Angus MacNeil MP has written to Business Secretary Vince Cable asking to cut Royal Mail costs by also carrying the daily papers to Lewis Harris and Uist and Benbecula. Newspapers in the islands are now being delivered by ferry because of increased freight charges by the carrier Loganair.
The MP said: “It is of course disappointing that daily newspapers will not be arriving in most of the islands until lunchtime, these changes affect islands from Eriskay to Lewis, with Barra unaffected due to a different distribution route.”
He has written to Cable to see if there is a possibility of combining the mail flight with the papers which could cut the cost of both services.
“Further, many people like to get their papers in the morning and for some people, especially pensioners, getting the papers can be almost a morning ritual. This social benefit combined with the obvious advantage to the shops to have papers on the shelves before they become history, further illustrates good sound reasons for at least exploring the possibility of the Royal Mail charter plane also carrying newspapers.
“It seems eminently sensible that a plane coming over with the Royal Mail, daily, should take over the newspapers. This could be a win-win situation; it would be a way of reducing costs for the Royal Mail, something Government is constantly worried about, and ensuring that newspapers are delivered to the islands at a reasonable time.”
Meanwhile, Barra member Donald Manford has pointed the finger at the council leadership. He said: “The calamitous implications of council axing Uist and Barra flights, continues to escalate. Directly and indirectly over 20 flights in total are lost, including connections between Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh. How much more will be lost while the council howls “it’s not our fault”?
“Council leader Angus Campbell informed the Cabinet Secretary that, while he was sad at having to withdraw the service, that is what his public consultation told him. Blaming the public simply will not do. It is now undeniable that public money has been provided to the council for air services and that the council transferred the money elsewhere.
“I commend MSP Alasdair Allan for seeking an urgent meeting with the newspaper industry’s distributors, to try and resolve this problem. Credit also to Angus MacNeil MP for contacting Secretary of State, Vince Cable MP, to urge him to look at the Royal Mail system to improve communication and make cost savings.
“I further urge the council to reconsider its decision to axe the services. Failing that, it could apply to transfer to government the transport powers it has abdicated, in order that alternative forms of delivering the transport can be investigated.”
This simply will not do. Both the MP and MSP knew there was the possibility of cutting flights from October/ early November last year. Despite this, neither went to speak to Councillors about this matter to make clear their concerns – a role they were elected to carry out. Neither did they press the Scottish government for extra funds, as most representatives would have done.
As a result, they cannot simply now run around putting the blame on others. Whether they like it or not, they bear a lot of the responsibilty themselves. It is time that they grew up and accepted this!
Manford linking the loss of the “paper plane” to the Council cuts on the Benbecula/Barra flights – (that he decided not to partake in) is laughable if not sad. Blaming the Council leadership ? Are people really that gullible to what the Lying Barrach says? If he cannot tell the truth about this how are the SNP to be trusted with running the country?
Excuses and “reactive” responses from our political leaders, rather than “proactive” action required months ago. Too often now they are guilty of weak and culpable inaction, outcomes of which are only too clear. It’s sometimes too easy to sit back and apportion blame, but increasingly it is only too obvious where the buck stops and who must carry the responsibility. I agree with Gazza’s comments.
Barra get their papers from Glasgow, so what’s that guy moaning about? Uist get their weekend papers from Glasgow so why can’t they get them from there all week? Here we do without Sunday papers until Monday.
Royal Mail have always stated its a no go area sharing a plane with the papers.
Late responses from our elected representatives again!!!!
It’s bad enough that they play at politics with the affairs of the constituency. What makes it worse is how badly they play at politics. Hard work would be a lot easier in the long term than the kind of performance we see from them!
Who is too blame?–no one yet everyone–Circumstances bought about by the lifestyle choices of the previous decades and the arrival of reality to spoil the party