Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is urging the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to provide a lifeline to the people of the north end of the Island of Kerrera who have been left without a local ferry service and cannot get to an alternative because of the lack of a passable road. Kerrera lies to the west of Oban and has a resident population of less than 100.
Mr Cameron said: “Local residents have been cut off from the mainland and left in a very difficult situation which the Isle of Kerrera Development Trust is rightly calling a ‘community emergency’."
“The loss of the ferry service from Oban Marina due to the impact of Covid-19 is a grievous blow, especially since proper road access to the affected part of the island is not due to be put in place until March of next year."
“And that is why I am urging the Scottish Government, or one of its agencies, to intervene and provide a lifeline service. We cannot allow this community to struggle on through the winter months without help.”
Local Councillor Sir Jamie McGrigor (Oban South and the Isles) said: “The people at the north end of Kerrera feel as if they have been stranded and left to fend for themselves.
“It really isn’t good enough and someone from Government needs to accept responsibility, take charge, and provide a solution, and they need to do it quickly."
“This matter has dragged on for far too long and I sincerely hope that Donald’s letters act as a rocket on those concerned and they well and truly get the message.”
https://isleofkerrera.org/overview
The text of Donald Cameron’s letter to Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands:
Dear Paul
Transport infrastructure on the Isle of Kerrera
I write to you regarding the above matter following recent correspondence with the Isle of Kerrera Development Trust.
The Trust have informed me that the north of the island is currently facing what it describes as a “community emergency” because of the current loss of its community-run ferry service from Oban Marina.
The Trust have also told me that the roads linking the north of the island to the Calmac ferry terminal are wholly inadequate.
It is the view of the Trust that Oban Marina would need around £40,000 of additional funding in order to maintain the community-run ferry service to Oban, but that they have so far been unable to secure this support from either Argyll and Bute Council or Transport Scotland.
Given that this is clearly a lifeline service for residents and businesses in the north of Kerrera, and the relatively small sum of money required, I wanted to know what support the Scottish Government could offer to directly support this service?
I will also write to HIE to see what they can do, if anything.
I look forward to your urgent response.
