Second weekend Whalsay ferry ‘not an extravagant ask’
REINSTATING a second vessel on the Whalsay ferry service at weekends during the summer months is not an “extravagant ask”, according to the chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s transport committee.
Members of the committee were told on Tuesday that a petition signed by nearly 500 people calling for an improved service had now been formally received by the council.
Residents believe the “unreliability” of the weekend service, which moved to a single vessel in 2013, has caused “severe disruption” for both the local community and visitors, with concerns also raised about capacity.
Transport committee chairman Ryan Thomson said the wishes of the island community should be considered.
The issue will be included in the council’s ongoing business case for inter-island ferry services, which is due to be presented to members in the new financial year.
“Obviously the reduction in the service was directly linked to the financial cutbacks made back in 2013,” Thomson said.
“Given the Whalsay ferry service falls below the government’s own routes and services methodology, and the level of service constraints, particularly at peak times the Whalsay community suffers on a regular basis, the petition for an additional vessel at weekends during the summer months is not an extravagant ask, nor is it something I feel shouldn’t be considered.”
He said the issue is intertwined with ongoing negotiations with the Scottish Government regarding continued ‘fair funding’ for internal ferries.
The councillor said it is the local authority’s “sincere expectation that full funding of our internal ferry service” – £7.9 million for revenue – will be in the government’s draft budget.
Chief executive Maggie Sandison and council leader Steven Coutts are due to meet Scotland’s minister for energy, connectivity and the islands Paul Wheelhouse on Wednesday and ferry funding is expected to form a major part of the discussions.
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