Ferry services
The biggest surprise in the story about the cost of replacing the CalMac fleet is that the Labour candidate has not put the boot into the Government.
He is right not to do so, as there are a number of simple solutions to the problem that require a constructive approach and will not be solved by being at loggerheads with the Government, again.
The ferry services should be there to protect the communities and encourage rural growth, not to facilitate an easy exit.
I remember this point being made a multitude of times in the Council chamber, with everyone demanding that the focus be on the communities that are being served. All of which explains why the ferries are berthed in Stornoway, Berneray and Barra.
None of which goes the slightest way to explaining why CalMac headquarters remain in Gourock, other than for the convenience of the Central Belt Board Members. We are occasionally blessed with a visit, usually delivered in finest patronising tones to inform the natives of what the Board are doing to benefit them.
The approach now has to be to ensure that the ferry services meet the requirements of the communities they serve, and a simple like-for-like replacement is not satisfactory. If we need two new ferries on the Stornoway-Ullapool route shuttling backwards and forwards, then that is what we should campaign for; not a piecemeal replacement of each ferry to give a slightly better service.
RET confuses the issue, of course, but it is inevitable that bigger, faster and better ferries, running more frequently are going to be needed and at the next election the focus has to be on substantial service improvement -- whether that is in new builds or leased vessels is immaterial.
He is right not to do so, as there are a number of simple solutions to the problem that require a constructive approach and will not be solved by being at loggerheads with the Government, again.
Transport consultants Faber Maunsell suggest the cost of bringing the fleet up to the optimum age and size will cost quarter of a billion pounds and that this might not be justifiable in light of the declining populations on west coast islands.The full replacement cost might be in the right area but look at the the justification...
in light of the declining populations on west coast islandsHang on a minute: are you assuming that improved ferry services can do nothing to affect the population on the islands?
The ferry services should be there to protect the communities and encourage rural growth, not to facilitate an easy exit.
I remember this point being made a multitude of times in the Council chamber, with everyone demanding that the focus be on the communities that are being served. All of which explains why the ferries are berthed in Stornoway, Berneray and Barra.
None of which goes the slightest way to explaining why CalMac headquarters remain in Gourock, other than for the convenience of the Central Belt Board Members. We are occasionally blessed with a visit, usually delivered in finest patronising tones to inform the natives of what the Board are doing to benefit them.
The approach now has to be to ensure that the ferry services meet the requirements of the communities they serve, and a simple like-for-like replacement is not satisfactory. If we need two new ferries on the Stornoway-Ullapool route shuttling backwards and forwards, then that is what we should campaign for; not a piecemeal replacement of each ferry to give a slightly better service.
RET confuses the issue, of course, but it is inevitable that bigger, faster and better ferries, running more frequently are going to be needed and at the next election the focus has to be on substantial service improvement -- whether that is in new builds or leased vessels is immaterial.
8 comments:
An improved ferry service would be good, but there is really only one major improvement needed which is Sunday sailings. Without 7 days sailings the Isle of Lewis is doomed to a future of economic obscurity as there is no way we can consider ourselves as a competitive platform. To argue otherwise is to deny all the evidence that we have before us.
completely agree...
There is a wider picture. It is clear that the government will kick for touch until the report on ferry services is published so nothing can be expected from that quarter. But very sensibly, our
MP and MSP are both making noises about the criticality of the ferry services; perhaps because of the distance I've not heard much from the west's national politicians.
Writing from Orkney where the Council run the inter island ferries most of which need replaced, the government has insisted on a bare minimum approach so no service improvements can be put forward like inter-island connections. Even so, the cost looks like being north of £80 million.
The services to Scotland are run by a calmac subsidiary with newish boats and a competing entirely unsubsidised service, if he can get his new boat to work properly, so they're not an issue here.
The point is that as with fuel prices, it's critical that the Island and neighbouring mainland councils work together with the MSPs to get this sorted.
So to prevent economic obscurity we have to work on sunday. What absolute BULLSHIT!!!
There is no magic bullet for the economy but one thing is sure - making the island accessible 7 days a week should be a given for social as well as economic reasons. Sunday working is a red herring - the ferry crews already work on Sundays.
Sure that language isn't very Christian 9.44.
Never could understand what Christianity had against non-religious cursing. All prim and proper and polite, are we? What has that got to do with real Christianity.
In fact, continually amazed that holier-than-thous can't see past haircuts, hats, washing lines and some forms of transport over others, when deciding who meets their so-called Christian standards.
But what else is new.
Nevin over at Nalil has uncovered what CMAL, the asset owning company really think of Calmac.
Calmac used to operate the Rathlin Island ferry but lost the route in somewhat controversial circumstances.
I believe the EU are investigating, how this happened. Curiously the MV Canna is still on the route since Department of Regional Development, managed to come to some kind of arrangement with CMAL , prior to re tendering the route after the first tendering exercise failed, despite Calmac submitting the only compliant bid.....
Now it looks like the Scottish Government were involved in "facilitating" the changeover to the new operator.
A very curious affair indeed!!!
http://nalil.blogspot.com/
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