As Elton John voluntarily says goodbye at Glastonbury, the more modest ‘Pacific Quay’ tour of just South Uist and, sometimes, Arran and Campbelltown, steams on, headlining day-after-day.
Leading psychologists have reported an increase in the number of their patients absolutely refusing to take a ferry trip in case they get left on the quayside and are never seen again.
After hundreds of media reports of ferry cancellations ‘devastating’ island economies, patients have proved resistant to treatments based on actual, real-life, real-world, evidence such as the 99% reliability last Saturday with 518 out of 523 sailings on time and the seasonal average at 95.4%.
One patient screamed ‘That’s all very FFF well doctor but what if I have to to go to Uist, South Uist and the nearest ferry that works is on North Uist??!’
Responding to the above, a BBC Scotland spokesperson said:
Yes, and the situation is now even worse as reliability fell to a shocking, only 97.4%, with TEN cancellations out of only 383 sailings, by the Scottish Government-owned CalMac ferries, on a very busy Sunday.
Only 12 of the 13 Iona crossings was on time. St Columba would have been shocked!
And half of the 4 Eriskay to Barra crossings were late! There are 200 folk on Eriskay, you know.‘
Otherwise utterly useless Tory MSPs have called for the minister to ‘walk the plank!
Talking-up Scotland 
WHY ARE bbc england based at pacific quay
CONSTANTLY LYING TO THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE
SHOULD THE POWER BE CUT OFF FROM THIS CORRUPT STATION
To stop constant lying
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And what about English ferries ? they have ferries , do they break down , arrive late etc why isn’t BBC reporting this after all they do like to report English matters on Scottish tv , it’s one of their old tricks to report an English story as if it happened in Scotland especially if it’s a bad story.
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To be fair Prof Robertson, it has been awful for islanders much more so than normal/acceptable. The Clyde ferry-building was incredibly well-intentioned but has been a bit of a disaster. It’s clear that things will get better as the 6 new ferries come on stream.
The negative PR being mustered by Brian Wilson, Torcuil Crichton etc is awful.
For a little balance, the Labour Party failed to bring in RET and it would be fascinating to know just how much ferry fares would be today without RET.
Also, I believe it was the SNP who re-introduced the direct sailing to Lochboisdale …… not sure, but did Labour not remove it when the Eriskay ferry connected with Barra?
#proudtobeSNPbaaaaad 😉
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To be fair Heisker , it has been awful for the rest of us who have to listen to BBC bleating on about a ferry service of excellence and i for one want to ensure islanders are well aware that i a mainlander think they should be grateful for the super subsidised service they do get given there are so few of them , I would like to point out that I know of villages on the mainland with higher populations who do not have a regular bus service like their regular ferry service and if a bus doesn’t turn up it doesn’t get the front pages of the newspapers and top story on BBC Scotland.
If you want a regular service to get you around dont live in a remote place unless you intend to buy your own car or boat .
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We need to bring all public transport back into public and or community control TGC. In France, in a region the size of the Highlands or the old Strathclyde a maximum bus fare is 1.60 euros! (With town buses run by the town council and regional buses run by the regional council.) All of Scotland should be better connected, it’s not a case of robbing Hamish to pay Hector.
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Colin Macaulay , after Scottish independence that will be a priority as will be land reform and controlling our own money with our own currency so that Scottish people can take back ownership and care of their own land , in the meantime , your wish for
“ We need to bring all public transport back into public and or community “
will never happen , in fact we have been going in the opposite direction of your wish for years , all because Westminster control the money.
I am on your side but it doesn’t stop me tackling Hamish or Hector when the spread misinformation about what are clearly superb services provided in what are often severe weather conditions.
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We’re in agreement on most things TGC and after independence we’ll maybe even be in the same party! However, having lived on an island and with island roots, I know that these services are often lifeline and they need improvement – which, to be fair, is now within sight.
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Lifeline , chosen lifeline I would say , not many children on the islands , it’s mostly older people who moved there from elsewhere , a choice , I see the B&B,s I see the Airbnb,s heck of a lot of people own properties but not actually living there or living there some of the months.
In my opinion the extensive ferry service is more than adequate for a small population , sure they might have to travel a bit by car or bus to get to a ferry but know what ? so do I there are a lot of country villages in Scotland with bigger populations that do not have such a good transport connection but it’s a numbers game , we will never provide frequent transport to remote small groups of people it’s the downside of living remote , if you don’t like all that goes with living remote don’t live remote, that’s my view.
The ferry saga is nonsense , these people moaning about need to get a life.
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Fair enough but weren’t your ancestors driven off the Monach Islands near North Uist by the existential threat of no ferry at all after a tidal wave due to SNP neglect in the 17th Century?
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Ochone, ochone ……… I’ll have to ask Angus Og
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I guess the MSM (stop sniggering), are so pissed off that their co-ordinated attack via the Scottish Office, a blue tent and the “high end” motorhome came to nothing that they will lash out on any feeble story about ferries in an attempt to blacken the SNP and hopefully that will stop the push for Independence.
Sorry, BBC Scotland, Herald et al, even your most devoted audience members are realising what a sham you have become.
How about an exclusive on Michelle Mone? Nope, that’s beyond their capabilities or remit. Maybe Michelle has a pigeon though.. 🙂
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I wonder I wonder if BBC Scotland or the Herald Scotsman etc are doing this too
How would we know what they get up to they are so secretive about their staff pay and contracts
https://www.irishtimes.com/media/2023/06/26/dee-forbes-to-resign-from-rte-with-immediate-effect-over-payments-controversy/
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BBC Scotland not being accountable in Scotland is criminal it’s possible this and worse could be going on how would we in Scotland ever know ? they are unaccountable uncontrollable in Scotland doing just as they please with our money on our airwaves in our country.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rte-facing-serious-hits-to-funding-streams-following-payments-scandal-1493853.html
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Wow
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BBC gets £6Billion. Spend some of that on the ferries.
There was one ferry a year built, same as under Labour. The new innovative ferries will save fuel. Proto types always take longer with new technology. The monies were invested in the local economy.
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