SOARING transport costs have led to renewed calls for a fixed link to replace a vital west coast ferry service.
Motorists on the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas face some of the highest petrol and diesel prices in the UK.
In addition, fares on Highland Council’s Corran ferry, which links the two areas with Fort William and the south, rose by 20% in April. Diesel costs about £1.34 a litre on the peninsulas.
It means discounted books of 30 tickets now cost £49.20, while a single trip costs £6.20. The alternative is a 40-mile trip around Loch Eil.
Now, Michael Foxley, one of the area’s Highland councillors, wants a socio-economic study carried out into the provision of a bridge or tunnel.
He is urging community councils in the area to contribute between £500 and £1,000 each towards the cost of a £20,000 study, which would be carried out by the council.
Dr Foxley says: “We need to prove that this will be value for money and of benefit to the socio-economic development of our area. It will need to identify escalating revenue costs with the price of oil.”
He added: “If we make a financial contribution from each of the community councils and from some of the councillors’ discretionary budgets, then that will ensure that we have a significant say in the brief for this study.”
His colleague, Donald Cameron, who represents Fort William and Ardnamurchan, has previously voiced surprise that no study had been carried out, despite many calls for a fixed link.
“That should now be a priority and, hopefully, such a study would provide evidence of the economic benefit for Ardnamurchan, Morvern and Mull,” he said.
“Such a report could provide the basis to argue for a fixed link, which would benefit future generations.”
Dr Foxley has also called for books of tickets, which can be bought by anyone, to be discounted further for Highland residents.
Those from outside the region would pay the single-crossing rate, increasing revenue and enabling even greater discounts for Highlanders.
The call for a tunnel or bridge to replace the ferry was made originally in 2006 by Dr Foxley, who favoured a tunnel, based on his knowledge of such facilities in Norway.
However, it was felt the narrows should be bridged, with a tidal-power generating unit incorporated in the substantial pillars that would be required to support a span.
Income from electricity generated would considerably improve the viability of a bridge and make the project eligible for government “green” energy grants.
However, engineers have warned that preliminary and exploratory work alone could cost £1.5million, and current usage of the crossing would not justify the multimillion-pound project.