This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Executive 'hopeful' of providing ferry service
06/03/2003
No tenders for a subsidy to operate a passenger and freight ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle have been received within the set deadline, it was confirmed today.
However, Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said the Scottish Executive remains committed to exploring all feasible options to support the reinstatement of the ferry service.
These include further exploration of an approach from an interested party. Details of this approach remain commercially confidential, however the service would be provided within the terms and conditions of the original tender exercise.
Mr Macdonald said:
"We and our colleagues in Northern Ireland are disappointed at the result of the tendering exercise, however we remain committed to pursuing viable options to allow re-instatement of the service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle within the tender criteria.
"We recognise the importance of this service to the communities in Argyll and Moyle, which is why we are urgently pursuing alternative options. We will ensure that fair and reasonable time is allowed for the processes that these investigations will involve, and will make further information available on progress in due course."