Anger as Calmac suspends ferry service between Ardrossan and Campbeltown

A delay in finishing repairs to Oban-based MV Clansman has had a knock-on effect

FERRY operator Calmac faced anger last night after suspending a vital route.

The service between Ardrossan and the Kintyre peninsula will be out of action for a month as travel chaos continues to plague Calmac’s ferry network.

Calmac said repairs to one of its vessels had overrun, forcing it to divert its Campbeltown ferry to lifeline island routes.

But the announcement has infuriated Kintyre residents who claim it will hit tourism, with a number of sports or cultural events planned for next month.

John Armour, a local councillor in south Kintyre and chairman of the Campbeltown ferry committee, said: “I’ve had a lot of people contact me and they are very angry.”

Calmac said it was “making every effort” to restore the service and it hoped to reinstate it on May 24.

The problem is due to a delay in finishing repairs to the MV Clansman which normally operates from Oban and provides services to islands off the west coast.

The complications have had a knock-on effect on a number of Calmac services.

Meanwhile, The Western Isles Council is calling for the Scottish Transport Minister to urgently intervene over the travel troubles.

It says local economies are being badly hit.