McArthur: Orkney being left “high and dry” over ferry fares

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has repeated calls for Ministers to deliver cheaper ferry fares for the Northern Isles.

During Economy Questions in parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Mr McArthur highlighted that it is a year since the First Minister made a promise to act “immediately” in response to demands for cuts to ferry fares on Orkney and Shetland routes.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr McArthur said that “level playing field” was needed for economic growth on the islands.

He said: “A year on from the First Minister’s commitment to ‘begin work immediately’ to cut the cost of ferry fares for those living, working and visiting Orkney and Shetland, we are still waiting.

Mr McArthur also pointed out that it is now nine years since the government began introducing cheaper ferry fares on west coast routes.

He added: “Meantime, the cost of our lifeline ferry services continues to put businesses in Orkney and Shetland at a competitive disadvantage. We have heard the promises. We have taken part in the consultations. After years of being left high and dry by this Scottish Government, what we now need is long overdue action to deliver fairer ferry fares for the Northern Isles.”

Responding to these comments, a Transport Scotland spokesman repeated the government’s commitment to cutting fares on the northern routes. He also said work is well underway, with a consultation having taken place and discussions with stakeholders from the isles underway.

The spokesman said the end goal of this work will be to bring a new pricing policy and ultimately reduce the cost of ferry travel as soon as possible.

However, he added: “The Northern Isles present a number of challenges for a new fares policy. Bringing in Road Equivalent Tariff in its current form would significantly increase ticket prices on the majority of services and this is why a variety of other options were consulted on. We also want to ensure that existing commercial ferry operators on these routes are not unfairly disadvantaged.

“We are currently considering the views expressed in the consultation report.  Following that, we will be better placed to take decisions on how to reduce fares and the timescales for doing so. In the meantime, ferry fares on the Northern Isles network have been frozen for 2017, the second consecutive year prices have been kept on hold.”