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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Green light for Sunday sailings | Green light for Sunday sailings |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Caledonian MacBrayne will introduce Sunday ferry services from the mainland to Lewis and Harris in the Western Isles, campaigners have been told. | Caledonian MacBrayne will introduce Sunday ferry services from the mainland to Lewis and Harris in the Western Isles, campaigners have been told. |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Lord's Day Observance Society have been notified of the decision. | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Lord's Day Observance Society have been notified of the decision. |
| The local authority and the society have been strongly opposed to the the launch of the service. | |
| The comhairle said it was disappointed but not surprised and will ask the Scottish Government to intervene. | The comhairle said it was disappointed but not surprised and will ask the Scottish Government to intervene. |
| The first sailing will take place on Sunday, following the Hebridean Celtic Festival which runs from Wednesday to Saturday. | The first sailing will take place on Sunday, following the Hebridean Celtic Festival which runs from Wednesday to Saturday. |
| CalMac has not yet commented on the move. | CalMac has not yet commented on the move. |
| Religious views | Religious views |
| There is currently no direct ferry service across The Minch from the mainland to Lewis and Harris on a Sunday. | There is currently no direct ferry service across The Minch from the mainland to Lewis and Harris on a Sunday. |
| The comhairle ruling administration said it was dismayed by the decision to sail between Stornoway and Ullapool. | |
| Leader Angus Campbell said: "This is not a matter of surprise but it is still a disappointment. | |
| "I am particularly unhappy that Caledonian MacBrayne have refused to meaningfully consult with the wider comhairle, nor have they provided us with the legal advice that they have based the decision upon." | |
| In May, BBC Alba learned that state-owned CalMac viewed Sunday sailings to and from the mainland as "inevitable". | In May, BBC Alba learned that state-owned CalMac viewed Sunday sailings to and from the mainland as "inevitable". |
| At the time the ferry operator said it had been told it would be unlawful to refuse to run a service because of the religious views of just part of a community. | At the time the ferry operator said it had been told it would be unlawful to refuse to run a service because of the religious views of just part of a community. |
| Pro-sailings campaigners sought advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. | Pro-sailings campaigners sought advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. |
| The Lord's Day Observance Society and Western Isles council leaders have previously stressed their opposition to the plans. | The Lord's Day Observance Society and Western Isles council leaders have previously stressed their opposition to the plans. |
| The comhairle said its policy was to reflect the customs and traditions of Lewis and Harris. | The comhairle said its policy was to reflect the customs and traditions of Lewis and Harris. |