Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart, has lodged a question in the Scottish Parliament asking if an impact study into the effects on the Western Isles economy was carried out before the Scottish Government took the decision to push back improvement works on Ullapool harbour from February to April.
Work was due to commence on Ullapool harbour on 22 February but has now been delayed until 20 April which is the start of the peak visitor season.
Mr Stewart -
“To delay the works to the start of the peak visitor season shows a crass lack of understanding by the Scottish Government into the economy of the Western Isles.”
Parliamentary question raises ferry issues
23 January 2015
He added: “Tourism is a huge contributor to the islands’ economy and for the man who is tasked with the job of securing the livelihood of the islands not to appreciate the gravity of his error is shocking.”
“We now have a £43 million ferry sitting waiting, with nowhere to go.”