Councils ask for fair ferry deal

POLITICIANS in the Northern Isles have been quick to renew their call for a fair deal on inter islands ferry funding after an additional £350 million for Scotland was announced in Wednesday’s budget.

Both the leaders of the councils in Shetland and Orkney have written to the Scottish Government reminding ministers of their earlier commitment to help fund inter-island ferry services.

Expectations of a £7 million windfall for Shetland Islands Council were dashed last month when it emerged that no such funding would be forthcoming in the next financial year.

On Thursday SIC political leader Gary Robinson said: “The Scottish Government has already given – and repeated – its commitment to support the Northern Isles with funding for lifeline services, but that commitment still remains to be fulfilled.

“Given the welcome news of a further £350 million for Scotland, we ask that our modest requirement of around £10 million to provide fair funding of internal ferry services be met from this windfall.”

His Orcadian colleague Steven Heddle added: “We have repeatedly called for this funding to be made available, to bring us in line with other areas of Scotland.

“We ask the Government to take advantage of this further opportunity to turn the principle of fair funding into a reality, and to give us the support we need.”