► Consultants to review inter-
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart, is urging Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and NHS Western Isles to work together to reinstate a five day air service between Stornoway and Benbecula.
Flights were to three days a week in February 2013 which meant that getting to and from the Southern Isles over a weekend was impossible.
The connecting Benbecula to Barra plans service was scrapped at the same time.
The Comhairle is undertaking a review over the possibility of reinstating the service.
Mr Stewart said “Local authorities throughout Scotland have been under intense pressure over recent years working to balance the books against the unprecedented budget cuts and council tax freeze that the SNP government has imposed.
"They are having to make impossible decisions however flights and ferry provision are lifeline services in Scottish islands and I am pleased that the Comhairle has commissioned this review."
He continued: “When I was in the Uists recently I was advised by local representatives of the strong desire within the community to have the flights reinstated to five days a week and I have contacted both the Comhairle and NHS Western Isles about this.
"We know that Comhairle and health board staff and other business users make up a significant proportion of the current user group on these flights and indeed, NHS Western Isles is believed to be the largest user of the service.
"Some hospital patients who need to travel to Stornoway and beyond for treatment find the ferry and car journey extremely taxing so having the flights running five days a week again would be a major step forward.
Mr Stewart concluded: “The Comhairle acknowledges the strongly held wish in the Uist community and, indeed, elsewhere in the Western Isles for the reinstatement of a five day service on the route.
"NHS Western Isles has been approached as a consultee in the review and, while I appreciate running an air service may not be part of the health boards statutory duty, I would urge both organisations to do all within their means to come together in a bid to have these services reintroduced."
MSP urges agencies to work together on inter-
3 August 2016