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I. TROON HARBOUR.
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(33) This undertaking dates from the beginning of last century and formed part of the entailed estates of the Duke of Portland. By the Glasgow and South Western Railway Act, 1901, the harbour was transferred to that railway company for £167,500 plus certain royalties, and under the Railways Act of 1921 it became vested in the L.M. & S. Railway Company, by which it is operated, mainly as a coal export port for the Ayrshire coalfield,
J.-AYR HARBOUR
(34) Ayr Harbour, which was operated under a series of local acts com- mencing in 1855, came to be vested under a provisional order of 1901 in a body of Trustees consisting of the Provost and 3 members of the Town Council of Ayr, 5 elected ratepayers, and 6 persons appointed by the Railway Company, which then agreed to guarantee payment of the debenture interest, already in arrears. The revenue continued to be insufficient to meet the liabilities of the undertaking, and in 1919 it was transferred by authority of a provisional order to the Railway Company, 4 per cent. debenture stock being issued to the extent of £240,000 as purchase consideration to the harbour stockholders. Since 1921 the harbour has been vested in the L.M. & S. Railway Company, by which it is operated mainly as a coal export port for the Ayrshire coalfield.
K. MINOR DOCK AND PIER UNDERTAKINGS
(35) Mention must also be made of a number of small dock and pier undertakings which still preserve a separate existence.
The following now belong to the L.M.S. Railway Company:-
(1) General Terminus Quay: This Depot and Wharf on the South side of Glasgow Harbour between Springfield Quay and Mavisbank Quay originally belonged to the General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway Company, by whom it was transferred in 1848 to the Clyde Navigation Trustees. Under the Caledonian and General Terminus Railways Amalga- mation Act 1865 the rights and duties of the former General Terminus Company were transferred to the Caledonian Railway Company, now incorporated in the L.M. & S. Railway Company, who enjoy the right to deal with shipping traffic at the Quay and power to charge for shipping appliances.
The Quay has been used latterly for coal export purposes, but to a declining extent. Prior to the war proposals for the adaptation of the Quay for the handling of Iron Ore on a large scale had been discussed with the Clyde Trust and the Iron and Steel Trade, and these proposals have now been revived. Reference may be made to Paragraph (159).
(2) Renfrew Wharf: This wharf, which has been out of action since an air raid in March, 1941, is situated on the south side of the Clyde at the termination of the Paisley-Renfrew Railway. It was constructed under statutory powers granted in 1835. Its traffic, prior to its destruction in 1941, was negligible.
(3) Bowling Harbour: This harbour originally belonged to the Trustees incorporated under the Forth and Clyde Navigation Act, 1767. Immediately adjoining is another Harbour belonging to the Clyde Trust, and immediately to the west of that a wharf known as Frisky Wharf, belonging to the L. & N.E. Railway Company. The traffic consists mainly of Iron and
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Steel Imports and a small quantity of coal, but it has been questioned whether for such purposes it is worth while keeping the port open.
(4) Gourock Harbour and Pier: This undertaking passed into the hands of the Railway Company in 1869, having been promoted and constructed by a local Harbour Company. It has considerable importance for the Clyde passenger traffic and also accommodates general coastwise goods traffic. The facilities have been largely used for emergency purposes during the War, and certain expenditure has been incurred with the aid of the Ministry of War Transport and the Admiralty for the provision of improve- ments and extensions.
(36) The principal passenger railway piers for local traffic, apart from Gourock Pier already mentioned, are those belonging to the L.M. & S. Railway Company at Wemyss Bay, Fairlie, Largs and Stranraer, and to the L.N.E. Railway Company at Craigendoran. Both railway companies stress the importance of these piers being operated as single entities in association with the relative stations, in view of the need for co-ordination between train and steamer workings.
SUBSIDISED STEAMER SERVICES
(37) In order to complete the picture of the position in the Clyde Estuary, we think it right to note that in 1928 a contract was concluded between the Minister of Transport, the Postmaster General and Messrs. David MacBrayne Ltd. under which the latter company undertook to maintain certain services, including the carrying of mails, and to reduce freight charges to and from certain places in the Western Isles. This contract was renewed in 1938, when provision was made also for passenger and mail services between certain Clyde ports. The total subsidy under the 1938 contract is £60,000 per annum, and the services provided within the estuary are:-(1) the Ardrishaig service, from Glasgow or Greenock to Gourock, Dunoon, Innellan, Rothesay, Colintraive, Tighnabruaich and Tarbert; and (2) the Loch Goil service, between Greenock and Lochgoilhead, calling intermittently at Gourock, Carrick Castle, Douglas Pier, Kilcreggan and Cove. These services have been modified under war conditions, and it is understood that the financial arrangements have been superseded by the war-time requisition scheme.
THE HARBOUR PIERS & FERRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1937 (38) By this Act various provisions were made for the transfer to local authorities, and the construction and maintenance, of "marine works", defined as meaning any harbour, pier, ferry or boatslip which in the opinion of the Secretary of State and the Minister of War Transport is principally used or required for the fishing or agricultural industries, or is reasonably required for the maintenance of communications between the various parts of Scotland, but excluding the undertakings of the major harbour authorities and railway companies.
Since this Act came into force 112 undertakings in Scotland have been deemed to be "marine works "; in 9 cases local authorities have acquired the undertakings; 15 constructional schemes have been dealt with; and in 97 cases the provisions of the Act dealing with maintenance have been applied. Only 4 of these marine works are situated within the Firth of Clyde, and the position with regard to these and certain associated projects is worthy of note. (39) Dunoon Pier: In 1939 the L.M.S. Railway Company had under con- sideration the provision of a vehicular ferry between Dunoon and Gourock,
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