Arran rock festival "stress" as ferry chaos impacts performers
Suppliers and artists have struggled to get to the island this week
Last updated 1st May 2024
The organiser of a music festival set for Arran this weekend admits she has been ravaged with stress after ferry cancellations put the event in doubt.
Jane Howe’s plans for Rock and Blues Fest have been thrown into chaos amid Caledonian MacBrayne’s decision to move vessel crossings from the mainland from Ardrossan to Troon.
The switch, which Calmac says has been caused due to weather warnings, has resulted in 10 ferry cancellations this week and has resulted in performers and suppliers getting over to the Island.
And Jane - who also owns the Pierhead Tavern on the island - told West FM she has struggled to get volunteers and staff onto Arran to help her set up the weekend.
She said: “Yes, we are having ongoing problems with not only performers not able to get over but also customers who had pre-bought a ticket for us can’t get over.
“But we are still optimistic and positive.”
Before adding: “I don’t want to be blaming Calmac, but it has affected our island hugely, not only my own business which is hospitality but any festival or any local events that are run, people are just finding it very difficult.
“Sometimes losing the will to even come to Arran because of the ferry situation.
“Calmac have just suddenly decided to shift the ferries this last week because of an easterly wind. Well, I do believe for the last 10 years I’ve lived here we’ve had an easterly wind, but we haven’t had the number of cancellations we have now.”
Jane has struggled to get a marquee company coming over as well as a security team coming up from Nottinghamshire because of the situation.
And she added that late on Tuesday, three bands from London were moved from their scheduled crossing at 6 pm on Friday from Ardrossan to the 4.25 pm sailing from Troon, with that trip being the last one of the working week.
Calmac Operations Director Robert Morrison said in response: “In certain weather conditions, it is unsafe to berth at Ardrossan harbour and we have to divert our Arran service to Troon instead.
"As this adds approximately 25 minutes to the sailing time, it means the number of daily sailings reduces from five to three. This effectively means a 40 per cent drop in capacity in terms of the number of people who can travel on the route.
“It has become more challenging to use Ardrossan regularly since the Irish berth was closed in January. The berth we now use is more exposed to certain weather conditions, which means we are having to divert services to Troon more frequently.
“We know this is disruptive for customers and communities, particularly during busier times, such as in the lead up to the Arran Rock and Blues Festival this weekend.
"Our port staff have been helping customers who are affected by this by moving them on to alternative sailings, and anyone who is still having trouble should get in touch with us, and we will do our best to support them.
“This decision has been difficult but our priority during times of disruption is to keep lifeline services running. Having the option to divert to Troon allows us to maintain vital links between Arran and the mainland.