Island air services

SNP general election candidate Angus MacNeil has suggested Western Isles air services would be better off being run under Scottish Government control.

At present, inter-island flights are subsidised by the Comhairle. But councillors were flawed in removing the Barra to Benbecula link and in cutting the onward service to Stornoway and Inverness to just three days a week, maintains Mr Macneil who was the isles’ MP until the UK parliament dissolved on Monday.

In an interview on Radio nan Gàidheal, Mr Macneil suggested ferries on the Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra were removed from the Comhairle.

He advocated a similar transfer so the Scottish Government took responsibility should apply to island air services.

The council did not care less about the withdrawal of plane links on affected communities, said Angus MacNeil.

Island air services safer outwith Comhairle control, says SNP candidate

31 March 2015

Control of inter-island transportation services would be better based in Edinburgh, away from the elected council, so communities can be protected from Comhairle decisions, he agreed.

Comhairle leader Angus Campbell later responded: “II have to say that I do find it incredible that the MP for the Western Isles is suggesting that services should be run from Edinburgh,” at the same time the Scottish Minister for Local Government said the islands councils are “pioneers with their vision in establishing Our Islands Our Future, leading to the greatest ever package of measures for the islands.”

Mr Campbell noted Mr MacNeil incorrectly suggested ferry services “were taken away from the Comhairle. “

He pointed out: “The Comhairle established the ferry services he refers to and, once they were working well, it was agreed that they would be taken into the CalMac network.”