MSP denies scaremongering over discounts
SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott has been accused of “scaremongering” over the future of discounted travel for sport and community groups on the Serco NorthLink ferries.
On Thursday morning, Scott made a scathing attack on the SNP government after transport minister Keith Brown confirmed in a letter that the popular “Schools and Communities” discount scheme was being replaced by a new sponsorship scheme.
He claimed that Serco was abolishing the group discount and was delivering a poorer service to islanders than previous operator NorthLink.
But the chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s transport committee, Allan Wishart, said the local MSP had got his facts wrong.
Wishart said it was “disconcerting” that the local MSP had got the wrong end of the stick.
“I haven’t heard that the system of discounts for community groups, schools and sport groups are being abolished, which, I think, is what Tavish seems to be saying,” he said.
“I am very disappointed at that and I really think he should check more carefully before making public announcements like that. It’s quite damaging.
“I believe Serco NorthLink is open for bids and I am sure it will be well taken up.”
Scott said he would to respond publicly to the attack, but explained that in the past the cheapest islander rate had applied to groups regardless of time of year, and that element no longer existed.
“The fact is that community groups will pay more. This is immeasurably worse for sport clubs than what it was in the past,” he said.
Ever since Serco took over the NorthLink contract last July there has been concern in the community as to the future of discounted travel for sport and community groups.
Serco had agreed to continue the existing scheme until 31 March this year, but some sport groups said they felt they were being short-changed by the way the company planned to run the scheme.
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As of 1 April a new sponsorship scheme will come into force which offers discounts, but sport groups say no guidelines have been issues and they were not sure what they were entitled to.
Serco NorthLink managing director Stuart Garrett said the new scheme would be more transparent as a local committee will be formed to be make funding decisions.
“Unlike the previous ‘Schools and Communities’ discount it has a formal application process to ensure that any discount or free travel is applied fairly and appropriately,” he said.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland added: “In relation to discounts, the new contract being delivered by Serco NorthLink offers a broader range of fare discounts than has been specified in any previous Scottish Government ferry services contract, including a new sponsorship scheme for sports and other community groups.
“This new scheme with an annual budget of £100,000, has been specifically designed to provide access to discounted travel for schools, sports and other community groups and replaces the existing £60,000 scheme.”
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