Single ferry service must be upgraded

Sir, Islay residents and visitors have been enduring an appalling level of service from CalMac.

We have had delays, cancellations, a severe lack of ferries and it always seems to be Islay that goes without.

It’s by no means the fault of the hard-working front-line staff of CalMac but certainly the management needs to get its act together and sort out these mounting problems.

This is the time of year when we on Islay need our ferries the most yet CalMac, with its monopoly and large taxpayer-funded subsidy, seems to be more than willing to let this single ferry service continue.

On Islay, more than anywhere else, our ferries are not just an important means of transport for locals and visitors but an essential piece of infrastructure for our massive industrial output from our distilleries, farms, fisheries and estates.

I know of a number of tourists who have not visited Islay this year because of our ferry troubles.

Islay’s economy is being damaged by the management of CalMac’s notfit-for-purpose ferry service. Alastair Redman, Islay.