Honesty is the best policy

The travelling public on Arran were unwittingly dragged into a situation this week which was not of their making. Yet no one would tell them what was going on.

Why CalMac could not be open and honest and admit they were looking at using the MV Isle of Arran for cover on the Islay route is a mystery.

Instead customers were simply told they could not make ferry reservations for ‘operational reasons’ leaving the truth to leak out in a series of rumours and half truths.

The fact CalMac bosses appear to view the MV Isle of Arran as a back up vessel for other routes is worrying enough, but to compound that concern with a lack of consideration for passengers trying to get to and from Arran is an issue which needs to be addressed.

The Isle of Arran Ferry Committee considers that taking the MV Isle of Arran to Islay for three days to help cover the island agricultural show was justified. But who may want her next? But they accept communication could have been better and that is really the crux of the problem. Historically CalMac was no stranger to this criticism, but it had been hoped that more recently times had changed. But have they?

Certainly they appear to be trying with the new status categories offering more information on sailings and the much delayed move to electronic ticketing.

What is needed does not take a revolution, simply a commitment to be open and honest with the travelling public.

Of course there is a bigger problem. The situation only arose because there is no spare capacity with many of the opinion that the fleet is one, or maybe even two, larger ships short.

That, of course, is not the operator’s fault as they must ultimately work with the vessels Transport Scotland provide. A new Arran ferry is under construction on the Clyde but it will be two years before it comes into service.

Let’s hope the 33-year-old MV Isle of Arran keeps going, and continues to provide as full as possible a summer service until then.