Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns on behalf of an action group (the Action Group) regarding Transport Scotland's actions in putting the ferry route between Dunoon and Gourock out to tender.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that Transport Scotland:
(a) failed to reasonably consider whether vessels offered by bidders were capable of performing with reasonable reliability (not upheld);
(b) unreasonably omitted to include a contractual clause which ensured that vessels on the route were capable of reasonable reliability in poor weather conditions (not upheld);
(c) gave insufficient consideration, during the investigation and tendering process, to the implications of the route becoming passenger only (not upheld) ; and
(d) unreasonably failed to include Dunoon Pier in the tender (not upheld).
Redress and recommendation
The Ombudsman recommends that Transport Scotland:
(i) as a matter of urgency, continue to look at measures to reduce weather related cancellations and to increase the reliability of Route 1 for passengers.
Transport Scotland have accepted recommendation and will act on it accordingly.