Orkney’s council leader is to enter into negotiations with the Scottish Government on the issue of the county’s inter-isles ferries.
At a council meeting today, leader James Stockan told councillors he has a date in the diary to meet with John Swinney to discuss the responsibility for and the future of Orkney’s inter isles-ferries.
Councillors had been viewing an update on the council’s delivery plan from 2018 to 2023.
As part of the plan, the council had sought to transfer its responsibility for the inter-isles ferry services to the Scottish Government.
Orkney council wanted this to happen because of a shortfall in funding for the service and a lack of progress in finding cash to replace the ageing fleet of ferries.
Issues around funding the service were resolved with the government, via a grant for 2022-2023.
However, the problem of replacing the ferries remains unsolved.
Replacement of Orkney ferries remains unsolved problem
With a target of next year, this target in the council’s report remains in the red.
With his meeting with the deputy first minister, councillor Stockan will be hoping for some progress.
Pressures around the ferries will have been on the mind of councillors recently. Just over a week ago, the MV Varagen grounded in Westray.
The ferry had to be pulled off her routes while investigations took place.
Speaking to councillors on Tuesday, Mr Stockan laid out the situation.
He said: “The fact is we did write to ask the Scottish Government if they would take the responsibility for the ferries.
“We got a letter back from them to say they would not. They didn’t think we met the full criteria.
“We would dispute that. There has been no support for any kind of investment from the Scottish Government in building a fleet or making sure we had new provisions.”
Meeting ‘within weeks’ says council leader
According to the council leader, his meeting with the deputy first minister will take place within “the next couple of weeks”.
He also arranged for more time with the minister than the 30 minutes that were first given.
They’ll have negotiations about:
- The services offered by Orkney’s ferries compared to other areas in Scotland
- The replacement of the ferries
- The council’s settlement
Mr Stockan said: “If we get a letter back again to say we’re responsible for the ferries and there’s no support, the only alternative we have is to write to the UK government.
“I think members are content we now have to take that action.
“We’ve been through 10 years of negotiating this position. The Scottish Ferries plan should have covered all Scottish ferries, not just government-supported ferries.
North Isles councillor Mellissa Thomson, who lives in Eday, replied to Mr Stockan.
She said better ferry provision in Orkney is “absolutely desperately needed” and wished him the best with the negotiations.
She added: “After the grounding of the Varagen, we’ve highlighted that we really need to get something on the table, or at least get a date in the diary.”
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