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Plane Sailing - but no trains           29/1/13

 

Sir,

Boats and planes are controversial topics of conversation in the most recent round of cuts to public services here in the Western Isles, and there is nothing plain or straightforward about the shenanigans and neat footwork now being witnessed. There is genuine anxiety in the southern isles.

The Comhairle claim that NHS Western Isles take up about 30% of seats on the air services now under threat of closure, or reduced service, on the Barra/Benbecula/Stornoway routes. The subsidy carried wholly by the Comhairle is about £630,000 pa. Our MSP has written to the respective Chief Executives of the Comhairle and NHS, concerned in particular about the impact on patient services and accessing planned hospital appointments (especially from Barra). Barra patients and GP's are more likely to favour the single and more convenient journey to Glasgow on one plane journey, rather than two often disruptive ferry crossings and long overland distance to Stornoway. This may prove to be more costly to the NHS.

NHS Western Isles are undertaking their own appraisal of proposed changes, to report on the day the Full Council makes its decision on substantive cuts (82 options presently under consideration), on 14th February – colloquially being referred to as the St Valentine's Day Massacre! An additional near £5m of cuts, on top of £10m of cuts already implemented in two previous years.

The Scottish Government are overly optimistic, and are reported to have said, rather naively:

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is aware of the ongoing discussions between NHS Western Isles and the local authority and expects that the situation will be resolved between the two organisations.” (Hebrides News, 28th Jan)

Too bad we don't have trains! Yes, as taxpayers to the UK Treasury, our good citizens will be contributing towards the generous subsidy of 8.1 pence per passenger mile being paid by the UK government to the various rail franchise holders on the mainland.

Resolving this unfortunate local difficulty being faced by our life-line inter-island air services demands an urgent meeting with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries for (I) Finance, (ii) Transport and (iii) Health and Social Care. Our MSP is best placed to organise such a meeting. RET for ferry services to our islands is subsidised by central government (also soon to include inter-island ferries too), so why not our vulnerable air services? What is the difference, and why should the Comhairle alone be saddled with this hefty subsidy cost? Many other public service agencies, and quangos (eg SNH, SEPA, HIE) in addition to NHS and the Comhairle use these air services on a regular basis. They are in essence life-line services, and ferry travel is often not an option.

The SNP government and local representatives are presently out of favour here in the islands, for a number of controversial and disadvantageous decisions recently made – including an inflation-busting increase in ferry fares from April this year. They need to redeem themselves. This proposed solution, ie assume responsibility for this subsidy for this vital inter-island air service, on a five day per week basis, is surely within their powers?

Andrew Walker

3 Kyles Flodda

Isle of Benbecula

 

 

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