The latest news story to go on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's e-causeway, the web-site detailing work on the Eriskay Causeway, will be the £3.85m bid by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for European funds to go towards the Sound of Barra Ferry service. The bid is one of a series of projects put forward by the Comhairle and other Western Isles agencies for funding under the Highlands and Islands Special Programme (HISP) scheme.
The total costs of the project are likely to be around £8m. This includes the costs for the provision of a new vehicular ferry vessel, new access roads and a breakwater on Barra, the upgrading of access roads on Barra and Eriskay and the provision of overnight berthing on Barra and Eriskay.
Cllr. Norman A. Macdonald, Chairman of Transportation, said:
"I am delighted that the e-causeway project is being launched today. Whilst the causeway will link South Uist and Eriskay, the e-causeway links the story of transportation in the Western Isles with the rest of the world. It is particularly fitting that the latest story to appear on the web-site will be news of the Comhairle's bid for European funding for the last part in that story - The Sound of Barra ferry service. Together with the completed Eriskay Causeway, the Sound of Barra ferry service will provide the missing link in the Western Isles transportation chain and would fully integrate the islands in transport, social and economic terms. South Uist, Barra and Eriskay and indeed the whole of the islands would benefit enormously from this project which to my mind is exactly the kind of initiative that the HISP programme has been set up to help. The advantages in economic terms are obvious but it is perhaps in the social terms of increased employment opportunities, improved access to services and wider social and cultural benefits that the greatest advantages for our islands are to be gained."
The first round of funding under the HISP programme is due to be announced in December of this year. The Comhairle is also seeking £3.85m funding from the Scottish Executive under the Public Transport Fund for the project.
Ends
Issued
by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Tel:
01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
