Stornoway Port Authority resist Comhairle takeover bid

Stornoway Port Authority notes that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is investigating the feasibility of becoming the Harbour Authority for the Western Isles.

The Montgomery Commission rejected a similar proposal by the Comhairle in 1983.

The Stornoway Port Authority will robustly resist any proposal that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar “takes over” its Statutory functions.

The Comhairle may not be aware of the costs and time involved in promoting its own Act of Parliament to become a Unitary Harbour Authority for the Western Isles, at a time when the Council is facing stringent budgetary cuts of the order of £14.5m in the provision of front line services.

Such costs could double in the event of objections against such a proposal.

Stornoway Port Authority and its predecessor Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission has managed, maintained, improved and developed Stornoway Harbour continuously for 145 years – since 1865 with no burden to the ratepayers of the Western Isles.

The Port Authority receives no revenue support grant from any source and the annual running costs of the Port exceeded £1.3m in 2009.

The Stornoway Port Authority has a proven track record in harbour improvements.

Since completing the £8.95 million Ferry Terminal Development a further £6 million has been spent on improvements around the harbour, with £1 million being spent upgrading the Slipway which is of vital importance to the Fishing and Aquaculture sectors in the Western Isles.

All of this was achieved at no cost to the Comhairle or its ratepayers, and on whom this burden along with that of the other harbours would fall in the event of a “takeover” proceeding.

Statutorily the Port Authority is governed by various Acts of Parliament and it fully observes the principles set out by Government in 2000 – “Modernising Trust Ports” and acts in accordance with any guidance issued by Scottish Ministers from time to time with respect to the exercise of such functions.

With the exception of Stornoway all of the other harbours in the Western Isles require significant funding from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd who operate Castlebay, Lochboisdale, and Tarbert Harris harbours.

Stornoway Port Authority was not aware of the Council’s ambitions as the Comhairle has not consulted with the Stornoway Port Authority concerning its proposal.