Job fears over Westray-Papay causeway link
(From The Orcadian dated November 2, 2000)

Papa Westray residents have greeted the idea of a causeway link to Westray with some anxiety, fearing a loss of jobs if a physical link is made between the islands.

Their reaction came after a suggestion from Highlands and Islands Minister, Mr Alasdair Morrison, on a visit to Westray and Papay last week. He raised the subject at the opening of Westray’s Höfn Drop-In Centre. He highlighted the benefits that had accrued to islands in his own area of the Western Isles such as Scalpay and Vatersay being linked by causeways, which had not resulted in a loss of their community spirit or sense of identity.

Mr Morrison suggested that a causeway could be worth considering for Westray and Papay, as a way of strengthening both communities.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive stressed that Mr Morrison had made these remarks as an individual MSP representing an island constituency, and not in his capacity as a Minister. The spokesman explained that many of the implications of constructing a fixed link between two islands would fall under the remit of Scottish Transport Minister, Ms Sarah Boyack.

The islands councillor for Papay and Westray, Mr Stephen Hagan, said: “First of all, you have to ask the people of Papay what they think. Then you have to see how much it would cost. If it’s a reasonable figure, it would obviously save money on the revenue cost of providing services to both islands, in terms of education, airports, and ferries. So the capital cost of a causeway is critical. The OIC did an estimate a few years ago, but I guess that it would be considerably more than that now. We would have to get an up-to-date cost of the project, but I suspect that to link Westray and Papay would cost more than the examples quoted by the Minister in the Western Isles.”

Mr Ian Cursiter, chairman of Papay Community Council said: “Ferry jobs would be lost and we would expect our school to be closed if we were linked to Westray, which would mean the loss of a teacher’s job, a cook and an auxiliary. So there would be considerable disadvantages.

“The advantages would be that the link would allow the ageing population here to have easy access to the proposed care centre in Westray, and it might also help to keep the young people on the island if they had the chance to enjoy the facilities in Westray but get home to Papay every night without having to worry about a boat. I’m not a member of the development group where this was raised, but the idea of a causeway is something that we might discuss further in the community council.”

Mr Douglas Hourston, a creel fisherman and chairman of the Papay Development Trust, said: “I’d be against a causeway at the moment. It would cause too many radical changes for a small island like Papay. My fear is that we would lose the local school, resident nurse and it would surely affect the shop and guesthouse, because people would probably nip across to Westray or in to Kirkwall for their shopping, rather than support the local shop.”

Mr Hourston suggested that the changes a physical link with Westray would bring, would be too much for the community to sustain.

He said: “Papay is unique, and a causeway would change the whole way of life. It’s nothing personal against Westray, but I just think that the effect would be too radical for a small island. The Development Trust has not been approached by any agency or individual about the idea of a fixed link with Westray. If we were, we would have to look at it again, possibly in the form of a questionnaire.”

Mr Stewart Gray, of Bilboa, at 94, is Papay’s oldest resident.

He said: “It’ll no matter a lot to me. It might be worse, it might be better. It’s a job to know.

“A causeway’s been mentioned at different times over the years. There are tides between the two islands, but it’s shallow water. It would make a difference with the ro-ro service in some weather conditions, but I’m perfectly happy the way it is now, I’m no needing to go to Westray, because I’m well cared for where I am, with three home helps.”

Councillor Hagan pointed out that he had made an informal approach for information to the official in the Western Isles who dealt with the previous causeway projects there, but he was still awaiting a reply.