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Leader Calls for Long-Term Solutions Following South Uist Ferry Cancellation

Leader Calls for Long-Term Solutions Following South Uist Ferry Cancellation

Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called for long-term service solutions and urgent clarity over business support following CalMac’s announcement that, yet again, there will be no Lochboisdale to Mallaig/ Oban service, this time for at least 3 days.

CalMac announced on 9 June that MV Lord of the Isles had suffered mechanical damage and would be unable to operate on the route. Having reviewed deployment options CalMac confirmed that they will be unable to provide any service on the route until at least 12 June.

Following last month's announcement of the direct award of the west-coast ferries contract to Caledonian Macbrayne ltd. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar highlighted the identification of a long term solution for the Lochboisdale route as a top priority.

Speaking on the latest disruption Cllr Steele said:

“Identifying long-term solutions for the Lochboisdale service must be a top priority. Timetable changes and frequent service cancellation are causing the people of South Uist to lose all confidence in the service they rely on. The community is again in a position where they have to cancel plans, miss events and attempt to mitigate business impacts. If no alternative vessel can be identified following mechanical damage it is clear that the current ferry fleet is not fit to deliver an adequate service to this community. Continued disruption is impacting local business, restricting individuals access to basic services and disrupting the local tourism sector.”

In April, prior to attending a “ferry crisis meeting” in Lochboisdale, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, announced that businesses financially impacted by ferry cancellations would be compensated through a resilience fund. Comhairle nan Eilean Sair welcomed the announcement in a statement.

Speaking on the promised compensation Cllr Steele said:

“Businesses in South Uist need urgent clarity on the support promised by Scottish Government. Without this clarity it is unclear how much of the £4.5 million will make its way to the businesses and individuals in Uist who have been and continue to be severely impacted by vessel issues and timetabling decisions. Scottish Government must now show that this was not just a promise made at a time of local political pressure and deliver on the commitment of support to those impacted by continuous service disruption.”