Disappointment over ferry access

THERE is no disabled provision on the ferry which runs between Helensburgh, Kilcreggan and Gourock despite assurances that there would be.
Rosneath and Clynder Community Council secretary Jenny Cole, who uses sticks to aid her walking, raised the issue at the council’s recent meeting.
She said: “When we were told we were getting a new ferry we were assured that it would be disabled friendly and that has not happened.
She told members that the little passenger ferry has a very narrow gangplank which can be at a very steep angle and there is no way to get into the passenger area because there are very steep steps down into it and passengers are not allowed to travel on deck.
And she said that although the ferry staff are very helpful it is still impossible for anyone with any degree of disability to travel on the ferry.
Councillor George Freeman told the members that he had raised the issue a number of times with the operators and with SPT and has asked them to “get it sorted” because the ferry is “a disaster as far as the disabled are concerned”.
However, he also pointed out that while there is legislation governing the provision of disabled access on other forms of public transport it does not apply to ships and ferries and that your would be “talking big money” to solve the problem.