Labour in the Western Isles has called for an urgent statement from the Scottish transport minister on the “crisis” affecting Hebridean ferry routes.
The party’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Alison MacCorquodale, said last Wednesday’s breakdown of the MV Loch Seaforth was “yet another warning sign that must not be ignored.”
She also called for full disclosure of the leasing arrangements with Lloyds Banking
Group -
Ms MacCorquodale said that Western Isles ferry services are under “extreme strain” due to serious delays to the construction of two new vessels and “the complete lack of foresight or diligence in making alternative arrangements.”
She added: “‘Without question, CalMac do the best they can given the pressures they face and their limited resources. What the people of the Outer Hebrides need to know now is exactly when the new vessels will come into service and provide some semblance of resilience to the fleet.”
According to Ms MacCorquodale, the Scottish Government’s claims that no vessels could be found to temporarily supplement CalMac’s options have been “disproven” and that fresh efforts now had to be made to take the strain off the existing fleet.
The Western Isles economy is now “suffering from the complacency” of the Scottish Government.
“It is time for everyone with the community’s interests at heart to make their voices heard,” she added.
Lloyds Bank Group said it will not release the terms of the Seaforth’s charter, citing “commercial confidentiality.”
Ms MacCorquodale said: “It was this private funding model which drove the single
ferry option for the Stornoway-
“Where does responsibility lie if the Loch Seaforth’s problems recur or if she has to be withdrawn from service?
“As the owners of the vessel, what responsibility would Lloyds Bank have? Is there
any contingency arrangement to ensure the provision of a life-
“We need answers to these questions as a matter of urgency and I call on the Scottish Government to make a full statement.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman responded: “Over £1 billion has been invested in ferry services across the Clyde and Hebrides since 2007, including the MV Loch Seaforth and harbour upgrades at Stornoway and Ullapool. We are continuing to invest in new vessels and ferry infrastructure to renew the fleet.
“Work is also already underway to appraise, and subsequently to deliver on, further
improvements to the ferry services to the Western Isles, including the important
Ullapool-
“Following local feedback last year, extra sailings have been incorporated in timetables
for this summer, including on the Stornoway-
Hebridean ferry routes in “crisis” warns Labour
13 August 2018
