Clampdown on motorists who destroy isles wildlife
FERRY bosses have increased security on islandhopping services over fears tourists are destroying wildlife by illegally driving in remote beauty spots.
CalMac has tightened permit rules following complaints from Eigg that visitors are flouting vehicle control measures.
Since 2003, all cars coming to the Inner Hebridean island have required a certificate under Highland Council’s Small Isles Vehicle Permit Scheme, which aims to ‘protect the fragile infrastructure’.
Permits are available to residents. Contractors and tradesmen can obtain temporary permits.
But after vehicles from the US and China were spotted by locals on Eigg, CalMac said it has told staff that all permits must now be ‘reinforced’ when boarding at Mallaig.
Margaret Fyffe, 69, secretary of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, said: ‘We can get quite a lot of visitors from all over the world, mostly because of the unspoilt wildlife.
‘A lot of people make their living on Eigg from tourism but visitors are not allowed to bring cars as there aren’t really any proper roads.
‘A few people complained to CalMac after seeing a few new cars on the island belonging to tourists. We have been assured more checks will be carried out.’
The same clampdown has been imposed on all CalMac services to Muck and the Knoydart Peninsula.
A CalMac spokesman said: ‘Passengers can only take a vehicle to the Small Isles if they have a valid Highland Council-issued permit. To continue to protect the integrity of these fragile islands, the process for obtaining a permit has been reinforced to ensure only passengers with valid documentation are permitted on board with a vehicle.’
A spokesman for Highland Council said: ‘We have an agreement with CalMac to ask customers trying to book a vehicle onto the ferry to ask if they have a permit from the council. If they haven’t, CalMac should redirect them back to us.
‘Unfortunately, when there has been a change of staff in the CalMac office, the information may not always be accurately passed on.
‘Last month, we were alerted by Eigg that unnecessary vehicles were coming over. The matter was addressed and resolved very quickly after receiving the initial report.
‘We have a good relationship with the community council for the Small Isles, who are supportive of the permit order.’