Professor John Robertson OBA, Sadly at 73 and weakening, ‘a better investigative reporter than any of the young toadies working in ‘Scotland’s’ MSM’
The rest of this first reported in February 2025 at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/02/11/why-should-we-the-scottish-taxpayer-pay-for-the-upgrade-to-ardrossan-dock-fully-owned-and-neglected-by-a-manchester-billionaire-tax-exile/
Front page in the Herald today, 18 paragraphs putting responsibility for the maintenance of the Ardrossan dock, one of the two hubs for Arran crossings, onto the First Minister, based on the prompting of Katy Clark, MSP and Baroness of Kilwinning:
After reading those 18 paragraphs, would any reader wonder who owns the dock? CalMac? Scottish Government? North Ayrshire Council? Nope, it’s James Whittaker, a Manchester billionaire.
Read on.
In the UK Defence Journal in April 2024:
“The facilities at Ardrossan have not been maintained to an acceptable standard,” stated Duncan Mackison, Interim Chief Executive of CalMac, in the submission. He detailed the “continuing deterioration” of the Ardrossan berths, emphasising that the lack of investment has significantly impacted the operation and safety of ferry services. Over the past decade, CalMac has paid a staggering £15,480,000 in fees for the use of the berths, split into berthing and traffic dues. Despite this substantial outlay, the necessary reinvestment in harbour maintenance appears lacking argue the ferry firm.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/calmac-criticise-peel-ports-harbour-maintenance/
Where does that money go?
Peel Ports Group Ltd are the statutory harbour authority and owner of Ardrossan harbour, and are responsible for day to day management of the port; including the delivery of the marine and landside infrastructure of the project.
Who owns Peel Group?
John Whittaker (born 14 March 1942) is a British billionaire. He is chairman of the Peel Group, a property business that mainly invests in North West England. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Whittaker is worth £1.95 billion.
How much tax does he pay on that £15 million?
The tycoon is a director of an astonishing 312 companies, according to Companies House. Almost all are Peel Group subsidiaries, which include interests in Liverpool, Durham and Doncaster airports, the Manchester Ship Canal, Scottish ports, and docks along the banks of the River Mersey.
The labyrinthine nature of the Peel Group’s corporate structure means it is difficult to say how much tax it pays to HM Revenue and Customs.
In June [2013], the MPs made a visit to the premises and the committee chair Margaret Hodge said the Peel Group was not contributing enough to the Inland Revenue, claiming the group paid a maximum average of 10 per cent corporation tax. “They do not pay their fair share,” she said.
For more on how Peel exerts political influence, see: https://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1761
I think the above counts as investigative journalism but why does a still 73 year-old retiree with one of his part-time elves have to do this when papers like the Herald used to do it for us back in the day?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Hit him with a compulsory purchase order. Give him a quid and send him on his way. Same for all the absentee foreign owners of Scottish lands. They all made £plenty with little benefit to the Scottish people.
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Re Ardrossan ‘ghost town’
MV Caledonian Isles, which has been out of action since January 2024 for extensive repairs, is one of the largest vessels in the CalMac fleet and can carry up to 1,000 passengers and 110 cars but it is able to navigate the harbour’s existing infrastructure and berth at the Irish Berth.
I notice CalMac’s website is taking bookings –
https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/route-information/ardrossan-brodick/#/
“From Summer 2025 (1 June), upon her return to service, MV Caledonian Isles will operate to/from Ardrossan and MV Glen Sannox will operate to/from Troon, significantly increasing the capacity to Arran.”
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The Irish Berth was closed by Peel Ports after apparent mismanagement of the maintenance at Ardrossan Harbour.
MV Glen Sannox could have used the Irish Berth, if it wasn’t put out of action at just the wrong (right?) time.
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We Arran residents are being kept pretty much up to speed on this. The Scottish Govt decided in February 2025 to buy Ardrossan port, but it’s all very slow and nothing much has happened to proceed this since. Campaign groups have been set up – Save Ardrossan Harbour and Arran For Ardrossan Harbour – as we really don’t want Troon at all. there was a protest rally yesterday on the boat going to Troon, and Lady (!) Clark was an attendee. She declared through her megaphone that all the delays are caused by the Scottish Govt, without offering anything in the way of evidence. It has to be said though, that ScotGov could help themselves by just hurrying things along and keeping the pressure on the hated Peel Ports.
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John thanks so much for your reporting…I must start sharing more, needs more views and such.
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Thanks Arty…Hetty?
I really value your support over the years now.
I hope you are well
John
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