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New  Enterprise boss urged to back South Uist ferry campaign    23/2/12

The newly established 'Missing Link' campaign group fighting for a better ferry service for South Uist has welcomed the appointment of Lorne Crerar as the new chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The body urges him to start his term of office by publicly committing his organisation's support to the reintroduction of the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry route.

Campaigners say South Uist is one of the most economically fragile and peripheral island communities in Scotland, and a halving of the ferry crossing journey from seven hours to Oban (via Barra) to 3.5 hours to Mallaig, would provide the much needed impetus to stimulate economic growth and prosperity in the islands.

Stephen MacAulay, one of the Missing Link campaign group members said: “As the economic development body tasked with promoting the economic regeneration of the Highlands and Islands, we feel it is incumbent on HIE to support the people of these islands in calling for improved ferry connections to the mainland.

“We believe that the reintroduction of the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry service shall stimulate job creation, help retain population, and ease business access to markets.

“We urge Lorne Crerar to publicly show he will fight for remote island communities by giving his immediate backing to our campaign.”