HAVE YOUR SAY CalMac’s contract success

John Stewart, of George Street Fish and Chip Shop: ‘ The announcement was good. I’m for CalMac. As long as the tourists are well looked after, as long as they are encouraged to come to Oban and as long as they continue to get a good experience, that is all that matters.’ Allan Strang, 30, who runs Allan’s Seal Trip: ‘I am pleased. I’m glad it didn’t go to Serco as they would have made cuts. So I’m very pleased with the outcome. It’s another good thing the SNP have done. The next eight years are going to be good. If Serco got it, they would have tried to push a lot of people like me out by putting the prices up for using the pier.’ Kara Willis, 17, from Lismore, who works for MacGillivray’s Seafood, travels to and from Lismore every day and she said that she is happy with the current service: ‘I think it is really good that CalMac got the contract because they do a good job and the service is good at the moment. I haven’t really heard anything good about Serco. I think they probably would have made cuts to everything.’ Community councillor Sean MacIntyre: ‘I was definitely supporting CalMac all the way. They create local jobs. It’s fantastic news that there are now two ferries going to Mull. If Serco were to get the contract, I think somewhere down the road the contract would have been up for renewal and a lot of local jobs would have been pushed out. The locals have a secure future for the next eight years.’ Jim Lynch, from Oban: ‘Giving CalMac the contract was a good idea. They have a proven track record and have served us well. They are part of the town. I think there would have been a lot of disruption, uncertainty and fear if Serco was awarded the contract. It’s better to have someone you know. The eight-year contract gives CalMac a long-term plan to invest in better services to help the island communities.’