Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Chairman of Transportation, Mr. Norman A. Macdonald, has expressed disappointment at the news that the Comhairle's £4m bid to the Government's Public Transportation Fund as matching funding for projects for the Sound Of Barra Ferry Service has not been successful.

The bid was for the costs of a new vessel and related shore works and formed a key part of the Comhairle's Eriskay Causeway and Sound of Barra Integrated Transport Project. However the Executive has stated that the Comhairle should resubmit the application for shore works to the next round of the Public Transport Fund.

Speaking today, Mr. Macdonald said: "This is extremely disappointing news for the Western Isles and at the very least it will mean a significant delay in the implementation of the level and quality of service we wanted to have in operation in the Sound Of Barra. This would have been the culmination of the Comhairle's long standing aim to provide excellent transport infrastructure linkages between our islands. Nevertheless we will seek to pursue the funding for the shore works as a matter of urgency and, according to the Executive, we will have to wait until the tendering process of Cal-Mac routes is completed to assess the best way forward for a new vessel. Although this is a setback the Comhairle's campaign for modern transport links encompassing the whole island chain continues."

Mr. Macdonald added that he would be seeking an early meeting with Transport Minister Sarah Boyack to discuss this issue of vital importance for the islands.

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer