The economy of the Outer Hebrides has been dealt another devastating blow with the implementation of a 10% increase on all commercial traffic to and from the islands, according to the organisation that represents island business interests.
David Wood of Woody’s Express, the vice-chairman of the Outer Hebrides Commerce Group, said this week that the Scottish Government had ignored frequent and consistent pleas not to impose a double digit increase on ferry fares.
“From the beginning of this month every business and family importing and exporting goods is paying an additional 10% – this is over and above the 50% increase imposed last year. Sadly, this is not the end of the ferry tax scandal – they also intend imposing another massive fare increase next year.”
Taking his hat off as a mark of respect, Mr Wood said grimly: “The SNP’s much-vaunted policy of RET is well and truly dead.”
He said the SNP betrayed the original intention of reducing fares for islanders. The OHCG was disgusted with the Scottish Government’s behaviour.
“We have enjoyed support from most island councillors – sadly those with a direct line to the Edinburgh Government have been posted missing. Every family and business is now paying this SNP-imposed ferry tax.”
The Edinburgh Govt has been posted missing on a number of key island issues in addition to a crippling increase in RET for Commercial vehicles (and also for passengers and cars from this month, check it out). A double whammy! Why, also may I ask, can concessionary travel passes for the elderly not also be used on mainland ferry routes (as for inter-island ferries)? If RET is to have any significant impact, and be truly “Road Equivalent Tariff”, then travel passes should be accepted on all ferries for every single journey the entitled cardholder chooses to make. At present, everyone issued with “One Scotland – Accessing Public Services” travel pass, receives only two free return passes per year. Why do we have this arbitrary restriction? I feel another campaign coming on, once the other injustices of cuts to inter-island flights is resolved.
In addition what about the ADS for businesses that was taken away,another blow to the Islands economy, no wonder some of the schedule flights are being lost.
As much as i celebrated the SNP getting the independence vote, i am now shocked/dismayed at how they are ruining our chances of a YES vote. Calamity after calamity, lies, deceit and stupidity from the top down to our MP, MSP and SNP Cllrs. They have to stop right now and stand up for the Western Isles before it’s too late.
Put the party aside and look after us first!!!!
Agree JD. The SNP are a mess locally. No substance, telling lies, doing nothing. The best they can find to do is blame everyone for what’s happening around us in the hope it makes them look good. Got news for them it’s not working.
Play your cards right in the west and you’ll have Calmac handed over to Serco.
Aye the hauliers are really suffering, poor lambs!!
@Doubting Thomas
I don’t think the day is far off when Cal Mac will be handed over to Serco with all the wonderful changes that may mean – charging for entrance into the ship’s lounge, screwing every last penny out of pensioners and students and who knows what else! It’s all ahead of you, folks!
Northlink ferries will hopefully get the contract. No ferry for South Uist for over a week, says it all about cal mac’s commitment to the Western Isles.
@Raging Rod Uuuuuuhhhh???? Northlink Ferries are no longer in existence. Taken over by Serco a while back. See above!
Just as an aside has anybody else noticed the increasing number of businesses either refusing point blank to deliver to an HS postcode or quoting ludicrous prices for delivery.
kevin Paterson,this has been going on for years,sometimes the only way around it is to have delivered into woodies at inverness for forwarding.But now you increasingly have to pay surcharge into highlands/inverness.l am thinking to myself that l had better hang on to my used bale twine,because the way its looking its going to have to multi-task all the areas l can no longer get the proper piece of kit in.l guess that’s what they mean when they refer to equality,its not even handed pricing across the country,its that the bulk of your surroundings is held together with blue nylon twine,or red if you have the deeper pockets required for small bales.
what a fuss over nothing,R E T was introduced on a 30 month trial basis,we all enjoyed the benefits of that,but we seem to forget it was a trial period.yes we all want cheap travel and carriage costs,we also want local shops but in this day and age of on line shopping,which we are all guilty of,local shops cannot compete,a vicious circle,instead of delivering goods to local shops the hauliers are instead delivering direct to the consumer.obvious who the winners and losers are
@confused You are well-named… Has the Scottish Government now declared the 30 month trial over? If so, don’t you think they should have the honesty and decency both to say this and to tell the people of the islands what they propose and plan to do now instead of bringing it slowly and sneakily to an end.