Political responses to Draft Scottish Ferry Services review

The Scottish Government today published the draft review of Scottish Ferry Services which will now go to consultation for a 14 week period until 30th march 2012. It is important for as many people as possible to make their views known to the government. This documentt will become a plan for the Scottish ferry services. Any plan needs as many perspectives as possible if it is to be both robust and supple.

After this consultation, a final Ferries Plan will be published later in 2012, providing strategic guidance for the provision of ferry services in Scotland through to 2022.

For Argyll will publish a considered account of the review as soon as possible; but in the meantime, there has been an immediate series of political responses to it.

Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Housing and Transport

Mr Brown says: ‘The long term future of ferry services in Scotland is vital not only for Scotland’s economic wellbeing but also for the people in our island and remote communities. As a Government we are absolutely determined and committed over the next decade to delivering on a progressive basis improved ferry services, and the draft Ferries Plan focuses on the things that we know matter most to our communities.

‘We want to build on the momentum generated by our recent announcement to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) during the lifetime of the current Parliament, and the draft Ferries Plan provides a raft of further positive proposals. We believe the RET underpins the way forward for ferry fares and we plan to replace the current route specific nature of fare setting with RET as the basis for fares for passengers and cars.

‘The draft Ferries Plan sets out a way ahead  – focussing on making connections better, improving reliability and journey times, and maximising opportunities for communities to thrive. We have proposed more vessels and more services across extended operating days, looked at how best to fund and procure services, how we can deliver ferry services in more environmentally friendly ways, and crucially – getting the most for every pound of taxpayers’ money invested.

‘We will also willingly take on more responsibility for lifeline ferry services. We are keen to work with Local Authorities currently providing lifeline services who would seek to transfer responsibility to Scottish Government. This could potentially be beneficial in improving both local ferry services and infrastructure, and direct resources more effectively.

‘We want to make a difference to people who contribute so much to the fabric of Scottish life and the proposals we have laid out today are aimed at taking our ferry services forward with purpose and with those communities’ interests at heart.

‘The future of our ferries is being shaped now and we would ask that those who cherish Scotland’s ferry services and want the very best for the provision of ferry services over the coming decade, let us hear their views now.’

Michael Russell, MSP, Argyll and Bute

Michael Russell has welcomed today’s publishing of the Scottish Ferry review as positive news for Argyll and the Islands.

Mr Russell says: ‘Coupled with the recent announcement on RET this is good news to take us into the new year. The proposals for Argyll and the Islands are positive and should improve services. I would encourage people to make their views known as soon as possible.

Jamie McGrigor, MSP, Highlands and Islands

Jamie McGrigors says: ‘Today’s report raises a number of key strategic, long-term issues which are of huge importance to my constituents, including concerns about how the  investment required in new ferries and port and harbour infrastructure will be secured.

‘I encourage all constituents who use ferries in my region to make their views known on the review- it is vital that the Scottish Government hears loudly and clearly the views of ferry users and the businesses that depend on lifeline ferry services. I give a cautious welcome to the conclusion that the tendering processes need to be more flexible although we need to see the details of this and we remain of the view that there is real merit in the tendering of smaller bundles.

‘However, today’s report offers no short term comfort to my haulier constituents who are very alarmed at the hike in CalMac fares; or to my constituents in Dunoon and Cowal who are angry at successive Scottish Government’s mishandling of the Gourock-Dunoon ferry tender which has left them with a so far unreliable passenger-only town-centre to town-centre service. Thankfully they are fortunate enough to have an alternative in Western Ferries which does provide an affordable and reliable car and passenger service for their communities.’

Mike Mackenzie MSP, Highlands and Islands

Mr Mackenzie who lives on the car-free Slate Island of Easdale, says: ‘Coupled with the recent announcement on RET this is good news to take us into the new year.

‘The proposals for the Highlands and the Islands are generally positive and should improve services. I would encourage people to make their views known in the final stage of consultation as soon as possible.’

Mary Scanlon MSP, Highlands and Islands

Mary Scanlon MSP, who is also the Scottish Conservative Spokesman on Enterprise, Energy & Tourism, says: ‘I welcome the publication of the Ferries Draft plan and would encourage local communities and constituents throughout the Highlands & Islands to engage with the review and make their views known.

‘I am also interested in the Scottish Government’s stated willingness to work with any local authority which wishes it to assume responsibilities for services it currently provides. In terms of the further expansion of RET it is crucial that all those communities involved receive as much information as possible on how fares might be affected.

‘I also believe there needs to be more recognition of the important and very valuable role of Pentland Ferries and Western Ferries who provide efficient, reliable and very valuable services with no public subsidy.’

Dave Thompson MSP, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Dave Thompson, urging people to respond to the draft review, pointed out that the review covers provision of ferry services around Scotland’s coast and the roll-out of the Scottish Government’s popular Road Equivalent Tariff scheme, which brings the expense of ferry travel closer to the cost of covering the same distance by road.

Mr Thompson says: ‘There are many positives in this report, both in terms of better services and improvements to timetables and fares.

‘I would encourage everyone affected by the operation of our ferry services to take the time to read the changes in full and to submit a considered response by the end of the consultation period in March.’

Louise Glen-Lee,Councillor, Argyll and Bute

Councillor Glen-Lee, who has the islands of Luing, Easdale and Lismore within her ward, says: ‘The ferry review has brought forward proposals which, if carried out, could have an impact on island life as we know it.

‘We need people from the mainland and the islands to comment on the plans to tell us whether they are as good as people who wrote it think they are.

‘People have a limited time to comment, so maybe after Christmas Dinner people could sharpen their pencils, or computers, and reply. It will only be a good plan if people get involved with it to shape it to their needs.’

NOTE: Here is a downloadable pdf version of the draft Scottish Ferry Services review: Draft-ferries-plan-for-consultation