Letters / Time for a bit of plain speaking
As tunnel action groups we have not made much comment in relation to the current issues besetting the ferry service to our islands. We do not wish to promote an atmosphere of tunnels versus ferries, and we readily accept that the roro ferry service has served our islands very well since the 1970s.
However, we would like to give our backing to the viewpoint contribution made by retired ferry skipper Steven Spence in the Shetland News on 16 July. It has for some time been well known in our communities that although long-term sickness is an issue for some ferry crew, there are also a number of other crewing matters which are impacting the ability of the SIC [Shetland Islands Council] to operate a reliable ferry service to our islands.
We would ask that SIC officials and councillors take onboard what Steven has said and create a sustainable ongoing staffing solution for our ferry service. Some transparency and honesty in relation to the current situation would also not go amiss.
Time may also have come for a bit of plain speaking in relation to tunnels. We note the article on p17 of last week’s Shetland Times, relating to Labour MSP Rhoda Grant’s recent visit to Shetland, where SIC officials “took her out and about to where fixed links would be”. She would appear to have left our islands under the impression that ferries need to be built in order that we can look at fixed links in 20-25 years’ time. This has created a bit of a déjà vu moment for us, as that was what was said when the new ferries came to Yell Sound 20-25 years ago.
Even if new ferries appeared tomorrow, this would not solve the transport issues that our communities face. What would you suggest we do over the next 20-25 years? Wait to see if the SIC can muster a ferry crew every day? Wait to see if the Scottish Government (in whatever guise it might be over this period) continues to fund the revenue deficit for our ferry service annually? Wait to see if we get new ferries?
There is no commitment or finance coming forward for that yet either. Wait whilst uncertainty and restricted accessibility compounds depopulation and stifles economic and social growth within our communities? Wait until 2050 to get into the 21st century? For comparison Norway built their first subsea tunnel in 1982 and Faroe in 2003.
For those who believe that tunnels are pie in the sky, and we believe there are a lot fewer of them now, we would say look around us. Other national governments have undertaken subsea tunnel projects for decades, and there is nothing about tunnels between Unst, Yell and the Mainland Shetland that would be considered major engineering projects within the context of worldwide tunnel development.
For those who believe we need to examine, explore, investigate etc, again we would say look around us. There are plenty of examples where subsea tunnels have been constructed, and plenty of evidence of their impact.
For those who feel we need new ferries in the meantime we would ask, have you considered options other than new build by the SIC? Which has in the past killed tunnels at a stroke. In addition, the ongoing saga of the Fair Isle ferry should highlight, even to council officials, the risks of building your own.
We would also like to point out that it remains the policy of both Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government, that responsibility for the upgrading or replacement of inter-island transport services within Shetland, be this through vessel replacement or tunnels, is solely the responsibility of the Shetland Islands Council. The partial funding for the Fair Isle ferry came from the UK Government.
For those who believe we cannot afford it, we would say can we afford not to do it? Our ferry service requires ongoing subsidy of tens of millions every year and cannot ever be financially sustainable. Fares only recover around 10 per cent of the annual operating cost and none of the capital cost of building ferries. In Norway and Faroe, they have proven that tunnels are the only financially sustainable model available, as they recover not only 100 per cent of the annual operating cost but can also recover the capital cost of the tunnel, generally over 15 – 30 years.
We do not envisage that tunnels to our islands will be either fully publicly funded nor toll free. What’s the difference between a toll and a ferry fare? We would suggest that the Faroese funding model which includes direct public funding, and loans guaranteed by the Government is considered. Loans would require to be secured from the UK Government as the Scottish Government has no borrowing power. These would be paid off via tolls.
What we would ask of any politician or government official visiting our islands, is that they take the time to speak to the communities affected by this and do not solely rely on the opinion of those who may have a vested interest in the status-quo. We would also ask that they read our report written follow our visit to Faroe.
As we have stated before we do not believe that the major barriers to constructing subsea tunnels to our islands are economic, social, environmental or even financial. They are political.
Duncan Gray
Alice Mathewson
Alec Priest
Chairs Unst Tunnel Action Group (UTAG)
Graham Hughson
Steven Henderson
Mark MacBeath
Chairs Yell Tunnel Action Group (YTAG)
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