A 10% increase in CalMac ferry fares to the Western Isles should be frozen to give island businesses a break, Torcuil Crichton has said.
The Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar has called for the April fare rise to be abandoned
to help local businesses hit by massive increases in haulage charges by the main
island carrier, DFDS.
Businesses in Uist report their suppliers are facing massive 120 per cent increases in haulage costs from DFDS, the Danish transport company, which took over as the main haulier for the islands two years ago.
Torcuil Crichton said: “I am taking the issue up with DFDS later this week but I have also urged the Scottish Government to step in and delay or freeze this proposed ten per cent rise in fares on CalMac routes.”
“Research by my Scottish Labour colleague Rhoda Grant MSP revealed that CalMac had only requested a two per cent increase in fares, in line with inflation, but that Scottish Ministers overruled the recommendation and went for ten per cent.”
“Ministers should have stuck to the advice from CalMac but the increases that suppliers face in sending small volumes of goods to Uist and Barra simply means that the rise should not go ahead.”
Mr Crichton has written to Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hsylop urging her to reconsider the fare rise as part of a Government response to the situation.
“Businesses, hoteliers and tradespeople in the islands cannot be expected to absorb constantly rising costs. They need a break and the Scottish Government has been given £1.5 billion in year from Labour’s budget to improve public services in Scotland. They should use some of the additional resource to keep ferry fares down”.
Freeze ferry fares to help islands with freight charges says MP
22 January 2025