Who pays the ferryman?

Not an original title but a question which the Scottish Government must address.

The title is borrowed from one of Mr Roy Pedersen’s books, which should be set as compulsory homework for CMAL and Scottish government ministers. The answer is we all do! Reading these books is enlightening.

Contrast Pentland Ferries, a family run company with a new £17million catamaran running from Gill’s Bay to St Margaret’s Hope in a shorter time, at a cheaper price and carrying more cars, completely free of subsidy in competition with the Northlink Scrabster to Stromness service for which we, the taxpayer, pay a reported subsidy of £350 per return passenger.

Nothing has changed since some 40 years ago. With government collusion, Western Ferries were forced from their profitable Islay run by the Government run, heavily subsidised, Caledonian MacBrayne. Western Ferries have gone on to provide an excellent service to Dunoon with no government subsidy and could, with their model, provide further un-subsidised services.

Imagine if Pentland Ferries, with two similar catamarans, with the same frequency, were operating on the Oban-Craignure route, with greater capacity than the present two, heavily subsidised vessels, and with their reduced windage offering fewer weather induced disruptions? This route could operate at a profit, offer a better service and, probably, at no cost to the taxpayer.

CMAL is stuck in a time warp. It is time to move on! There is a strong case for scrapping the Ferguson built vessels and having a rethink. Building larger and larger vessels with ever greater windage though still constrained by draught is not sustainable.

Do not believe me? Read Mr Pedersen’s books. If his suggestions come to fruition, it will save you money in tax. I am not on commission, just angry!

J Patrick Maclean,

Oban.