A SCOTTISH island council has expressed disappointment after being “excluded” from a government plan to secure seven new electric ferries.
The chair of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s transport committee said it was “disappointing” that there was no new boat for the Western Isles in phase one of the small vessels replacement programme (SVRP).
Announced by the Scottish Government on Tuesday, the first phase of the SVRP is expected to secure seven electric ferries at a cost of £175 million.
The routes served will be: Colintraive – Rhubodach (Bute); Lochaline – Fishnish (Mull); Tarbert (Loch Fyne) – Portavadie (Peninsula); Iona – Fionnphort (Mull); Sconser – Raasay (Raasay); Tobermory – Kilchoan (Mull); Tayinloan – Gigha (Gigha).
READ MORE: Ferguson Marine CEO says 'unfair competition' will hurt bid for new ferry contract
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the replacement of vessels on the seven routes listed above would have knock-on “benefits to two other routes from the redeployment of existing vessels”.
These are the Largs to Cumbrae route and the Oban to Lismore route.
Some of the £175m will also be spent on port improvements and shore power upgrades, but again, not in the Western Isles.
Councillor Uisdean Robertson, the chair of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s transport committee, said he welcomed “any move by Transport Scotland to improve the resilience of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network”.
However, he went on: “Saying this, it is difficult to be positive about an announcement that confirms that the communities of Uist and Barra will continue to be served by inadequate vessels until at least 2030.
READ MORE: 'Unprecedented' spike in objections to Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond development
“To allow CalMac to effectively provide a lifeline service to the communities of the Western Isles they must be provided with reliable and suitable vessels.
“It is disappointing that the Western Isles has been excluded from phase one of the programme, we will now continue dialogue with Transport Scotland to ensure that phase two of the programme is delivered as soon as possible and includes provision for routes within the Western Isles.
“In the immediate term it is vitally important that the measures recommended to Transport Scotland in the socio-economic case for change are introduced to relieve capacity constraints on the Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra routes.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel