The news from CalMac that they are to deploy 2 ferries on the Islay service from end of March till end of October has been enthusiastically welcomed by Cllr. Robin Currie. Speaking after Lawrie Sinclair, Managing Director of CalMac, made the announcement on Islay last week, Cllr. Currie said, 'having campaigned to get two ferries on the run for the whole of the summer timetable for a few years now, I am delighted with the announcement. We are in the fortunate position here on Islay that there is a lot of work going on, distilleries are increasing production and that the island is high up on the list of places where tourists want to go, so two ferries hopefully will allow easier travel arrangements.' He continued by saying, 'I will now be making representations to CalMac for them to enhance the service during the winter as we all know how difficult it was to travel this winter with the heavy volume of traffic.'
CalMac said that an emergency timetable will now be put in place until the full published schedule can start on completion of the pier works at Port Askaig which is now scheduled for 20th April. Operations Director Phil Preston said: 'It is a matter of concern that CalMac and our customers cannot get the full benefit of our proposed enhanced summer service to Islay using both MV Hebridean Isles and MV Isle of Arran. A key priority, however, is to provide the important inter-island link between Islay and Colonsay on a Wednesday. Having the two ships available will allow us to achieve this, albeit via Port Ellen. This will add about an hour and a half to the journey, but it is important that the link is maintained.'
Story published with kind permission from The Ileach
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