CALLS to allow youngsters who live on Cumbrae to travel for free on ferries with their under-22 bus pass are gathering support.

Those aged from five to 21 can currently go use bus services without charge with their card, but this entitlement is not extended to ferry services to or from the mainland.

In Holyrood, Liberal Democrat MSP Beatrice Wishart has called on the transport minister to change this policy.

She said: “Young people can travel home from university or anywhere on the Scottish mainland for free using their pass on any bus.

“Why then can’t the passes be used by our young people who travel home via ferry?"

Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP told the Scottish Parliament that plans were in place to make changes as part of an upcoming fares review.

She explained: “When the under-22 scheme came into effect, we did carry out an island communities impact assessment.

“This concluded that ferry travel should not be included in the scheme, but that the issues related to ferry fares should be considered as part of a wider review.

“I do recognise the dependence that some have on ferries as opposed to buses.”

North Coast councillor Todd Ferguson, a Cumbrae resident, says the scheme's current set up is disadvantaging island youngsters who are being forced to pay more to work or attend college or university.

He said: “Young people here are reliant on that mainland connection, so the ferry service to Largs is similar to a bus.

“There is not a lot of work on the island so a lot of young people rely on that mode of travel to get to their job.

“The premise of the free bus pass was for younger people to be able to access work and education, and that is severely limited if you have to pay for a boat in between.

“That can be the best part of £20 per week, which is a lot of money these days, especially when your peers are being given that support on the mainland.”

Councillor Ferguson says the snub is yet another issue which could make living on islands like Cumbrae unattractive to families.

He explained: “We are wanting to grow our island communities but we are not going to do that if the young people who live there are disadvantaged.

“If there are no financial incentives to live here, never mind penalties, then a young family with children will think twice about moving.”