Update 13th January 2012

The Draft Ferries Plan (for consultation) was issued by the Scottish Government shortly before Christmas last year. Disappointingly, it bears no commitment to the re-introduction of the Lochboisdale-Mallaig ferry service which is so urgently sought by the South Uist community and beyond.

The Ferries Review makes no reference to the 1500 name petition submitted to the Scottish Government in August 2011 in support of the service. Neither does it refer to the Comhairle’s public consultation meetings held in Barra, South Uist and North Uist, which all highlighted the support for the re-introduction of the service for the benefit of South Uist and the Western Isles as a whole.

Stòras Uibhist will continue to lobby for improvements to the ferry service and transport links in general, and has made a further submission (9th January ’12) to the Scottish Government Public Petitions committee.

The Ferries Review also recommended changes to RET for commercial vehicles and replacement of RET with bulk discounts for the larger vehicles. This will seriously impact on the Uist based companies who will not qualify for the bulk discounts and will affect the cost of goods, including feed, hay and other supplies for crofters coming in to the island, as well as the cost of transporting shellfish of the islands by ferry.

Stòras Uibhist will work with local businesses, and has also spoken with Councillors from Highland Council, to support a combined campaign to press Scottish Government to improve ferry services and support the economy of both the islands and the west coast of the mainland.

Scottish Ferries Review Consultation

Stòras Uibhist submission to the Scottish Ferries Review Consultation: Stòras Uibhist Ferry Review Submission (September 2010)

In Scotland’s National Transport Strategy (2006) a commitment was made to conduct a comprehensive review of lifeline ferry services, “to develop a long-term strategy for lifeline services to 2025. The review will include a detailed appraisal of routes to determine whether a better configuration could be developed in response to calls for new and faster connections serving those isolated communities and a review of fares structures as part of a broader review of the affordability of public transport.”

The Ferries Review consultation paper was issued in June 2010. This document asks for your opinions and views about how ferry services could be delivered in future, to inform the Scottish Government in the preparation of a Draft Ferries Plan up to 2022. This Ferries Review Consultation Document is the subject of public consultation which runs to 30 September 2010.

We are taking this opportunity to encourage our members to submit a response to the ferries review as we understand that response from South Uist has been limited to date. It is critical that the Scottish Government understand the needs of the communities of South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula in relation to transport, in particular in relation to journey times, fares and routes.

To assist with gathering responses to the consultation paper, a questionnaire was attached to the document. We urge everyone to respond either directly through the questionnaire attached or by letter to the address below.

More Information on the Review can be obtained at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/Review

The consultation questionnaire can be found on: www.surveymonkey.com/s/CHKMCYJ

The address for alternative submission is:
Scottish Ferries Review Consultation
Ferries Division
2nd Floor North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

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