Donald Cameron MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, has won an assurance from Paul Wheelhouse, the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, to explore proposals to apply Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) to the Dunoon-Gourock ferry service.

During Transport Questions in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (Wednesday 15th May) Mr Cameron urged the minister to take account of the demands of local residents in Dunoon for a decision about whether RET would be applied, and provide an update.

In his response, Mr Wheelhouse said the Government intended to take forward discussions with local stakeholders.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Cameron said: “Anyone who attended the recent meeting of the Dunoon Ferry Action Group last month will understand the enormous frustration that local people feel about this issue.

“Despite years of campaigning for a better service, residents of Cowal still do not have the safe and reliable service they need.

“However, I do welcome the fact that the minister appears to see a positive way forward with regard to RET for the Gourock-Dunoon route and that provides us with a real hope that the service may at least become more affordable.”

Councillor Bobby Good (Scottish Conservative - Dunoon) said: "This would be a massive boost for Dunoon and Cowal as a whole.

"It shows that we can make ministers listen if we keep trying. I know a lot of local people have been working hard to get some movement on this from the Government and this is a great reward for their efforts."