Commenting on today’s announcement of the awarding of a contract for west coast ferry services to Caledonian MacBrayne, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Chairman of Transportation, Cllr Donald Manford, said:

“I am pleased that this whole beauracratic process has finally been brought to an end though saddened that millions have been spent on unecessary paperwork rather than on improving services.

It is extremely disappointing that the Government appears not to have seen the value of the Lochboisdale – Mallaig route and the benefits to the area that would have brought. I now look forward to discussions with the Minister to see if we can still improve routes.”