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Council to consider van ferry fare discount           15/2/12

Councillors are being asked to support the intorduction of cheap ferry fares for light commercial vans on the inter-island ferries.

A motion will be presented to the council seeking support to take in the reduced ticket price scheme a year early.

The Scottish Government has agreed to cut fares on the ferries between Leverburgh and  Berneray as well as Eriskay to Barra from 2013 by extending its road equivilant tariff (RET) initiative.

The Comhairle will consider a proposal from its transport committee chiefs to start sooner by underwriting the iniative for the gap between this Spring and next March.

Transport committee chairman Donald Manford said: “The benefits woudl be significant for the inter-island economy.

It would alos allow hauliers and busiensses travelling across the Minch on an under six-metre vehicle to cross between the islands affordably.

The change, which has been brought in early and comes into effect this spring, will see commercial vehicles up to six metres long – up from five metres– qualify for the Road Equivalent Tariff these on CalMac services.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of Transportation will ask councillors to back the call to discuss the issue next month and look at options for working with the Scottish Government to extend the 6metre rule for cars and commercial vehicles on the Sound of Barra and the Sound of Harris as from April 2012.