CalMac backtrack on Barra’s “ideal” option
There is utter confusion over Barra’s ferry future after Caledonian MacBrayne raised the option of MV Glen Rosa, currently under construction at Port Glasgow, being deployed to the route.
However, within days, CalMac backtracked on this welcome “offer” when the Western Isles Ferries Group was told by Transport Scotland that the Glen Rosa will definitely be going to Arran.
This was after CalMac included ‘Glen Rosa’ as one of five options in a survey of public preferences to replace MV Isle of Lewis, which is due to be retired, as the recognised Oban-Barra ferry.
The others included retention or “redelivery” of the ‘Isle of Lewis’; deployment to Oban-Barra of the MV Finlaggan; and deployment of MV Clansman, currently serving Coll, Tiree and Colonsay.
The unexpected inclusion of ‘Glen Rosa’ was said to have arisen because of opposition on Arran to its introduction there. The vessel could only operate out of Troon whereas opinion on Arran strongly favours the connection with Ardrossan, which would mean retaining the MV Caledonian Isles.
That would create a situation in which a vessel arriving eight years late and at five times its original cost cannot be deployed to the route for which it is intended. However, it briefly seemed Barra could be the beneficiary from this turn of events.
Brian Currie of Barra and Vatersay Transport Group said: “You couldn’t make it up. After releasing these options to the public, it now seems they were a mistake. We were told at the Ferries Group meeting that the ‘Glen Rosa’ will be going to Arran and it shouldn’t have been suggested otherwise”.
Mr Currie pointed out that “suggested otherwise” actually meant “they were handing out ballots to the community”!
There had been a positive response on Barra to the ‘Glen Rosa’ option. Michael Morrison, founder of Isle of Barra Distillery, wrote to CalMac expressing “strong support of the proposal to deploy the MV Glen Rosa to the Castlebay–Oban route”.
He continued: “Any replacement vessel that offers less capacity than the ‘Isle of Lewis’ would be a massive step backwards for Barra. The Isle of Lewis has been fundamental in allowing Barra’s economy to grow by supporting tourism, freight, and local businesses. Replacing it with a smaller or less capable vessel would undo years of progress and place the Island at a serious disadvantage. MV Glen Rosa is the only option that protects Barra from this outcome”.
He pleaded: “Please ensure this position is clearly reflected in the final recommendations to Ministers”.
Asked if the ‘Glen Rosa’ would be going to Arran, a CalMac spokeswoman said: “That’s the intention, but it depends which will be the most suitable vessel for each route”.
She said the Barra consultation was “part of our wider vessel deployment and cascade draft plan for the network, which is based on new vessels joining the fleet as well as others reaching the end of their service… we are encouraging feedback through area manager Ian Graham until 1 March”.