News / HIAL chiefs hear charging fears
THE CHAIRMAN of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) has said he understands why Shetlanders are opposed to car parking charges at Sumburgh airport, but stressed he had to find ways of filling a £1 million budget deficit.
Glenville Johnston and HIAL’s chief executive Inglis Lyon were in Shetland yesterday (Monday) listening to islanders’ concerns about the charging plans prior to the company’s board meeting on Wednesday.
Islanders are outraged over the proposal to charge them for leaving their cars at the airport, saying that flying to the Scottish and UK mainland is a necessity of island life and part of the lifeline service.
The united front against the plans is being led by local MSP Tavish Scott, who described the proposal as “yet another tax on island life”.
Speaking after a 90 minute meeting in Lerwick Town Hall, Mr Johnston said: “I have agreed that I will go back to my board and explain what I have heard from islanders, discuss it with them again, and then see where we go from here.
“There will be no final decision on Wednesday, as we feel we want to continue our dialogue, because it does not only affect Shetland, but also Orkney and the Western Isles.”
He acknowledged that there were strong feelings in the isles, but said he had also received some sympathy for his budget dilemma, which is currently shared by many public bodies.
“Of course, everybody at the meeting was united in being against this proposal, but then how many people normally put their hands up and say they are delighted to pay car parking charges,” he said.
HIAL, a company owned by the Scottish government, hopes to raise around £100,000 per annum from introducing a £2 to £3 charge per car per day.
But HIAL gave assurances yesterday that people with disabilities or those en route to hospital appointments would not have to pay any car parking charge that might be levied in the future.
Mr Scott said the meeting had been the first proper opportunity to confront HIAL as they had failed to consult on their proposals with the islands’ representative bodies.
“Everybody present made a very good and sensible argument as to why this is not the right thing to happen,” the MSP said.
“If they ignore what they heard today, God help us all. Collaboratively, Shetland made a very strong case as to why car parking charges simply add to the cost that we all face for lifeline service.”
Mr Scott added that he will not hesitate to take the political argument to transport minister Stewart Stevenson should the HIAL board decide not to listen to the islanders’ views.
“If the board does not take the right decision, I will nail this very firmly on the transport minister’s mast. I have already talked to him on both the principle of it and also the very clear difference between Sumburgh airport and where it is in Shetland, compared to other airports,” he said.
The meeting yesterday was also attended by Sumburgh airport manager Nigel Flaws; SIC infrastructure committee chairwoman Iris Hawkins; NHS Shetland chief executive Sandra Laurenson; Sumburgh Airport consultative committee chairman Jimmy Smith; Kathleen Hughson from Voluntary Action Shetland; Malcolm Johnson from Disability Shetland; HIE Shetland manager Stuart Robertson; Ian Garriock from Dunrossness community council; as well as council officials Gordon Greenhill and Michael Craigie.
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