Sunday ferries
Posted: Wednesday, 03 May 2006 |
I was taken with a dose of the incredulities yesterday when I heard that the Free Church in the Western Isles has contacted the Scottish Executive, asking them to reverse Caledonian MacBrayne's decision to operate a ferry on Sunday between Harris and Uist. The argument that the Church uses is that the company rode roughshod over the population of Harris, who had objected to the Sunday sailings.
In previous postings on this issue, I have made clear that I respect everybody's religious convictions. I just feel that the Free Church is being unrealistic in their request. Calmac have an obligation to provide life line ferry services, within a framework of local requirement and operational possibilities. A request was tabled with the company, by a North Uist councillor, for a ferry on Sunday. This would enable Uisteachs to visit relatives in hospital in Stornoway, and generally afford people the freedom to travel on any day of the week.
On top of that, ferries have operated in and out of the Southern Isles on a Sunday for years, within the Western Isles area. And planes have been flying out of Stornoway airport for a number of years now. From a legal point of view, the Church hasn't got a leg to stand on.
Comments
Solid looking Kirk. Out of curiosity, how many "visitors" came to Harris on the ferry since the service started? A handful, a trickle, a mighty flood? Did they swarm over the island like a cloud of locusts? In more modern terms: what is their footprint?
mjc from NM,USA
Interesting how they claim to speak for everyone. Unless there was a secret ballot no-one could say what the majority view would be. Nice to see the pictures are back.
hrossey from Mainland Orkney
I must admit I have no problems with a Sunday ferry so long as no-one is forced to work at those times. People should not impose their religious beliefs on others; that's what stopping life on Sundays is. Dictatorship by the rligious should not be acceptable.
Jack from England (at the moment)
What do Uist councillors have that the rest of us don't? Coll and Tiree would love to have last years trial ferry on a Sunday in the winter made permanent. The kids could come home from school every weekend instead of once a term. Holiday home owners could visit at weekends, and we could get away for just one night. But Calmac want another 拢30000 to run an extra boat (on top of the mega subsidy they already get for this lifeline route). And last winter boats were regularly booked solid leaving people wait-listed and leading to delays for fuel and feed deliveries.
Nic from Coll
So, for one doctor @ 拢300,000 p.a. you could have 10 years' worth of subsidised sunday sailings @ 拢30,000. Bargain.
Flying Cat from swinging on an abacus
Where is there a GP recieving 拢300,000 p.a ?
Burt from Edinburgh
I have two questions (1) to "Jack from England". Why is it unacceptable for the "religious" to "impose" their views on "everybody else", but perfectly acceptable for the anti-religious to "impose" THEIR views on to an unwilling population? It is not the absence of the Sunday ferry which is the novelty here, but the introduction of it. It is true there was no referendum, but there were petitions: 74 in favour of the Sunday sailing, 711 against. As our American friends would say "Go figure!" (2) Question to "Arnish Lighthouse" himself: Has anybody actually defined what a "lifeline" service is? Given that the structural, cultural, physical, social or economic survival of these islands can hardly be said to depend upon the ability to sail from North Uist to Harris seven days a week instead of only several times a day SIX days a week, what's "lifeline" about the Sunday ferry?
Andrew from Isle of Lewis
Andrew, thanks for comments. Some aspects of island life are said to be enhanced by having an inter-island ferry on Sundays. Pan Western Isles events often take place on a Saturday. I'm thinking sports, culture, social. These can last well beyond the last sailing on a Saturday. People have to go back to work the next Monday, and not being able to get back on Sunday means they either have to forfeit participation or having to take out an extra day's leave. The same goes for children's events. In my opinion, it would foster closer ties between the islands and an enhancements to island life and culture in these parts. It would strengthen the island community to have a broader view, and make the Western Isles more than just Lewis / Harris. Or more than just the Uists and Barra.
Arnish Lighthouse from Stornoway
OK Arnish Lighthouse, I take the point about desirability of pan-Western Isles events. But again, two things: (1) they are usually rare, annual or bi-annual at most: festivals, specials, one offs. If worth doing, then surely worth doing well, and therefore worth taking a day's leave for. (2) Desirability of these events is not in question: hopefully we agree that "desirability" is a wee bit different from "matter of life & death" i.e. "lifeline".
Andrew from Isle of Lewis
I don't see anything wrong with sunday ferries and I don't like people who try and make up my mind for me when I can leave the Island. I don't hear anyone objecting to Sy airport being open on Sundays anymore. I'm sure the the same will apply to the fery Services
R Martin from Angola
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
RSS Feed