Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Press Release
27th April 2009
RET Promotion
The Comhairle is aiming to assist local businesses to promote the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme to their customers. The Scottish Government’s RET pilot scheme applies to all Western Isles mainland ferry routes and has led to significant reductions in the cost of ferry travel to and from the islands.
Following a series of business seminars and requests from the business community, the Comhairle has developed straightforward information and advertising that local businesses can use on their websites or e-mail to their customers.
Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Alex MacDonald, said: “Ferry fares to the Outer Hebrides have reduced substantially as a result of RET, offering an opportunity for a substantial boost to tourism and other local businesses. It is important that we all work together to promote this”.
The Comhairle website now features information on RET, including a promotional advert and a series of static images which businesses can download onto their own websites or send to their customers. This can be found at http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/travel/retpilot.asp
The RET pilot scheme started in October 2008 and covers the following routes for a proposed period of two years:
Ullapool – Stornoway
Uig - Tarbert (Harris)/Lochmaddy (North Uist)
Oban - Castlebay (Barra)
Lochboisdale (South Uist) and Oban to Coll and Tiree.
Brosnachadh RET
Tha a’ Chomhairle ag amas air taic a thoirt do ghnìomhachasan ionadail sgeama Cosgais co-ionnan ri Rathad (RET) a bhrosnachadh a-measg an luchd-ceannachd. Tha an sgeama pìleat RET Riaghaltas na h-Alba ri fhaotainn air slighean aiseig eadar na h-Eileanan an Iar agus tìr-mòr agus tha lughdachadh mòr a thaobh cosgais siubhal air ais agus air adhart bho na h-eileanan.
An dèidh sreath de cho-labhairtean gnothachais agus iarrtasan bho ghnìomhachasan, tha a’ Chomhairle air fiosrachadh agus sanasachd soilleir a chur ri chèile a ghabhas cleachdadh le gnothachais ionadail air na làraich-lìn aca no air post-dealain gun luchd-ceannachd.
Thuirt Ailig Dòmhnallach, Neach-gairm Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar: “Mar thoireadh air RET, tha faraidhean aiseig gu na h-Eileanan an Iar air an lughdachadh gu mòr, a-toirt cothrom togail do thurasachd agus do ghnìomhachasan ionadail eile. Tha e cudromach gum bi a h-uile duine a co-obrachadh gus seo a bhrosnachadh.”
Tha fiosrachadh mu RET air làrach-lìn na Comhairle, le sanas agus dealbhan a dh’fhaodas a bhith air an cleachdadh le gnìomhachasan air na làraich-lìn aca fhèin no an cur gu luchd-ceannachd. Gheobhar am fiosrachadh seo aig http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/travel/retpilot.asp
Thòisich sgeama pìleat dà bhliadhna RET san Dàmhair 2008 a-toirt a-steach na slighean a leanas:
Ullapul – Steòrnabhagh
Ùig – An Tairbeart (Na Hearadh)/Loch na Madadh (Uibhist a Tuath)
An t-Òban – Bagh a’ Chaisteil (Barraigh)
Loch Baghasdal (Uibhist a Deas) agus an t-Òban gu Col agus Tiriodh
. . . . . . .
Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ruairidh Maciver
Communications Assistant
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822615 (Work)
Tel: 07881 774601 (Mobile)
email: ruairidh.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk
