Commenting on the decision by the Scottish Executive not to agree a bid for funds for the Sound of Barra Ferry Service and associated works, Barra Councillor and Vice-Chairman of Transportation on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Mr. Donald Manford, said today:

"This is a bitter blow, not only for Barra, Eriskay and the Uists but for the whole of the Western Isles. It is particularly difficult to understand given that this is the final link in integrating Barra and Vatersay with the rest of the Western Isles. To prevent that is to maintain Barra and Vatersay's social exclusion. It has to be considered that considerable sums have already been spent by the Council, to install infrastructure at one end on Eriskay, and that this project was to set up the infrastructure at the other end. The result is that we are unable to get the real value of our investment. It is difficult to understand how the establishment of this infrastructure is affected by the State Aid issue and the Cal-Mac tendering process Not only does this decision set back the completion of the Transport network in the Western Isles but it also prohibits us from accessing European funding through the HISP programme and bringing that money into the Western Isles economy."

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer