The main transport campaign group in the Western Isles has come out and urged the islands council to do all it can to restore a five-day air link between Benbecula and Stornoway.
The Outer Hebrides Commerce Group CG insists there is not just a demand but a need for a five-day air service and it says some councillors have failed in their duty to ensure that the service was retained.
Speaking after a meeting with council leader Angus Campbell, OHCG co-ordinator Gail Robertson said: “We explained to Cllr Angus Campbell in clear and unambiguous terms the social and economic need for a five-day-a-week air service between Benbecula and Stornoway. We urge that the comhairle work and liaise with other public sector agencies to find a solution for the unacceptable situation that’s emerged.
“At a time of economic challenge the last thing our economy needs is a reduction in air transport links.”
Also attending the meeting was Norman MacAskill of Drimore Farm, South Uist. Mr MacAskill said they needed these services and they expect all councillors to work sensibly and to put posturing to one side and co-operate.
“We were dismayed to learn that if the islands’ six SNP councillors had participated in the budget priority system the comhairle uses, these services would never have been axed. For them not to have taken part in the scoring system was a dereliction of duty and they should now work with all to restore our air links.”
OHCG said communities need clarity and truthfulness, public posturing secures nothing.
“We now urge the comhairle to re-open discussion with Loganair and other agencies to see if these harmful cuts can be reversed.”
if ray mackenzie and the othe idiots are not prepared to take part in the process they should get out of that chamber and make way for someone who will . if philip maclean is as fed up of ray ‘s posturing as we hear , he should quit and go independant !!
l have a donkey available for hire to needy parties.Judging by recent events it should be kept pretty busy!
As the OHCG stated, public posturing secures nothing. This is also true as regards name calling and recriminations. There is a problem, and all parties and council members should show some maturity, sit down and sort it out.
Mr MacNeil on the radio today rubishing the claims and saying that the council only had one round of voting. They had 2, the second was after the extra money from the BCCI was recieved. So, they had another round of choices from the list of those that failed to get enough votes in the first round. This saved most of itinerent teachers and charity payments.
If the 6 cllrs had taken part in the 2 rounds, quite possibly the flights could have been saved. However, would you trust them to vote in favour of saving them? Maybe Donald Manford would have but the rest……
Guga is absolutely right. Time for action, not words. We seem to be lacking in real leadership at both local and national level to sort out this mess.