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Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed Cal Mac's decision to appoint a director of community and stakeholder engagement as part of its improvement plans for the operation of the west coast ferry services for the next eight years.

Cal Mac’s also intends to create a communities board, to better involve communities in strategic matters affecting them.

A new role of transport integration manager will work with other providers on timetable planning, disruption management, and improving public transport connections and quality of customer information.

Alasdair Allan commented: “The Scottish Government has made sustained and substantial investment in our ferry network over the past nine years.

"We now have dedicated vessels for both Barra and South Uist, a new vessel for the Uig triangle has been commissioned, the deployment of the purpose built Loch Seaforth on the Stornoway-Ullapool route and, of course, RET has been rolled out across the whole of the west coast, making journeys more affordable for islanders and tourists alike.

Welcome for Cal Mac's promised improvements

4 September 2016

“However, a complaint I often hear from different groups is a feeling that they are not being listened to or that their concerns are not being taken on board by Cal Mac."

He added: "Community groups should have a distinct role to play in the formation of transport strategy and I now look forward to seeing greater engagement between them and the company.

"Timetable difficulties are another source of frustration. Moves towards better co-ordination of services are also to be greatly welcomed, especially for people who often have to rely on three separate companies to get them to their final destination."