Anger as South Uist faces six weeks without ferry
30 March 2023
South Uist community landlord, Stòras Uibhist, has reacted with fury at the six week cancellation of ferry sailings from Lochboisdale.
The organisation has been leading the South Uist Ferry Business Impact Group, which has met with senior CalMac management, civil servants and politicians over the last year to campaign for a better service.
Mary Schmoller (pictured), chair of Stòras, said the “devastating” news was received the day after a meeting with Roddy MacDonald from the Scottish Government where where “we were very clear that we could not have a repeat of last year’s cancellations and expect our businesses to survive.”
She added: “The ferry group reiterates our two priority objectives agreed last year. Firstly we need better and more consistent contingency planning so we know what happens if and when our ferries are cancelled, and secondly we need a business support scheme to enable local business to survive.
“We repeated our demands to Mr MacDonald that CalMac must provide this support to our businesses. David MacBrayne Ltd made profit on the recent sale of their holding in Southampton Free Port, So let’s see that money being put back into the communities they are currently wreaking such havoc in.’’
Stòras Uibhist chief executive Darren Taylor said: “Stòras’s income will suffer directly as a result of this with guests booked for Grogarry Lodge already telling us they are worried how they will get here. Askernish golf course will also suffer.
“But I am more worried about the wider effect this will have on both the South Uist business community and our community. Last year we were told that we needed to produce an evidence-
“It feels as if no one is listening or even cares and that is simply not acceptable. Stòras will continue to offer all the support we can to our community.”
Robbie Drummond, Chief Executive of CalMac, said: “Our service continues to be affected by delays to the annual overhaul schedule and its subsequent impact on vessel deployment. With no spare vessels, it is a challenging period for our customers, and we apologise for the disruption this is causing, particularly at the start of the tourist season.
“We are focused on returning those vessels which have required extended repairs back to service as soon as possible and returning to a normal service as quickly as we can. We will continue to work with community representatives and will keep customers informed of any developments."
