No ferry for four days

Sirs,

Following the significant disruption in ferry services endured on Barra and Vatersay recently seeing the regular Sound of Barra ferry Loch Alainn crossing the Minch today (Saturday) to take up station is a welcome sight.

The stand-in vessel Loch Linnhe has served the route very well, completing the crossing in some difficult conditions.

It is disappointing that our requests for additional sailings to off-set the smaller vessel's capacity constraints have been ignored. This would have gone a long way to alleviating the disruption to travel and commerce experienced.

The disruption to mainland (Oban) services continues to cause distress and economic hardship. Following a trail of service cancellations and consequent loss of goods, we now learn that the much anticipated service from Oban to Castlebay today (Saturday) has also been cancelled. Why?

There are vessels that can be seen to be available to enable this service to be provided. Given the significant recent disruption an explanation is required.

Cllr Donald Manford

Isle of Barra

Letters: No ferry for four days

17 March 2018