millport last week.
The meeting was attended by Arran’s two representatives, community council chairman Bill Calderwood and Sheila Gilmore of VisitArran.
Overwhelmingly, the main concern was that measures being taken to deal with a recent vessel breakdown are failing to prevent major disruption bringing significant economic damage and having a detrimental impact on individual and families life. Cuts in timetabled sailings, deployment of vessels with inadequate capacities and inability to book even available space in some cases are all adversely impacting communities and the sustainability of local businesses.