Isles stand together against ferry cuts
THE CONVENERS of Shetland and Orkney islands councils will be writing to Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson today (Tuesday) condemning his demand they save £1 million on the lifeline ferry services to the northern isles.
Senior councillors and transport officials from both islands discussed their response to the government’s imposed cuts by video conference yesterday morning (Monday).
Islanders are outraged that the government is instructing state-owned ferry operator NorthLink to cut £300,000 off its ferry budget immediately, with a further £700,000 savings to come later.
Initial demands the ferry operate on half power to save fuel have been softened to allow the islands to come up with alternative proposals. The threat of a single ferry to serve Shetland during the winter still stands.
However after meeting stakeholders last Friday, the two local authorities are demanding more time to consider the impact such moves would have to the islands’ fragile economies.
Following Friday’s meeting in Shetland, local transport partnership ZetTrans is seeking the views of the wider community.
Individuals, businesses, community groups and other organisations in Shetland are invited to email zettrans@shetland.gov.uk with their comments by Sunday 28 March, as the government is insisting on making savings very quickly.
Details of the changes on departure and arrival times proposed by the government are shown on the ZetTrans website at www.zettrans.org.uk/consultation/Northlink.asp
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