Rise in Corran Ferry fares is unfair for residents

Highland Council approved its budget on February 14, including an increase in council tax of three per cent, with the probability that it will go up by the same amount next year and the year after.

This comes alongside various planned cost savings, and an increase (also three per cent per year for three years) in the cost of cremations, burials, bulky uplift, Corran Ferry fares, fish export certificates and a few others. So that’s okay then, it’s only in line with inflation and at least we are all being treated fairly and equitably.

But hang on a minute. It isn’t fair or equitable because the small communities of Sunart, Ardgour, Morvern and Ardnamurchan are required to pay higher charges to make use of a ferry to get to their only nearby town, Fort William.

Approximately 1,500 people who have no reasonable option but to make use of the Corran Ferry to get to work, healthcare, shops and meetings are going to have to pay more to do so.

This specific group of people have been targeted for an increase in their day-to-day costs, whereas all other cost increases are either applicable to all, or may be required by us all at some time.

As far as I can see, this is the only example of an increase in costs being applied specifically to one group of people, according to where they live. Imagine if the council tax increase was only applied to those people living on Skye. Or if the cost of burials only went up for people living in Nairn.

We are appalled when we read about the socalled ‘postcode lottery’ whereby people get differing healthcare according to where they live, and yet most of our councillors, including four out of the seven Lochaber ones, were prepared to support this particular penalty.

This is unfair, and Highland Council should be ashamed.

Joanne Matheson, Acharacle.