Accelerating ferry improvements

Sir,

The Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Community Board had a positive meeting with the new transport minister Graeme Dey MSP.

The minister confirmed the position the island communities found themselves in through a lack of resilience in the fleet had to be addressed.

He understands the frustration and anger that exists across the network and has committed to doing all he can to improve the immediate situation and work with stakeholders to plan a more resilient and sustainable service going forward.

It was confirmed proposals to hire in additional tonnage is at an advanced stage and other proposals for short to medium-term improvements would be considered.

The minister also recognised the important part the communities’ voice can play in future planning and the benefit an inclusive approach can bring to future developments.

The minister also wishes to have a good working relationship with the Ferries Community Board and the island communities they serve.

Our board looks forward to working effectively with the minister and other stakeholders to ensure that the unacceptable level of damage to the social and economic fabric of our islands across the network will not be repeated.

The board had separate sessions with senior Transport Scotland officials, the chief executive of CMAL and the managing director of CalMac.

Options were discussed around the condition and age of the fleet and particularly around what short term alternative options there were.

Are there other ways of working or modifying restrictions to immediately gain more capacity and can we understand what prohibits more flexible solutions?

Questions were asked around the dry docking as to whether all essential repairs were done and if better investment in time and resources in dry docking would prevent future breakdowns.

There was general agreement this would be a positive move, although it was recognised that longer dry docking periods would mean longer periods of vessels being unavailable unless we brought spare tonnage into the fleet.

The urgent efforts to obtain new tonnage was welcomed.

The board also emphasised the need for a clear programme of investment from the finance identified in the last budget.

We were clear that communities’ voices must be heard in the formulation of the programme.

Best value for money has to be achieved and consideration given if all the needs of the service will be met within these resources in an acceptable timeframe.

The board emphasised to all parties the disastrous consequences of the present situation on communities, individuals and businesses and offered to work constructively to accelerate improvements that will meet the needs of our communities.

Our board will follow up on the main points raised with the appropriate bodies and look forward to further meetings with the minister.

Angus Campbell, chairman, Ferries Community Board (Clyde and Hebrides).