Commenting on the First Minister’s announcement to scrap tolls on the Forth and Tay Road Bridges, the Vice-Chairman of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Transportation Committee, Cllr Donald John MacSween, has called on the Scottish Executive to scrap the ‘biggest toll of all’ – ferry fares.

Mr MacSween said:

“Ferry fares penalise those who live in Island communities. The First Minister is to be commended for announcing the removal of charges on those who use the Tay and Forth bridges and it makes sense to extend that wisdom to the removal of ferry fares. This would be the biggest boost ever to the economy of the Western Isles and would easily repay the costs within a short time. A great deal of work has already been done on the economics of ferry fares and we would be happy to supply this to the Scottish Executive. No more studies, no more talking- scrap the taxes that are ferry fares. They are the biggest toll of all”.