Loss of ferries ‘a catastrophe’ for tourism on cut-off islands
SNP accused of negligence
THE ferry shortage engulfing some of Scotland’s most remote island communities has ‘escalated from crisis to catastrophe’ during the vital holiday season.
Services have been thrown into chaos after ferry operator CalMac changed timetables to cover the loss of both vessels connecting North and South Uist with the mainland.
The two Outer Hebridean islands’ remaining sailings were cancelled after the MV Hebrides was damaged in a collision with the pier at Lochmaddy on North Uist on Wednesday evening.
The MV Lord of the Isles, which links Lochboisdale on South Uist and Mallaig on the mainland, was already out of action until next week while it is undergoing repairs.
CalMac has apologised for the ‘significant disruption’ as it scrambled to find cover by cancelling services elsewhere to allow for the MV Hebridean Isles to be moved to the service between Lochmaddy and Uig on Skye.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: ‘For the people of the Uists, this has escalated from crisis to catastrophe, with potentially devastating consequences for the islands’ tourism economy.
‘It is beyond belief SNP ministers could have been so negligent, or senior SNP politicians like Nicola Sturgeon and Pete Wishart are so dismissive of the situation that island communities are in.’
Mr Wishart, the MP for Perth and North Perthshire, had complained about First Minister’s Questions being all about the ferry problems again and was criticised for tweeting: ‘Ferries, ferries, ferries, ferries, ferries and then some more ferries. And did I mention the ferries ..... #fmqs. Every week.’
Rupert Marshall, who runs a bed and breakfast on South Uist, said holidaymakers began scrapping bookings as soon as news broke that the collision at Lochmaddy had left the islands cut off, hitting deliveries of food and medication.
He said: ‘It is a short season on the islands. We make money in five or six months and it is during that time we make enough to last us the full year. Why are islanders worth less to the Scottish Government? If the A9 was closed for a week every effort would be made to reopen it.’
Sailings between Tarbert on Harris and Uig have also been suspended until Friday and those between Ardrossan and Campbeltown have been cancelled.
Extra services have been added to the link between Ullapool and Stornoway from today to allow people to travel between the mainland and Lewis and Harris.
A CalMac spokesman said: ‘This is a significant disruption for our communities, and we sincerely apologise for this.
‘Our immediate priority is to ensure lifeline services such as food supplies and urgent medical care can be transported.
‘Removing vessels from routes is always a very difficult decision and one we’d rather not make but our options are extremely limited.’
‘Potentially devastating’