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Isles MSP Alasdair Allan attended a public meeting in Carloway over the grounding of the oil rig Transocean Winner.

Also at Monday night's forum was joined by Inspector Roddie MacKay from Police Scotland and local councillor Donald Macleod.

Around 80 locals were in the audience at Carloway Community Centre.

Groups involved in the salvage - local emergency planning, Transocean, and Smit - stayed away.

Alasdair Allan commented: “I would like to thank Carloway Community Association for organising this event and giving the community the chance to express their views.

"There was a clear strength of feeling on show from Carloway residents, as was evident from the packed hall.

“While more information should hopefully be available over the coming days, this was a useful opportunity to discuss the impact of the oil rig grounding to the community and the possible ways forward."

He added: "A number of people whose businesses have been directly impacted by the incident were represented and I have taken up the issue of compensation with the company.

"Many of the questions raised, including on whether the rig can be floated, will need to be answered by Transocean and the salvagers themselves.

“While we are all grateful that there were no casualties from this incident, it has starkly illustrated just how dangerous our seas can be.

"The decision to scrap the Stornoway-based Emergency Towing Vessel was an act of gross irresponsibility from the UK Government.

"The Department of Transport should reinstate this to ensure similar incidents can never happen again.”

Carloway public meeting over grounded rig

16 August 2016