Jura for Argyll

It’s interesting to look back at what we’ve done over the last four years to get to the point where Jura has its new passenger ferry link direct to the Argyll mainland at Tayvallich.

In April 2004 the Isle of Jura was designated an Initiative at the Edge (IatE) area by the Scottish Executive. This programme identifies remote communities in Scotland where the population is declining and the economy is in a fragile condition. To ensure that the island gained as much as possible from this designation a local committee was formed from members of the Community Council, the Development Trust and the wider community. A questionnaire was sent to every resident on Jura, and workshops held for the youngsters, so that the needs of the community could be used to create an IatE Development Plan.

Direct Link study
In response to the Development Questionnaire over 80% of the community requested an independent study into the feasibility of a direct link between Jura and the mainland. Tim Steiner of Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) was contracted to complete this study, funded by AIE and Leader+. This work followed Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance and therefore looked at all potential options. The final proposal, submitted in December 2005 was for a short sea vehicle ferry crossing between Lagg on Jura and Keills on the mainland at the foot of the peninsula to the west of Loch Sween. In a ballot of the community on Jura held in May 2006 this was rejected by 57% of the voters. Tim Steiner had also examined the feasibility of a passenger ferry. This option was put to the community who requested that it should be pursued, providing that it could be integrated with public transport on the mainland.

This ballot on a short sea vehicle ferry crossing is distinct from earlier ballots taken concerning an Overland Ferry Route carrying vehicles and proposed by the Islay & Jura Ferry Company. There are significant differences between the proposals coming from the Direct Link Study described above and those made by the Islay & Jura Ferry Company. A community vote on the latter rejected these proposals by 75% of the Jura Community.

Passenger ferry
In conjunction with Jura Initiative at the Edge, AIrgyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE) commissioned Sandy Slater of Smart Successful Solutions Limited to prepare a business case. This was completed in October 2006 and showed that a service running from Craighouse to Crinan could be viable over the medium to long term but would initially require a revenue subsidy.

We originally investigated 2 options at Crinan but these were rejected. One of these due to the cost of a berthing pontoon (£250k) and the second because of a lack of shore based services and a concern about insurance for the pontoon there.

Tayvallich - the route chosen and now in operation - began to look like a better option. It has good services, a more sheltered harbour, more residents and a good number of tourists who are potential passengers for the ferry, and will increase the economy of the island and support existing and future businesses. It also provides a shorter and more sheltered sea crossing than going to Crinan.

In November 2006 an application for funding was made to the Rural Community Transport Initiative (RCTI). Whilst it was accepted as a sound proposal, funding was rejected because the panel did not believe that we had justified the passenger demand and we had no exit strategy. Also the funding available was considerably over-subscribed and most of the funds were allocated to existing transport projects which required further ongoing support.

We went on to do a series of Community Consultations, a detailed Marketing Survey, polling residents and visitors and applying the evidence from their responses and then we ran a Feasibility Trial.

Feasibility Trial

This ran from Friday 7th to Friday 28th September 2007 and was funded by Argyll & Bute Council with support from HIE Argyll & the Islands. It was successfully completed with 30 return trips made and just one day lost to the weather. A total of 220 single passenger trips were taken 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 tourists 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 and tourist 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. Several requests have been made for better transport facilities on Jura so that tourists 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.

Success

This trial proved that the service is feasible and potentially financially viable. On 6th February we presented our plans for the Passenger Ferry to the Funding Hub for the Argyll & Bute Community Planning Partnership. We are delighted to report that they fully support our proposals for the service - and now it’s up and running.