Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is seeking an explanation from the Scottish Government for its refusal to intervene to prevent a 150% increase in the cost of concessionary ferry fares.
The fares are due to increase in April following a decision by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)’s Concession Scheme Joint Committee. It will apply to both CalMac and Western Ferries passengers who have an SPT concession card and will see subsidised single fares rise from £1 to £2.50 and return fares rise from £2.50 to £4 in April.
The concessionary travel scheme applies to 25 ferry routes on the west coast operating between Ardrossan-Brodick in the south and as far north as Coll and Tiree-Oban.
However the Scottish Conservative MSP believes it is not too late for ministers at Holyrood to intervene and quash the fare increases.
Mr Cameron said: “I have been contacted by constituents who are understandably perplexed and angry at such an unprecedented increase.
“This will affect mainly older people and those with disabilities, who are very often on fixed incomes, and have no alternative but to use the ferries.
“Furthermore, an SPT survey before the decision was made revealed that 51 per cent of regular ferry users said they would make fewer journeys with a further three per cent making no journeys, in the event of the fares being increased. So there is little doubt that this will have a negative effect on the ability of people to travel.”
“It’s not too late – even if it is last minute - for ministers to intervene and, given the SNP Government’s wretched record on delivering a decent ferry service, or upgrading our local roads, the least they could do is prevent this hike in fares from taking place.”
Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Cowal ward) added: “I very much hope the minister does something about this.
“A significant number of people from Dunoon and Cowal rely on the ferry and it is very unfair to hit them with such an increase, particularly when household budgets are being impacted by so many other costs going up.”
