Government needs to step up over flights and ferries

The Wainwright family at their farm on Coll. Pictured from left Cameron (22), mum Romayne, Dougie (27), dad Rob, Alex (23), Tasha (26).

the requirements of the routes.

‘Ask any islander and they will tell you that it’s not the timetable itself they have a problem with, it’s converting timetable into service,’ continued Rob who, along with wife Romayne runs the family farm on Coll.

‘The boats they bring in are not built to cope with our west coast waters and CalMac can’t move the refits to the summer as that is when they need the capacity.

‘In the meantime businesses on the island suffer as they still require the regular service, as does maintenance works such as roads, building etc which rely on large machinery and supplies getting over.’

Rob, who has four grown-up children who all travel on and off the island regularly, admits that it was a personal choice to live on an island and considers himself lucky to do so. ‘We are quite stoic over here and tend to look on the bright side of things and build our lives around the ferry timetables,’ he added.

‘The effect the disruption has on businesses, however, can be devastating and the island community want answers.

‘Ultimately the problem lives with the government, but there is growing concern that they don’t have the answers either.

‘Where the ferries?

‘We need some honest feedback about what is going on with our ferry replacement and procurement.

‘Jenny Gilruth is starting from scratch which probably means more delays. We would like her to come over here not on a fact-finding mission but to answer some questions.’ hell are the new