Highland Council has strongly denied there was any “conspiracy of silence” following the breakdown of the Corran Ferry last month.
A meeting of the Lochaber Transport Forum heard claims that there was a lack of information to the public after the ferry – which links Nether Lochaber with Ardgour on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – touched the rocks when the steering broke down on July 15.
The crew managed to bring the council-operated ferry alongside the slip at Nether Lochaber and no-one on board was hurt or any vehicles damaged during the incident.
The vessel had to be repaired, but the replacement ferry, Maid of Glencoul, was also out of commission as it was waiting for a replacement part after its scheduled refit.
As a result there was no connection at all across Loch Linnhe until the Corran ferry returned to service five days later on July 20.
The meeting heard this was “devastating” for people living on the peninsula.
Local resident and shopkeeper, Gwyn Moses, said: “There was definitely a conspiracy of silence over this. There was no announcement about what was happening which was pathetic.
“There was no official information about the situation from Highland Council.”
Billy MacLachlan, Highland councillor for Caol and Mallaig, added: “The substitute ferry went away for its annual service on March 4, but unknown to local councillors, a part had to be made for it and, as far as I’m aware, we still don’t have this part.
“The Corran ferry is a ‘banana’ boat, so called because it comes alongside the ramp and there are only two of these types in Scotland.”
Mike Cooper, of Highland Council’s transport unit, told the meeting: “Smaller ferries can do it, but the problem is getting them here.”
A council spokesman said: “Regular communication on the incident was issued on our dedicated Twitter feed as well as information posted on Traffic Scotland’s website.
“Social media and Traffic Scotland is really the only effective way of getting a message out during weekends and evenings as there is no local radio or TV news coverage at these times and any press release issued on a weekend would not be picked up until later.
“A Corran Ferry twitter feed @corranferry
was established in May 2016. Training was provided to two local staff and support and advice was provided. There are nearly 600 followers.”