Islanders are being assured that there is no threat to winter fuel supplies on Arran.
Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) voiced concern with fuel now being transported by road and ferry instead of by tanker after talking to a worried Brodick resident.
He said: ‘Any problem with roads or ferries – as a result of adverse weather conditions or other factors – could result in fuel shortages on Arran during the harshest winter months, something nobody on the island would welcome.’
Transport minister Stewart Stevenson told him CalMac has accepted a block booking for a tanker on its 7am sailing from Ardrossan to Brodick each weekday throughout the winter, returning on the 11am sailing.
‘This should provide sufficient capacity to meet Arran’s needs for gas, oil, derv and kerosene over the winter months and should not have any impact on other ferry users,’ he said.
‘I understand that there is a significant stock of petrol held on the island.
‘However, top-ups can be delivered as required using CalMac’s winter service between Tarbert on the mainland and Lochranza.’
A CalMac spokesman said there was no threat to fuel supplies on Arran that CalMac or the supplier were aware of.
