Editor – After reading the article in this weeks Dunoon Observer regarding the Dunoon Community Council, (DCC), proposal, the CalMac Gourock to Dunoon service serves the whole of Cowal not just the DCC area.
The shops in Dunoon are already struggling with low footfall and this proposal to run a bus to the other side of the water for people to go shopping, isnt going to help, neither is the constant travel reports saying the boats are off without a proposed timetable.
What will the Cowal wide West Coast Motors timetable be like for connecting to this service, especially on the normal Western Ferries busy days tied in to change over days at Hunters Quay Holiday Village, when cars are out on the road at both sides of the Clyde, never mind the long running road works in Greenock to remove the Bullring roundabout?
I dont see car drivers that have been sitting waiting their turn to go on the ferry being happy that a bus can drive in and go to the front of the queue because they have been given priority.
Running a bus service late can also get the company into bother with Transport Scotland so I dont see anyone taking this on and as McGills Buses have said they lost to much money doing this run before.
Therefore Strachur and District Community Council stand with South Cowal Community Council in objecting to this proposal our concern is once a bus service starts CalMac will stop running boats between Dunoon town centre and Gourock town Centre.
How will it go if there is a wheel chair user and passengers with prams? Who will have priority? We believe that the 11 Cowal community councils should be working together to get a decent town centre to town centre boat service.
