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New ferry can carry only  two extra cars per sailing       17/4/14

 

A senior councillor has slammed the provision of the new Loch Seaforth ferry for Stornoway as “woefully inadequate” for the islands.

 

Councillors have been told, in practice, the new ferry has space for only two more cars per daytime sailing compared to the current ferry, MV Isle of Lewis.

 

Cllr Roddie Mackay said it would severely restrain the growing tourism sector. In addition, it would limit ordinary travel for the people who live and work in the isles.

 

Robust criticism of Cal Mac and fears that the new ferry will not handle a predicted growth in traffic was exchanged at the Comhairle’s transport committee on Wednesday.

 

Mr Mackay - who is also the Comhairle's Policy and Resources vice chairman  - told the transport committee: "The consultation made clear that we needed a faster ferry and we needed two ferries.

 

“The consultation ignored these requirements and the civil servants and Cal Mac set the government on a course which is very damaging for these islands.”

 

He added: “We are being given a ferry that is 20% slower than the new ones serving the Northern Isles - 15 minutes faster is pathetic in this day and age - and we have minimal changes in capacity.

“Based on the original capacity on the MV Isle of Lewis of 123 cars the comparison between it and the new Loch Seaforth, based on the current peak timetable and not taking into account any capacity available on the overnight freight sailing, shows an increase in capacity of around 28 cars per week, less than 1% - two cars per sailing."

He continued: "Is this good value for money for the public pound? At a recent meeting I asked about this and the civil servant in attendance commented on how the government had kindly spent £45 million on the new provision.

 

“£45 million for a minimal increase in capacity and for 15 minute journey time saving does not look like good value for money to me. That is not even including the costs of the port infrastructure changes.

 

“We need significant increased capacity and given that the Loch Seaforth is now in the works we need a firm commitment that we retain a second vessel providing a full time freight service."

Mr Mackay highlighted: " Already the signs for this year, with two ferries, suggest that we are going to see huge increases in visitor numbers. Many establishments are reporting that they have more advance bookings than ever before and in Harris for example, the 11.50 departure from Tarbert to Uig on a Saturday is now full until mid August, and we're only in April.

 

“Residents in these islands will begin to notice real difficulties in ferry travel this summer and this will only get worse next year and into the future.”

 

Mr Mackay stressed: “We have been offered a thoroughly inadequate provision, it is set for the next 20 years, it does not properly serve the islanders or the visitors, it will hamper economic growth and development and it will not make living and travelling to and from these islands any easier.

“On this issue Hi- Trans (transport authority) is not making any difference as far as I can see and the attitude of Mr Laidlaw and indeed Calmac at the recent meeting suggested an alarming complacency and an extraordinary lacking of understanding of our needs.

 

“We really need to speak with the government now to get a solution that is fit for purpose for the next 20 years. What is proposed currently is entirely unacceptable."

Mr Mackay concluded: "The government’s proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill talks about "communities having their voices heard in decisions that affect their area."

 

“Well, this decision is going to have a hugely negative effect on our area and if they truly embrace this principle perhaps they will now help us sort this problem.”