Will the Isle of Jura get its Ferry After All?
Tuesday, October 23 2007
Already in 2006 I wrote about a possible passenger ferry from Kintyre to the Isle of Jura. Back then the proposal had to be approved by the Argyll & Bute council. Decided was to run a trial ferry service first to see if a ferry from Kintyre to the Isle of Jura would be feasable. The trial was held in the period from 10 to 28 September 2007 and proved to be very succesful. Below a report of the trial written down by the Isle of Jura “Initiative at the Edge” team.
The three week passenger ferry trial has been successfully completed with 30 return trips made and just one day lost to the weather. A total of 220 passengers were carried which represents a load factor of approximately one third capacity. The very limited time between deciding that we could run the trial and actually starting it, meant that it was not possible to advertise the service other than locally on Jura and at Tayvallich. This is reflected in the usage which increased week by week as more of us became aware that we could make a day trip to the mainland and visitors realised that they could get to Jura. The service also proved a real hit with Jurachs exiled on the mainland, who quickly realised that frequent weekend visits were now a practical proposition. Adding this real usage of the ferry to the data we have collected from our marketing survey shows there is real demand for this service.
So what have we learnt? Well, quite a lot actually, thanks to the experience, and the many passengers who completed comment forms or emailed their views. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive with over 100 people rating the service either very useful or useful and only one person making an adverse comment. The general theme was that this should be a permanent service, as it not only improves communication, but does so at a reduced cost and with a considerable time saving. Several business folk used it and could not believe that such an offering wasn’t made available years ago. The links to bus services on the mainland worked so well that the demand is for more of them so that passengers can get back from Glasgow more easily too. Although the ferry only ran for three weeks there was a recognisable increase in business activity in both Craighouse and Tayvallich, and a significant increase in passengers using the Lochgilphead bus service. It is clear that we need better berthing facilities in Craighouse but these will be provided by the Development Trust’s moorings and pontoon project, hopefully early in 2008.
Several requests have been made for better transport facilities on Jura so that visitors can see more of the island and we will look into this issue. In Tayvallich an additional pontoon is required to ensure adequate access for both pleasure craft and the ferry. Looking at car parking, additional spaces may be required at Tayvallich, and in Craighouse we just need a car park! We’re sure that there are other issues too, and are planning to hold meetings in both Tayvallich and Craighouse so that we can understand these and address them. Certainly one passenger learnt that you can’t have a coffee at the Coffee Shop after disembarking from the ferry and catch the bus to Lochgilphead! This trial has proved that the service is feasible and potentially financially viable. We’d like to say thank you to Argyll & Bute Council, HIE Argyll & the Islands and big Hughie “get the boat in the water” Donaldson of IatE, for all their help and support in making this trial happen. Also, many thanks are due to Nicol and Donnie MacKinnon, for not just running the ferry, but for being so helpful and friendly with it. Their boat, The Shannick of Islay, has been a great success with passengers, proving to be fast, reliable and very seaworthy. Finally our thanks to residents and businesses in both Tayvallich and Craighouse who have made us and our visitors so very welcome, and last but not least, to all the passengers who used this service. We know that we have a lot of work to do to ensure that the ferry service operates between April and September 2008 to 2010. This trial has shown that such a service is needed and will be a success. Cheered considerably by this and all the support we have received we will strive to ensure that it does become a permanent service for the benefit of residents, visitors and businesses on both sides of the Sound of Jura.
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Just to say that a passenger ferry to Craighouse would be in demand on the last Friday in May for the Isle of Jura Fell Race.
Eddie