Transport study stirs up wave of dissatisfaction
(From The Orcadian dated May 23, 2001)

A major study into transport in the North Isles has led to a wave of dissatisfaction among local folk.

The council commissioned a team of consultants - EKOS from Inverness - to undertake the £30,000 study which has come up with several findings and proposals for change in the way the isles are served by sea and air.

Among them are radical suggestions to cut the number of ferries serving the isles from three to two, increase the use of public transport subsidies and improve air services.

A draft report of the study was sent out to community councils, but led to concerns over the possible loss of a ferry.

Jim Cooper chairman of Stronsay Community Council said there was a general feeling of dissatisfaction with the recommendations made in the report and people were generally happy with the current ferry service.

Reducing the number of ferries serving the isles and replacing them with larger faster vessels was not an option he said.

"We have a good service if they would leave it alone. That is about the size of it. During the refit period we have a very very poor service and it seems to me that now they are trying to provide a poor service."

Concerns have also been raised by the report's findings that no financial provision has been made by the council to meet the costs of replacement vessels and as a result, the service was not financially sustainable.

Chairman of Westray Community Council Danny Harcus said his members had voiced a number of concerns on the proposed pattern of air services and ferries.

They felt strongly, he said, that ferries should be based in the islands, and that island hauliers should have a strong say in the future arrangements.

Westray community councillors also felt that commercial vehicle tariffs needed to be looked at. They also believe that consideration should be given to how transport arrangements impact on employment.

On the type of ferries themselves, Mr Harcus said Westray members wanted the OIC to purchase faster vessels, when looking at replacements. They also feel that disabled access on existing ferries had to be improved.

"Concern was expressed that the consultants report took no account of the additional freight traffic which would be generated by a new salmon farm on the island," he said.

"They also disagreed with the suggestion that a smaller vessel could serve Westray, because the present ferry was at times not able to cope with the volume of passengers and vehicles wishing to travel."

"They also recommended using the Internet for boosting the marketing of both the ferry and air services."

OIC development director Mr Jeremy Baster said the draft consultant's report had been discussed by OIC and community councillors and concerns would be taken on board before the final report was published.

With flights to the isles by Loganair becoming less viable, Mr Baster said there was a train of thought that a reduction in the ferry service could pay for better air services.

"You could increase air services quite substantially with a marginal reduction in the ferry service," he said.

Mr Baster said the final report is due to come before a future meeting of the transportation committee.