Significant negative impacts of an inadequate ferry service is “slowly killing” communities in Uist and Benbecula a ferry summit has been told.
On a day a gale forced widespread cancellation on island sea routes, key people involved
in ferry services -
Kevin Hobbs chief executive of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) -
Delays by Ferguson Marine shipyard in missing this year’s delivery dates for two
new-
There was no “flexibility” for the overstretched ferry network because of that failure.
If delivered on time, this year’s upheaval could have been avoided, he said.
Calls for a dedicated ferry for the Skye -
North Uist shares the MV Hebrides with Harris.
Malcolm Turner, development manager with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, warned the consequence of a deficient service is “slowly killing these islands” and “leading to depopulation.”
He stressed: “Without growing the ferry service, nothing is going to change.”
Iain Macneil of the Uist Economic Taskforce Working Group told the forum: “Everything we do in Uist is constrained by ferries.
“If we had better connectivity then these islands would be booming.”
Hector Stewart of Kallin Seafood highlighted the upturn from Uist having improved links with its own ferry “would be a great quick fix” for the ailing economy.
Exporting prawns to France means “we are reliant on the ferry timetable.”
He added: “The triangle service makes life really difficult and is holding back the whole of the Uist economy.”
Islands minister Paul Wheelhouse, who also has a portfolio responsibility for ferries, acknowledged there are concerns.
He told Hebrides News: “I am not ducking the challenges -
He pointed out the Scottish Government is are investing heavily in road equivalent tariff” as well as ploughing £200 million into replacement ferries.
On calls for a dedicated ferry for North Uist, he pledged to “listen and weigh up the merits of that.”
After the forum Cal Mac’s managing director, Robbie Drummond said they heard “first hand the concerns that communities on the Uists have about the ferry service.”
He added: “It also gave us an opportunity to share with community representatives an outline of the improvements we are making to the way we communicate with customers and how we will improve vessel resilience.
“It was a positive meeting and we look forward to continuing to work with all parties to deliver a ferry service which meets community needs and promotes sustainable economic growth in the islands we support.”
MSP Alasdair Allan said: “This was a very useful and productive meeting. By getting all the key players in the same room we were able to have a comprehensive look at Uist’s ferry services. I would like to thank all those who took the time to attend, especially the Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP, and Uist councillors for their help in organising the summit.
“There was an assurance that the government would investigate any potential vessels for leasing that were viable and fulfilled the objective of providing resilience across the network.
“The minister agreed, amongst other things, to see what could be done to improve CalMac’s booking system, with CalMac also to review how passengers are kept up to date in the event of cancelled or delayed sailings.
“With the financial constraints the Scottish Government faces as a result a budget cut of nearly £2 billion since 2010 by the UK Government, it is important that we make the best possible case that we can for further funding and investment in ferries services. I think the summit has certainly strengthened that case.”
Inadequate ferry service “slowly killing” Uist communities
10 November 2018
MSP Alasdair Allan and ferries minister Paul Wheelhouse
MV Hebrides in Lochmaddy