Decision on Crowness cash could come soon
(From The Orcadian dated March 8, 2001)

Orkney should find out next week whether controversial council plans for a £11.5 million ferry terminal at Crowness will get crucial Scottish Executive support.

The project - to serve Northlink's new Aberdeen/ Orkney/Shetland ferries when they come on line in October next year - sparked off protests in Stromness where the ferries currently berth.

Stromness harbour will have to be upgraded to cope with the larger ferry due to ply the Pentland Firth route. Opponents of the Crowness scheme say more work could be carried out at Stromness to retain the Aberdeen/Shetland vessel.

Scots First Minister Henry McLeish says he is well aware of the controversy that flared up after the council backed the scheme in December.

Speaking to The Orcadian during his visit to the county on Friday, he said an announcement could be made at the Highlands and Islands Convention, which is due to meet in Orkney on March 16.

"The Orkney Islands Council have been in discussions with the Scottish Executive and the Minister for Transport Sarah Boyack has been actively involved," he said. "I think that there will be a decision soon on the issue and of course it is very much tied up into grants and capital support might be required for such an initiative.

"The main thing as far as the Executive is concerned is to get the right solution. There are obviously major changes taking place and we clearly have to make progress because we are talking about a start in October 2002.

"We are well aware of the controversy that has existed but the Minister of Transport will hopefully be in a position to comment very soon on that.

"I think the Highlands and Islands Convention is taking place soon and that maybe a suitable occasion possibly for an announcement and that is within a matter of two weeks."

With the ferry contract won by Northlink due to start in October 2002 Mr McLeish agreed that the Executive had to move quickly.

"I think it's right that the islands are not held back by this uncertainty," he added.