Tag: travel

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A resident of Islay is frustrated despite services running normally because…they gave Barra a loan of his new boat!

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it’s redeploying the island’s new ferry to a different route, amid widespread disruption across the West coast network. The MV Isle of Islay only started serving the island’s route last week, but today it will be redeployed to Barra to restore a normal service there. The ferry operator says the MV Alfred will move to cover Islay as a second vessel alongside the MV Finlaggan from tomorrow afternoon. The above is in Reporting Scotland’s wee half-hourly inserts in BBC Breakfast (6-9am) this morning but not, so far, in full on their website, so I cannot see who all these ‘resident’s … Continue reading A resident of Islay is frustrated despite services running normally because…they gave Barra a loan of his new boat!

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Why Labour and others are wrong in seeking to merge CalMac and CMAL, why Norway does not compare and how the current system protects the islanders from the harsh economies they would face

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The initial decision to separate ownership/procurement (CMAL) from operations (CalMac) in 2006, by Jack McConnell and Douglas Alexander, was based on the notion that it can create better incentives for efficiency and performance while allowing the public sector to retain strategic control over fares, service standards, routes, quality, and subsidies, to protect islanders. Contrary to the media frenzy driven largely by an inarticulate, evidence-free, media-constructed popular culture and/or explicit opposition party opportunism, it has worked to protect islanders. While some have insisted on comparison only with Norway, $2 trillion in the bank and full independence, while Scotland, one hand tied … Continue reading Why Labour and others are wrong in seeking to merge CalMac and CMAL, why Norway does not compare and how the current system protects the islanders from the harsh economies they would face

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Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit

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In Kevin McKenna‘s piece yesterday in the Herald: In Scot­land, in recent years, the Scot­tish Gov­ern­ment, egged on by the Greens, has con­ferred sac­red status on cyc­ling lanes, turn­ing them into a sort of lux­ury Cale­do­nian cam­ino for the middle-classes. ‘I’ve got noth­ing against cycle travel, but how many middle-aged, work­ing-class women have you seen rid­ing a bicycle into the city? The answer is none. The pri­or­ity for Glas­gow has to be buses.’ WTF’s a ‘camino’ Kev. Middle-Class or whit? Kevin, back in 2012, before he had to pretend being pro-independence as cover for slagging the SNP every day: So … Continue reading Herald writer ‘admits’ to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants to spoil the fun of the young and fit

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Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals

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Norway’s ferry service has been recently portrayed as superior to Scotland’s. I suppose they have got $2 trillion in the bank and we’ve got SFA but, wait what’s this: In Norway there are also reports and criticisms of insufficient or ineffective community involvement in decisions affecting ferry (ferge) and fast ferry (hurtigbåt) services, which serve as vital lifelines for coastal, island, and fjord communities. https://www.nho.no/siteassets/nho-regioner-filer/nho-nordland/nf17-2025-samfunnsnytten-av-hurtigbattilbudet-i-nordland.pdf Norway operates one of the world’s largest and most subsidized ferry networks, with many routes under public service obligations (PSOs) managed at the county (fylkeskommune) level or nationally. These connections are essential for daily life, … Continue reading Norway’s ‘superior’ ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time to prevent unpopular outcomes like service cuts, route adjustments driven by budget constraints or central government policy goals

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‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..

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OK, I’m not going on about all the Scottish Government subsidies the ‘islanders’ get because, according to Lesley Riddoch, it upsets them to be told about them but I cannot, just cannot, ignore the above claims. Are there reports of government’s excluding the communities most affected from decisions which are crucial for their wellbeing in, for example, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand or Washington State USA? It seems there are. I’m shocked. Surely the Stornoway Gazette guy checked first. Yes, there are reports and public criticisms in several of these regions of governments or … Continue reading ‘Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?’ Well, only the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, British Columbia, New Zealand, Washington State USA…..

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A Guardian picture tells a story of Scotland’s place even amongst England’s liberal elite

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See those Ivory Coast players in orange, very bottom left in the (just) ‘More sport’ afterthought section? That’s the report of Scotland’s 1 nil defeat last night, right at the bottom. I read the Guardian all the time but won’t pay until they change their editorial policy to oppose Scottish independence at the same time as not opposing any other country’s departure from the brutal empire they apparently now regret. I wrote this on February 19 February 2026, six weeks ago. Not even an acknowledgement far less a response. Katherine Viner, Editor, the Guardian, katharine.viner@guardian.co.uk Dear Katharine I’d really like … Continue reading A Guardian picture tells a story of Scotland’s place even amongst England’s liberal elite

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BBC Scotland admit County Lines drug gangs are another plague from England but try to contain it in the Highlands

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Charity workers have raised concern about the number of vulnerable youngsters in the Highlands being targeted big city drug dealers from England. Barnardo’s staff say they’re being exploited and threatened by County Lines drug gangs in Inverness. The charity runs the Anchor project in the City, which is trying to help tackle the problem. Police reckon 12 organised crime groups are operating in the Highland capital. BBC Scotland, in their BBC breakfast insert this morning, with a second only explicit mention of where the County Lines drug gangs are from. I must say, I’m puzzled by this openness after 7 … Continue reading BBC Scotland admit County Lines drug gangs are another plague from England but try to contain it in the Highlands

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Scotland subsidises its ferries far more than any other country, subsidises island life far more than any other part and the Mull service is 98% reliable for half empty vehicle decks!

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Depopulation is one of the biggest population that the Hebrides faces (sic) and not having a functioning ferry service only exacerbates that. You know, To try and live your life where you cannot come and go when you need to, that is why many people now decide they cannot live out their lives in the Hebrides. Joe Reade, from Somerset, Taster-in-Chief at the Island Bakery on Mull may be the man who first launched my research to find out how other countries did it after wondering himself if CalMac might be the ‘worst in the world.‘ I feel sure it … Continue reading Scotland subsidises its ferries far more than any other country, subsidises island life far more than any other part and the Mull service is 98% reliable for half empty vehicle decks!

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Citizens Theatre revamp only made possible by SNP Government’s £17.5 million and SNP Council’s £2 million

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BBC Scotland this morning reporting the Citizens Theatre revamp funds being made available last minute but with no time, it seems, to tell you who from. The Herald, also, making you work to find out, with: If YOU have the time, you can find, in the Herald report: The Scottish Government has signed off another multi-million pound bail-out for Glasgow’s 148-year-old Citizens Theatre to help meet the final costs of its long-delayed revamp. Ministers have approved another £3.5 million for the refurbishment, which reopened to the public last August after a seven-year closure, despite the project receiving an additional £8m from the government and … Continue reading Citizens Theatre revamp only made possible by SNP Government’s £17.5 million and SNP Council’s £2 million

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Affluent Washington State refuses to fund even starting the replacement of 50 year-old plus ferries and considers return of one at nearly 70!

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From the Washington State Standard: Budget writers in the Washington Legislature on Monday declared their intent to eventually buy more hybrid electric ferries to modernize the state ferry fleet.  But newly unveiled House and Senate transportation spending proposals left at the dock a $1 billion borrowing request from the governor to pay the tab, raising doubts about when and how a new shipyard order might happen. The budget plans would also further pause the conversion of existing diesel ferries to electric power. Washington State Ferries urgently needs more vessels — and more reliable vessels. The average age of the fleet is 35 … Continue reading Affluent Washington State refuses to fund even starting the replacement of 50 year-old plus ferries and considers return of one at nearly 70!