Ferry firm seek views on Burwick

Pentland Ferries – who would like to develop a 30 minute ro-ro service from Burwick in South Ronaldsay to Gills Bay in Caithness, and would invest in a new passenger and vehicle ferry to cover the route – says it had received a huge number of responses within only hours of a survey being launched on the issue this morning.

The company says that the Burwick option would allow it to offer more frequent sailings across the Pentland Firth, including a two boat service in the summer months.

A statement on the issue said: “For this to happen we would require permission from Orkney Islands Council to develop the pier at Burwick. We are surveying public opinion to see if there is support for such a service to enable us to approach the council.”

It added: “If the public support a Burwick-Gills Bay service, we would be prepared to develop the Burwick Pier for this purpose at our own cost.”

The company says that results from the survey will be presented to Orkney Islands Council as discussions continue on the issue.

A link to the survey can be found here and paper copies are available from the ferry company.