Tiree residents seek CalMac assurance
Islanders on Tiree say they have been left ‘high and dry’ by CalMac and have requested it gives them priority on the current reduced capacity service.
Tiree Community Council has written a letter to CalMac asking for assurances for islanders, who have been unable to visit their families on the mainland and those travelling to medical appointments, stating that the situation is now ‘absolutely critical’.
CalMac has confirmed that from June 30, 20 per cent of availability on each boat (86 for Tiree and Coll) will be held back for ‘turn up and go’, which they say can be used by the islanders. But the Tiree community wants more.
‘We want to avoid a feeding frenzy for online tickets every 14 days, a situation that elderly islanders will inevitably lose,’ wrote Community Council convenor Dr John Holliday.
‘Islanders are also concerned that the opening up of second homes, self-catering accommodation and tourism will inevitably absorb all the available bookings, leaving islanders unable to travel off (and back on) the islands.
‘What we particularly want to avoid is having elderly island travellers having to queue through the night on Oban pier to be sure of a space on the return boat.’
Dr Holliday stressed that some islanders had not been off Tiree for five months due to weather-related ferry cancellations and a three-week replacement of the link span, all prior to the lockdown.
Residents on the island are backing the call.
Catriona MacLennan said: ‘The lifeline service is for the islanders who live and work here, more thought should have gone into the easing of lockdown for the islands.’
Carol Flett added: ‘Of course tourism is important for the islands but this is our lifeline service. My daughter can’t travel by ferry to the island because the few passenger spaces available seem to have been taken by long-term bookings.’
Phyl Meyer commented: ‘All we are asking is that people who live here on Tiree get a chance to use it. Islanders should have a degree of priority.’
Dr Holliday added: ‘If you live on an island, you live with travel restriction.
‘But what we want to see is a managed system that is fair to all the competing demands, placing islanders at the heart of the matter.’
Tiree Community Council has also made representations to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and met with Michael Russell MSP.
In response CalMac have stated that they are trying hard to balance the needs of islanders and visitors, and that there will be leeway given for emergency travel.