Western Isles

A WESTERN Isles MSP has written to the Minister for Transport to inquire about a ‘motor home levy’ which could be used to improve local infrastructure.

Na h-Eileanan an Iar’s Alasdair Allan MSP wrote to Humza Yousaf to ask what consideration could be given to such a tax.

Mr Allan said: ‘It has been a fantastic thing for our local economies in the Western Isles that we have had record numbers of tourists visiting here and enjoying our island hospitality. However, this success has brought its own set of problems and it is apparent our infrastructure has not been able to keep up with demand.

‘The numbers of motor homes using island ferry routes has shot up nearly 10-fold over the last decade and issues associated with motor homes have been repeatedly brought up.

‘There is a lack of suitable sites for them, a lack of waste disposal units and the extra space they require on the ferries has contributed to the capacity problems we have seen over the summer.

‘While there has been substantial and welcomed investment by the Scottish Government in new and larger ferries, we need to recognise the continued pressure on local people trying to travel in the busy summer months.

‘Motorhomes play an important part in our tourism economy and this should not be about making motorhome visitors feel unwelcome. They are welcome. This is about recognising the pressures created on infrastructure by such a rapid growth in tourism and providing communities with a new source of funding that they can direct as they see fit.’