Call For Ministers To Step In

30 March 2023 at 09:35:13

Commenting on news that ferry services between Mallaig/Oban and Lochboisdale will be cancelled from next week until 13 May, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure, Cllr Uisdean Robertson said:

"The announcement that the South Uist ferry service will be cancelled from April 5 to May 13 is scandalous and we are asking the Ministers to step in and ensure a level of service is maintained from the mainland to South Uist.  With Ministers having announced that MV Alfred would be available to serve the Clyde and Hebrides from 18 April it is unclear whether this has been factored in by Calmac in this decision.  This disastrous plan from Calmac to focus all the economic harm on Uist of the failure of Government and its agencies to successfully invest in new fleet must be reconsidered and reconsidered quickly.  There must also be a full independent inquiry to establish why Calmac's winter maintenance process has failed so spectacularly this year."