E between Mull and d in transport review

to imagine that would be justified for an island of 3,200 people who at the moment show little desire for one.’

Instead of the SNP’s ‘grandiose distraction’, the committee said it wants existing ferry services improved.

Giving his reaction, Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Andrew Baxter, whose ward includes Morvern, told the Lochaber Times that no mention in the STPR2 report of a possible fixed link

The report suggests a fixed link from Mull to the mainland could be made via a tunnel or bridge.

across the Corran Narrows was a glaring omission.

‘If Mull can have a tunnel, what about Transport Scotland acknowledging the long-term challenge of crossing the Corran Narrows. We know a tunnel is an engineering possibility so why hasn’t that been recognised in this transport plan?’

And Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil commented: ‘We must catch up with people like the Faroese who have been linking the islands, over lengths of 10km, at about £10 million per km to construct. The tunnel link to Mull would obviously benefit Mull, but also Coll and Tiree, and could make Tobermory the port in the south end of the west coast.’

But a 2019 survey by Mull and Iona Ferry Committee found 60 per cent of those asked disagreed with a tunnel from Mull to Oban.

‘What is really needed is a two to five year plan to fix the chronically dysfunctional and expensive ferry system,’ added the committee.

‘A tunnel to Mull is by no means an easy task. The most practical place to install a fixed link is across the sound of Mull to Morvern. That would replace the small, dependable and frequent Lochaline-Fishnish ferry.

‘However, there would still be a strong need to retain a ferry to Oban, because Oban is our closest mainland town.’