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Demand to scrap “fundamentally flawed” ferry review   2/2/12

► No go to direct Lochboisdale ferry       

Community councils in South Uist have set up a campaign group in protest of the government’s recent ferry review.

Critics say the review - which is effectively a draft strategy for lifeline ferry services -  contains “fundamental flaws and insupportable conclusions.”

It has sparked anger in South Uist by failing to give any commitment to introducing a shorter route between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Three community councils - Benbecula, Bornish and Lochboisdale - with the support of Eriskay Community Council and Storas Uibhist - have now formed the Lochboisdale-Mallaig Ferry Group in a bid to challenge the findings of the ferry report.

A public meeting will be held for the Uist community to demonstrate “their anger at being ignored and treated to the worst ferry service in Scotland.”

The campaign group says that a formal government survey identified that 83% of South Uist households would use the ferry more often if there was a shorter crossing.

While the consultants highlighted this was a ‘relatively high’ rate compared to other islands the end report ignores the statistic.

The Ferries Review tries to claim that people in the Western Isle do not have an inclination to travel on a regular basis. This is absolutely untrue and a misrepresentation of the frequently expressed views of the community.

Over 1,500 people singed a petition last year calling for the Lochboisdale-Mallaig ferry service.

It was lodged with the scottish Government’s Petitions Committee which accepted the merits of the proposal and has referred it to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee for further consideration on the potential for re-introducing the service.

George Macaulay, of Benbecula Community Council said: “The views of this community have been made known to the Scottish Government for many years, but have been consistently ignored.

“The Ferries Review deliberately ignored responses that supported the Lochboisdale-Mallaig service, which suggests the supposedly independent civil servants have bowed to political pressure and produced a report saying what the Minister wanted it to, and not what the people of these islands have said.’”

Kate MacDonald, from Bornish Community Council, pointed out: “The Comhairle held a public meeting in Daliburgh, attended by hundreds of people, who unanimously demanded a ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig.

“It is unfortunate this information was not passed to the Scottish Government.

“However, will the Government now confirm they have received this information and consider it when finalising their report?”

Angus MacMillan, chairman of Stòras Uibhist said: ‘The Scottish Government is manipulating statistics to justify its position of discriminating against the people of Eriskay, Benbecula and South Uist by providing a poor and declining ferry service.

“We have a short window of opportunity to convince this government to admit that the Ferries Review is a flawed document and is no basis for planning ferry service provision for the next 20 years.”