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Pete Bevington
9 March, 2010
SHETLAND has hit out at a government
announcement to lengthen ferry journeys and possibly cut
back winter sailings, saying they were carried out without
consultation.
This morning (Tuesday) the Scottish government announced
that it was raising ferry fares on the western isles service
and cutting fuel bills on the northern isles service to save
money.
NorthLink have been told that from May their vessels must
operate on two engines rather than the four they use at the
moment to help save on their £10 million annual fuel bill.
The move will lengthen trips between Aberdeen and Lerwick
that go via Orkney.
The company has been told to introduce a new timetable in
May, which will probably see the Aberdeen sailing leaving
one hour earlier at 4pm, and the Lerwick sailing leaving
half an hour earlier at 5pm. Ferries arrival time should
remain unchanged.
Direct sailings between Aberdeen and Lerwick will not be
affected by the change.
The government also said that it is seeking to cut back the
winter service, which could see the number of trips between
Shetland and Aberdeen reduced from 14 a week to just six, as
occurs during the vessels’ annual refit.
Transport development manager with Shetland transport
partnership ZetTrans, Ken Duerden, said the first they had
heard of the decision was this afternoon when the government
put out a press release. A statement had been published on
the government’s website in the morning.
Mr Duerden said: “This makes a complete mockery of the
consultation process and everything we have set up. We have
established forums through which these things should be
discussed.”
He said the earlier departure times from Aberdeen would be
particularly awkward for people taking part in sporting
events on the mainland.
However of greater concern is the government statement:
“Discussions will continue with NorthLink about further
opportunities for efficiencies, particularly during the
winter when there is a large amount of unused passenger
capacity on the Aberdeen-Lerwick route.” |
Mr Duerden has interpreted
that as meaning one boat sailing during the winter months.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott slammed the government’s decision.
“Fundamental changes to the timetable, as it seems are being
threatened, would have to be subjected to a full
consultation,” he said.
“To make changes without this would be totally wrong. But,
of course, if they consulted on changes along the lines
hinted they would discover them to be about as popular as
the proposal to introduce parking charges at Sumburgh.
“The Aberdeen to Lerwick route is Shetland's vital economic
and social lifeline. Now it looks as if they are seeking to
cut some of our winter sailings. When that was proposed as a
trade-off against extra summer crossings it was soundly
rejected in Shetland, and Shetland will be in no more of a
mood to accept it if it is proposed again.
"As for timetable changes, this can only mean either earlier
departures or later arrivals, neither of which would be
acceptable to Shetland businesses or to most passengers.
“The transport minister's constituents can drive in and out
of his constituency any time they want. Shetland residents
and businesses have one equivalent service each way each
day. The least we can expect is that it is maintained and
that it runs when we need it to run."
A government spokeswoman said the decision to cut fuel costs
had “been taken in the face of an extremely difficult
economic situation”.
NorthLink said that it was “finalising” a new timetable,
which will be introduced in May.
The company made it clear that the decision had come from
the government. A statement read: “NorthLink provides ferry
services in accordance with an operating contract awarded by
the Scottish government. The government are entitled to make
whatever changes they wish to the terms of that contract and
require us to implement them, which is what we will now do.”
In the western isles and on the Clyde the government is
imposing an extra two per cent fare increase, though
commercial vehicles, coaches and multi-journey tickets will
be exempt. No fare increases have yet been mentioned for the
northern isles.
Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said: “The Scottish
government is responding positively to the very real
challenges on public spending which are facing us. We are
taking decisions which will allow us to maintain the
efficient ferry services which the public currently enjoy.”
The government is spending £105 million subsidising the
Scottish lifeline ferry service next year, up from £103.1
million this year. In 2006/7 the subsidy was £91.4 million.
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