Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Welcomes Minister’s Ferry Plans

17 November 2023 at 12:28:01

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar welcomed the statement to Parliament from Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Transport, on the future arrangements proposed for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service Contract.  Ms Hyslop has indicated a desire to directly award the contract to Calmac Ferries Limited on the condition that this is feasible within the Public Procurements Scotland requirements and assured that any direct award will depend on greater transparency, better community engagement and a commitment to improving the service delivered to island communities.

Cllr Uisdean Robertson, Chair of Transport and Infrastructure said, "With 11 months left of the current CHFS contract it is welcome that Scottish Government have clarified their thinking.  Regardless of how this contract is procured and delivered we need to see a complete change in the way these services are delivered that ensures the islands that depend on these ferry services are at the heart of every aspect of their delivery.  The Comhairle have long campaigned for improved delivery of ferry services and we want to work with the Minister to ensure that this will not be more of the same poor service delivery we have seen since the beginning of the current contract.  There needs to be major change to Calmac Ferries Limited and a sensible step towards this would be a senior management team and Board of Directors living and working in island communities on the network."

The call for senior CalMac staff members to be based in island communities echoes the statement made by Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, following the publication of Scotland's Census results: "We will look to engage with the Scottish Government to encourage the dispersal of key jobs out of Edinburgh. The population rise in the central belt presents the Scottish Government with challenges. Scottish Government should take proactive steps and place elements of Marine Scotland, Transport Scotland and CalMac in the Outer Hebrides."