‘MSP calls for increased Clansman runs to Barra for gas delivery’.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has written to CalMac about a situation which is emerging that will seriously hamper the delivery of bottled gas supplies to the island of Barra.

The difficulty has emerged as the MV Clansman is due to be moved off the Oban, Castlebay, Lochboisdale route from the end of this month to be utilised on the Oban, Coll, Tiree route instead.  The MV Isle of Lewis is scheduled to take over the Barra route.  However, Peter Nicholson of Barra Island Stores in Castlebay who currently transports bottled gas from Oban to Barra to supply to the community, has informed Mrs Grant that, as a closed ship, the MV Isle of Lewis is not permitted to carry bottled gas.

Mr Nicolson not only supplies domestic customers and holiday makers with gas but he serves the wider community including the school, the emergency services, the radio mast for the lifeboat, hotels and fishing boats.  This then leaves the community, which is highly reliant on bottled gas, in a very vulnerable position.

Rhoda Grant commented, “I understand CalMac has now agreed to run the MV Clansman on the Oban – Barra route on a Wednesday however this does not solve the problem as the length of the sailings mean it is impossible for people to get from Barra to Oban and back in the same day.

Mrs Grant continued “While I welcome CalMac having listened to the community’s concerns, what they have proposed will still not resolve the issue.  More sailings on the MV Clansman would have to be added to allow people to get over and back on consecutive days.  If the sailings were to leave Barra in the morning, this would allow people to do the trip in two days.  I have asked CalMac to include this change to the timetable to ensure the island’s gas supply continues as is.”

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