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Cheaper ferry fares for vans                   7/2/12

Six-metre long vans will gain cheaper fares on island ferries after Scottish Government Minister Keith Brown confirmed they will be  eligible for the standard car journey rate.

Cal Mac ferries charges significantly more even if a vehicle exceeds present five-metre cut-off by just an inch. The rule penalises many firms operating transit or luton vans which have increased in length in recent years and fell into the commercial haulage category.  

To the chagrin of Hebridean businesses, the Caledonian Macbrayne-owned NorthLink ferries in Orkney and Shetland allowed vans under six metres to travel on the car rate.

The SNP group of councillors said: “This is great news for businesses and everyone else with vehicles of this length in the Western Isles who use these routes regularly.

“Not only will RET be extended to the sounds of Harris and Barra but the 5 metre rule is now a thing of the past – and all this despite the massive cuts to the Scottish Government funding by the UK Government.”

MP  Angus Brendan MacNeil said:

“I welcome this important step for the islands economy in haulage and carriage to the islands. This should help for sailings over the Minch and over the sounds of Barra and Harris.

“I am pleased that the Transport Minister Keith Brown has listened on this issue as both myself and my colleague Alasdair Allan MSP have been actively lobbying of this.

“While we still have much to do and must maintain our focus on lobbying and persuading over the issue of HGVs and their transport costs to the islands, I am of course pleased that the Scottish Government have listened to Hebridean concerns and brought us into line with the Northern Isles on the 6-metre issue.

“Many people will be happy with this victory for the islands and can look forward to the benefits this spring.”