Prepare to fight to save historic ferry

Published 13 Jan 2010 14:32 7 Comments

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SCRAPPED?: The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry

By Jennifer Black

THE historic Renfrew Ferry's days are numbered as SPT are proposing to shut it.

The Gazette reported in December that the ferry was under threat as transport bosses need to cut costs.

And now plans to scrap the service have been leaked before an important SPT budget meeting on Friday January 22.

However Renfrew councillors have united in the fight to keep the vital service which links the town with Yoker.

Renfrewshire Council leader Derek Mackay condemned the move and called on SPT to think again.

Mr Mackay said: "The Renfrew Ferry is a well-established service for Renfrew.

"I know that SPT face budget pressures, but they have picked the wrong target in proposing to scrap the Renfrew Ferry, it is not a luxury, it is an essential service.

"Renfrewshire Council funds the transport body and I will be making our opposition to the proposal to terminate the ferry clear in no uncertain terms."

Renfrew North councillor Bill Perrie said: "I am outraged by this proposal from the Labour-led SPT.

"On hearing of this proposal we will be launching a public campaign to save the Renfrew Ferry.

"We subsidise the underground, so surely a subsidy can continue for the ferry."

Renfrew South councillor Cathy McEwan added: "The Renfrew Ferry is very well used, and is a lifeline across the river Clyde.

"If the Labour chairman of the transport authority thinks that Renfrew will lose the ferry without a fight, then he is wrong."

Labour councillor for Renfrew North Alex Murrin spoke out on their opposition. He said: "We are appalled at the proposal to cut this vital link between Renfrew and Yoker.

"The ferry serves nearly 150,000 passengers every year.

"Scrapping the Ferry will mean more traffic and longer journeys."

Fellow Labour councillors Mary Fee and Eddie Grady have also written to SPT asking to withdraw the River Clyde service from their budget proposals.

When approached SPT's chair councillor Alistair Watson could not confirm the ferry's future.

He said: "SPT, like many other local government agencies and local councils, is facing severe financial problems.

"For next year's budget we have to find savings of £2.5million pounds.

"To that end we are looking at every line of our budget including our current subsidies to bus, Subway and ferry services.

"It is wrong to say the Renfrew Ferry is to be closed.

"No final decisions have been made nor will be made until SPT's special budget meeting on the 22nd of January."

This article appeared in The Gazette 13 Jan 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Renfrew Cross
Unregistered User
Jan 16, 03:33
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The Gazette love rehashing an old story, this is perfect evidence of this. The SPT quango are forever in the red and the question of funding for the Ferry comes up on a regular basis. The funding always seems to be found, but every year there are these scare stories which dont do those employed in the ferry or those who rely on the ferry any favours.

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Caroline
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Jan 19, 09:51
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"The funding always seems to be found"

Well maybe not this time, were in a recession after all. its even more likely to happen if the question of funding has come up before. this could be the year the ferry is ditched.

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Robbie McDougall
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Jan 19, 09:56
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'These scare stories' as you call them Renfrew Cross may not do employees or those who rely on the ferry 'any favours' but at least it keeps them informed as to whats happening so they can fight or campaign against a possible closure.

I wouldnt be suprised at all to see the Ferry close, they are making cutbacks everywhere - schools, Fastlink etc.

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renfrew girl
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Jan 19, 09:58
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i hope they don't close it. THey would be destorying a bit of history. But as usual they'll make there minds up without caring what the people want. That's the so called democracy we live in.

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Andy
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Jan 19, 10:02
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its all about the money they dont care about peoples lives who rely on this to get to work,they dont care about history this ferry has been round for hundreds of years. if all hte councillors in renfrew are against this surely spt should listen to them and not scrap it

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Sandra Stewartson
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Jan 19, 10:06
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i have to say it's also bad for the environment to scrap this ferry - surely that will lead to there being more vehicles on the roads. maybe sometimes labour should use their brains instead of getting rid of everything that costs money until we are left with no community facilities and no public transport

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craig
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Jan 23, 02:54
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it is sad that they did not explore all options, even to increase the fare, and remove the on demand system during off peak times, sadly crossing the river with one or two passengers is always financial unwelcoming hence a more structured off peak system.

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