The Scottish Government has confirmed it is in talks to nationalise a vital ferry port – hours after a local newspaper launched a campaign on the issue.

The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald yesterday launched its ‘Save our Harbour’ campaign to secure an upgrade to the facility, which is the main base for ferries to the Isle of Arran.

Howewer the harbour is too small to accomodate new vessels from ferry operator CalMac, which is currently running the service from Troon instead.

In an editorial accompanying the launch, the newspaper stated that the “obvious” answer to the problem would be for the Scottish government to nationalise the harbour, which is the only ‘lifeline’ ferry service in Scotland remaining in private hands.

Within hours of the launch, Scotland’s Transport Secretary confirmed the government is in negotiations with owners Peel Ports to buy the lifeline facility.

It followed a Scottish Parliament debate in which Conservative MSP Jamie Greene held up a copy of the Herald’s front page, below, during the debate.

Mr Greene said: “The Scottish Government’s ears must have been burning this morning because of the front page of the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald on precisely this issue.”

In response to a question from Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson, Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop told the Parliament: “I have instructed Transport Scotland and CMAL to progress discussions about the potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour by the Scottish Government.”

The upgrade was originally promised by the government in 2018, but work has yet to begin.

In its editorial, the Herald said: “Ardrossan must remain the mainland port for Arran, as promised – no ifs, no buts.”

The newspaper added: “The obvious option is to nationalise the harbour, bringing it directly under Scottish Government control. It is the only ‘lifeline’ ferry service in Scotland to remain in private hands.

“Whether or not Peel Ports would be prepared to sell remains unknown. They’ve owned the port since the early 90s when it was privatised by John Major’s Conservative government.

“But at this stage, we’re asking them, alongside ScotGov and all the other stakeholders, to get a grip and get this sorted, one way or another, for the sake of Ardrossan and Arran.

“If they don’t, it will indeed be Scotland’s shame.”