Sunday ferries - the end game?
I understand from reports from the highest levels, that the CalMac Board will recommend that a Sunday ferry run between Stornoway and Ullapool be operated from the commencement of the 2008 Summer timetables.
This is claimed to be in response the aspirations of those who want a late Saturday night ferry to allow sportsmen and women to take part in events on the mainland and get home before the Sunday; and, to level the increased traffic flows across all seven days when RET (or what passes for RET) is introduced on this route.
Of course, all this has to be approved by the Minister, who has already indicated that he has no intention of making any kind of decision about such a contentious decision - which in terms of the relevant legislation is by default an approval.
Other informants advise me that the Lord's Day Observance Society, headed by the Rev Coghill
will be seeking to arrange an anti-SNP vote at the next elections from their supporters. Which places a number of the signatories on the petition into a difficult position.
There is a very poisonous undercurrent of anti-Catholicism from a few of the LDOS supporters with Angus MacNeil MP - as a good Barra Catholic - being ascribed a central machiavellian role in the whole affair. Personally, I think such accusations are wildly wrong, but his failure to take any kind of stance on the issue is being taken as 'evidence' of his guilt.
One thing is for certain, the media will have a field day portraying the islands as backward, isolationist and obsessed with religion, whilst the real issues remain a mystery to the majority.
This is claimed to be in response the aspirations of those who want a late Saturday night ferry to allow sportsmen and women to take part in events on the mainland and get home before the Sunday; and, to level the increased traffic flows across all seven days when RET (or what passes for RET) is introduced on this route.
Of course, all this has to be approved by the Minister, who has already indicated that he has no intention of making any kind of decision about such a contentious decision - which in terms of the relevant legislation is by default an approval.
Other informants advise me that the Lord's Day Observance Society, headed by the Rev Coghill
will be seeking to arrange an anti-SNP vote at the next elections from their supporters. Which places a number of the signatories on the petition into a difficult position.
There is a very poisonous undercurrent of anti-Catholicism from a few of the LDOS supporters with Angus MacNeil MP - as a good Barra Catholic - being ascribed a central machiavellian role in the whole affair. Personally, I think such accusations are wildly wrong, but his failure to take any kind of stance on the issue is being taken as 'evidence' of his guilt.
One thing is for certain, the media will have a field day portraying the islands as backward, isolationist and obsessed with religion, whilst the real issues remain a mystery to the majority.
11 comments:
As I type, the Isle of Lewis is heading south to the Clyde for installation of armour plate, all the better for blockade running.....Shock horror- its 2200 now, Sat night, which means- she will still be at sea on SUNDAY!
http://www.aisliverpool.org.uk/currentmap.php?refresh=0&count=2&map=Minch
There'll be a panic in the offices of the Gazette tomorrow, as they try and turn your blog posting into an "exclusive story" in time for going to the press later this week...
Well, let's hope you're right Angus. It's about time we islanders had the same right to travel whichever day of the week we like as the rest of the country. As for the media portraying us as "backward, isolationist and obsessed with religion", we should be pointing the finger fairly and squarely at the LDOS and their ilk for creating that impression. In my experience most islanders just want to go about their business and have no time for the extremists & fundamentalists.
One would have thought that the LDOS and the wider Christian Community would have better reason to vote against our athletic MP, rather than his support of Sunday ferries.
The Minister shouldn't have to approve anything, Angus. If Calmac deem it to be within their operational brief to run a lifeline ferry service 7 days a week, then that's what they can do. Same happened in April 2006 on the Sound of Harris ferry. Mr Stevenson doesn't have to take a decision at all.
as i recall the rules for the sabbath (actually Saturday) do not include knocking others off their donkeys if they wish to go more than 1 1/2 -2 miles. Incidentally they do not include preventing other traders from trading, either!
If you ever get those wind turbines, then should not be allowed to turn on a Sunday. Exporting electricity to the mainland will just encourage people to abuse the Sabbath.
Come to think off it, they should switch off all the power in Lewis as well :)
Barring a rougue wave its looking good for a 7-day service at long last and it will be achieved despite opposition from people who should be promoting the long term welfare of our islands. Apart from the social travel benefits can we we afford to turn down extra business and jobs? The Isle of Sark - smallest of the Channel Isles - saw a 25% increase in visitor numbers following the introduction of a Sunday ferry service a couple of years ago. See this online petition and add your voice and comments if you wish.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Ferry7days/signatures.html
first anon - But it'll in mainland waters by then-so it doesn't count - use logic will you! :D
I say let the Sunday ferry come and for goodness (I almost typed God's) sake get the sports centre and arts centre open on a Sunday too!
From discussion with 2 Calmac workers (who don't know each other) have a strong suspicion now that Calmac will agree to the Sunday ferry at their next meeting. This will leave them just a few days before the new timetable kicks in, which will include this new service. No long period of time to deal with the hassle of objections. It's the same procedure they used with the Sound of Harris ferry 2 years ago.
Also seems that the workers haven't been told, but strongly suspect this will be what happens. Calmac keen not to leak out probable course of action as (a) they haven't had their meeting yet and (b) it'll just agitate LDOS et al earlier than needed.
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