When Ardrossan Harbour’s future was once again thrown into doubt in early 2025, the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald decided reporting the story was not enough. The harbour and its ferry link to Arran are vital to the economic future of both communities, and after years of delays, uncertainty and political wrangling, local people deserved answers.
On 19 February 2025, the Herald launched their Save Our Harbour campaign with a striking front page that captured local frustration and demanded action. The campaign called on decision-makers to secure the future of Ardrossan Harbour and protect the town’s role as the mainland gateway to Arran.
Within hours of publication, the campaign had reached the floor of the Scottish Parliament, where its front page was highlighted by MSPs calling for action. On the very day the campaign launched, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced that discussions would begin with harbour owners Peel Ports about public ownership of the facility, placing the issue firmly on the national political agenda. The campaign had succeeded in turning a long-running local concern into a matter of national importance.
The Herald spoke to business owners who said the loss of a reliable ferry service was damaging trade and investment. They analysed company accounts to scrutinise the financial position of Peel Ports; attended demonstrations; covered community campaign events; and reported directly from protests outside the Scottish Parliament, at Peel Ports’ headquarters and on-board ferry services themselves.
Throughout the campaign, the Herald combined traditional local reporting with a range of digital storytelling techniques. Alongside exclusive print investigations, they created campaign branding, produced video content, ran live blogs from demonstrations and shared updates across social media to ensure the issue remained visible. Despite being a small weekly newspaper, the team at the Herald sustained pressure on decision-makers and ensured developments were continuously scrutinised on behalf of their readers.
After more than a year of campaigning, a deal was finally agreed in March 2026, and Ardrossan Harbour entered public ownership. While many organisations played a role in securing that outcome, the Herald’s campaign ensured the issue remained firmly in the public eye throughout lengthy negotiations and periods of uncertainty.
The Save Our Harbour campaign demonstrates the unique role local newspapers play in championing the communities they serve. It showed how persistent, determined local journalism can hold powerful organisations to account, influence public debate and help drive meaningful change on issues that matter most to local people.
