Bookmark and Share
wpfb9b4c8d.png
Hebrides News

 

 

The crofting sector in the Western Isles would be heavily hit by large prices increases for agricultural supplies from the knock-on effect of a hike in haulage ferry fares warns the manager of a leading crofting co-operative.

The Scottish Government is under fire for axing its subsidised road equivalent tariff scheme for lorries which carry essential supplies on lifeline services to the Western Isles.

Subsequently, from March, transport firms face a substantial rise in charges which go up by about 175% on the Uig to Harris and Uist sea routes.

Over 60 firms are backing an industry-led campaign while a delegation will travel to Edinburgh next month to urge Scottish Minister for Transport, Keith Brown, to suspend the ticket rises of up to 175% and install a fairer pricing structure instead.

Mr Brown challenges the headline increases being reported though the figures are a straightforward comparison between the old and the new pricing structure hauliers are being quoted from Cal Mac.

He suggests that a 25% rebate would lower the actual impact. However, very few firms may be eligible under the present non-RET scheme and even less would gain the maximum 25%.

Ian Fargie, manager of the Lewis Crofters co-operative in Stornoway warns the ferry increases would devastate the island.

Mr Fargie said: "We are an agricultural co-operative and our main concern is the effect it will have on crofters because this will increase the haulage rates of feeding stuff.

"The crofting community is quite vulnerable and I am afraid it will really hurt them. In some cases it would end up in crofters giving up the ghost."

Hector Macdonald of Hebrides Haulage said his own firm faced a 120% hike "and other companies would have a higher increase."

He warned that transport firms also suffered higher costs of fuel and red tape and could not afford to absorb the increases.

The ferry fare rises would inevitably be passed on to customers and all goods imported into the island, "from a loaf of bread upwards" would face price rises with a very adverse effect on the local economy.

Gail Robertson, co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Transport Group, said: "Everyone recognises that it would be a travesty for every island family if, with the stroke of a ministerial pen, RET for commercial traffic disappeared and a costly haulage and household tax was imposed.

"We are now focussed on the meeting in Edinburgh with the Scottish Transport Minister."

Campaigner David Wood highlighted the issue was not just between island hauliers and the government but is an attack on the "living standards of every family in the islands."

He urged MSP Alasdair Allan to put aside his conflict as a government minister and give "his allegiance to the islands before any other consideration.

"As a Minister in the Edinburgh government Mr Allan is in excellent position to ensure that we leave the meeting on 7 February with an assurance that RET will be retained, and that island families will not be betrayed and end up paying much more for every day products and services."

Alasdair Allan stressed: "I have been busy as MSP for the Western Isles in making the hauliers case and can well understand why they wish to make their views directly to the Transport Minister.

"On the back of the meeting with hauliers I chaired, I have now organised the meeting with the minister and hauliers and I believe that they have every right to ensure the fairest deal for their businesses.

"To answer the point about my role in government, ministers are not allowed to make decisions personally about their specific constituencies, but wearing my MSP hat, I intend to make sure that this matter gets pushed very hard and that the transport minister is left in no doubt of what my constituents feel."

 

 

 

Ian Fargie is worried that increased haulage ferry fares would hit crofters

Increases in ferry haulage fares would devastate crofting         30/1/12