News / Massive ferry fares hike
NORTHERN isles politicians have reacted angrily to news that ferry fares for the NorthLink lifeline routes to Shetland and Orkney will be increased by 6.5 per cent as of 1 January.
The hike above inflation comes only days after the cost for ferry journeys at the Scottish west coast were further reduced as part of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme.
Government agency Transport Scotland said the increase for 2012/13 had to be made because of higher fuel costs and the cut in funding coming from the UK government.
The Scottish government has spent £109 million on providing ferry services in 2011/12, of which £39 million were used on subsidising the Orkney and Shetland services.
The Shetland Transport Partnership, ZetTrans, was made aware of the fares hike in a letter only received on Thursday.
Acting chairman, councillor Allan Wishart said he felt the isles were “discriminated against” as this latest blow comes in addition to RET at the west coast, an unfavourable dry docking schedule and the changes to the Air Discount Scheme.
“There are a lot of issues here which, taken all together, indicate to me that there is not a full realisation at government level how vitally important good and dependable transport links are from Shetland to the mainland,” he added.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said Shetland was now subsidising ferry routes in other parts of Scotland.
“The Scottish government boast that they have cut fares for the Scottish west coast while hammering the northern isles with a massive hike.
“I am bitterly disappointed that after the disgrace of the Nationalist Government’s RET decision they have heaped insult on injury and walloped local people and businesses not once, but twice in one week”
His party colleague from Orkney, Liam McArthur added: “The suspicion must be that this cash grab by the Scottish government is needed, in part, to help fund the roll out of Road Equivalent Tariff on the west coast.
“If so, it is an outrageous decision that will leave people in Orkney wondering how much more salt Ministers intend packing into the wound.
“Such a divisive and partisan approach to ferry policy must now end. Where fare rises are necessary to keep services operating effectively, they must be fair, proportionate and transparent. Sadly, this decision fails all three tests.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “The decision was made in order to safeguard lifeline ferry services in light of cuts imposed on the Scottish Government by the UK Government as well as increases in fuel costs.”
NorthLink expects to spend £6 million more on fuel in 2011/12 with no prospect of fuel prices coming down again.
“The Scottish Government currently subsidises ferry services throughout the Clyde and Hebrides as well as to the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland, and has increased spending on the NorthLink contract from £29.2m in 2006/7 to £39m in 2011/12.
“We remain committed to enhancing ferry services and the related infrastructure to these communities,” the spokesman added.
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