Plea to keep weekly school ferry sailings
The Highland Council has been urged to maintain the weekly special ferry sailings for pupils from the Small Isles who board at Mallaig High School and not return to fortnightly crossings.
In October the local authority opted to switch from fortnightly to weekly sailings for the youngsters from Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna following pressure from the parent council and MSP Kate Forbes.
At the time, Highland Council told the Lochaber Times that the weekly schedule would only be temporary arrangement while Covid restrictions at the hostel remained in force.
But it is believed that earlier this summer the local authority notified parents it intended resuming the fortnightly sailings which meant boarding pupils would only get to return home every two weeks.
Kate Forbes and Fort William and Ardnamurchan SNP councillor Niall McLean both want to see the weekly crossings retained. Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: 'Understandably island parents are concerned about the
impact on their children’s mental health of being away from home for longer periods of time with no parental oversight or support, especially as the virus is still impacting our lives.
‘I have previously written to the Highland Council asking if the weekly service could be maintained, at the very least until the consultation period has been completed, and it is imperative the views of pupils and parents in the affected communities are considered before any final decisions are made.’
Councillor McLean added: ‘I strongly question the decision from Highland Council to not allow pupils from the Small Isles who board at Mallaig High School to return home weekly. Only being permitted to go home once a fortnight will impact the children who have to board and their families. We don’t want these families under further stress. A weekly trip home is essential for family life.
‘Keeping children from their families, especially at this stage in the pandemic, doesn’t make sense.’
However, Caol and Mallaig councillor Denis Rixson, Liberal Democrats, favoured an option that would satisfy both viewpoints.
‘I would like to see weekly sailings retained and the hostel remaining open at weekends for those parents and children who prefer to return fortnightly,’ he explained.
‘The council would have to recognise there would be a cost implication for this but it would satisfy both sides of the equation.’