Corran Ferry Fares Increase Deferred But Campaigners Say A Final Solution Is Not Yet Reached

6th February 2015

THE Community Services Committee has agreed a motion to defer an increase in the Corran Ferry fares to allow further work on cost implications, options for alternative fixed crossings and to take independent legal advice on State Aid and Equality implications.

The fare increases were proposed, taking into account predicted costs over the next 3 years, to work towards a break even position in 2017-18, thereby reducing the risk that State Aid may be considered to exist.

The proposed fare increase of 4% per annum in April 2015 would mean an increase of 30p per journey for car fares and an increase of just 8p per journey for those who buy the discounted book of tickets. Pedal cycles and registered disable drivers would remain free.

Chair of the Community Services Committee, Cllr Graham Mackenzie said: "If the service was transferred to Transport Scotland under Road Equivalent Tariff (RET), the fare increases would be significantly higher than the relatively small increase we are proposing. A fare increase is therefore the best option for the communities who use the ferry.

"The advice we have consistently received from Transport Scotland is that State Aid rules are a consideration for the Council. The Council, therefore has a duty to seek to reduce the deficit."

Mary Ann Turner for the Corran Ferry campaign group said, "The local campaign to secure the future of the Corran Crossing in Lochaber has called on Highland Council to open themselves up to an independent audit on the current running of the service, which was threatened with the fourth price hike in three years today.

"The head of FCC, local community council chairman Tony Boyd welcomed the deferment of a Highland Council decision on price rises, but said that it was obvious that the Council had had no choice but to wait."

"Mr Boyd said: "Highland Council have failed the local communities served by the Corran crossing and they realise they and the Scottish Government must now stop prevaricating and hiding behind the smoke screen of State Aid, and engage in a realistic and practical debate on the future of the crossing."

"The future of the Narrows may lie with a vessel, may be a fixed link, may yet be a job-creating renewables-orientated crossing, but what is sure at the moment is that neither local authority nor national government is taking this seriously, nor genuinely looking at the best way forward. Frankly, neither can wait to have the matter off their hands."

"We are so grateful to our local councillors, especially Andrew Baxter (Independent) and Thomas MacLennan (Independent), for their untiring campaign in our support. And we are especially grateful today to Cllrs Bill Clark (SNP) and Brian Murphy (Labour), who voted for the deferment, against the administration.

But the viability of the communities - families, businesses, individuals - and the livelihoods of the ferry crews themselves deserve better that they are currently getting from either Inverness or Holyrood."

PHOTO
Norrie Adamson