A bridge to Ullapool?
Not exactly, but the concept is the same. Cllr Donald J MacSween, the well known dissident, and the new Vice-Chair of Transportation, is calling on the Scottish Executive to abolish ferry fares at the same time as they abolish the tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.As Donald John quite rightly says, "The first minister is to be commended for announcing the removal of charges on those who use the Tay and Forth bridges and it makes sense to extend that wisdom to the removal of ferry fares. This would be the biggest boost ever to the economy of the Western Isles and would easily repay the costs within a short time."
This is exactly the kind of lateral thinking the community needs, and I have no doubt that the entire Council will support this. I look forward to our MP and MSP supporting this campaign too. Good work Mr MacSween.
7 comments:
Is this another caption contest? or have you copied a "Wanted" poster from the Polis?
Dissident or dissenter?
Good point! Dissenter, mainly. And a good thing too. Mostly.
This has it's merits, though there's possibly some pretty significant hurdles to it happening.
If the sums add up, though, then getting rid of the fares would certainly boost the local tourism trade.
As you say, good work Mr Macsween for raising this issue and making the suggestion.
Scenario: SNP move bill to abolish tolls. Bill gets all party support.
LibDems (Tavish Scott, Shetland) move an amendment to include abolition of ferry fares. Hence delivering free ferry fares AND blowing a hole in the SNP's budget plans.
But look at the opposition to this scheme in the Central Belt, as shown in the comments to the Scotsman report.
Your scenario presumes that the LibDems can take some initiative, which would be a first.
Why Ullapool ?
Why not the shortest crossing ?
Link All the Western isles together first and then link them to the mainland by the shortest and probably cheapest route.
The "Central Belt" in Scotland is not as blind to needs of others outside its borders as The "North Island" Has to its neighbours.
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