IN AN extraordinary series of e-mails, former Standard editor Bill Jardine has accused Argyll and Bute MSP Jim Mather of ‘betrayal’ and ‘a total abdication of responsibility’ over the recently-advertised Dunoon – Gourock Ferry tender invitation.

Mr Jardine, who now lives in Brittany, said: “I have decided to make this correspondence public because I feel most strongly that the people of Cowal, and particularly the people of Dunoon, are being sold down the river.
“This (tender process) is a shambles, and not a single party or politician is blameless, for the history of the ferries on this route over the past 30 years has been littered with bad decisions, empty promises, squandered opportunities and – in some cases – downright lies.”
Mr Jardine’s communication with the  Argyll and Bute MSP is reproduced in full (below).
We asked Mr Mather if he had any input in the Dunoon – Gourock ferry tender process. He responded: “The process rules dictate that there must be no involvement from any minister in the tender process.
“However, I can tell you that in the run up to that process and for all of the last 31 months, I have been continually putting the case for a town-centre to town-centre unrestricted vehicle and passenger service on the route to ministerial colleagues and to officials.
“And this includes direct contact with EC officials to convey to them the will of the local community and local economic need.”
And in response to Mr Jardine’s decision to pass his correspondence to the Standard, Mr Mather said: “Bill says ‘This document (the ferry tender) represents a transparent betrayal of the Cowal community and an appalling breach of faith by the SNP, which made great capital out of the ferries during the last election.’
“We now have officials and the minister aligned with what local people want (town-centre to town-centre vehicle service with no frequency restriction) as well as both councils and the EC accepting that we need to subsidise the route.
“In addition, we now have permission to remove the frequency restriction and that is a big step forward.
“Meanwhile, I do understand local frustrations but the fact is that the EC says that is would be illegal for us to require any operator to use vessels we supply –although we may do so if the operators ask for our assistance.
“Nevertheless, I remain convinced that we can achieve the service that the majority of people want and that the findings of the Deloitte Touche report reinforces that view.”

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