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| Call for new transport minister to be a senior role | Call for new transport minister to be a senior role |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| CalMac has had to redeploy some of its vessels to cover other island routes | CalMac has had to redeploy some of its vessels to cover other island routes |
| Scotland's new transport minister should be a cabinet appointment and not a junior ministerial role, Western Isles Council has said. | Scotland's new transport minister should be a cabinet appointment and not a junior ministerial role, Western Isles Council has said. |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's call follows Kevin Stewart's decision to step down due to poor health. | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's call follows Kevin Stewart's decision to step down due to poor health. |
| Transport minister is currently not a cabinet role, but the comhairle said it should be due to serious problems affecting island ferry links. | Transport minister is currently not a cabinet role, but the comhairle said it should be due to serious problems affecting island ferry links. |
| First Minister Humza Yousaf said an appointment was expected "imminently". | First Minister Humza Yousaf said an appointment was expected "imminently". |
| There has been frustration among islanders over the level of disruption to west coast services. | There has been frustration among islanders over the level of disruption to west coast services. |
| Ferry cancellation has left islanders 'beyond crisis' | Ferry cancellation has left islanders 'beyond crisis' |
| Islanders protest against Lochboisdale ferry cancellations | Islanders protest against Lochboisdale ferry cancellations |
| Transport minister quits due to poor mental health | Transport minister quits due to poor mental health |
| Uist ferry disruption 'worse' than lockdown impact | Uist ferry disruption 'worse' than lockdown impact |
| State-owned ferry operator CalMac has had to redeploy some of its vessels to cover other routes due to breakdowns or delays in its maintenance programme. | State-owned ferry operator CalMac has had to redeploy some of its vessels to cover other routes due to breakdowns or delays in its maintenance programme. |
| Almost all of June's sailings to South Uist have been cancelled, sparking a protest in Lochboisdale by islanders earlier this month. CalMac chief Robbie Drummond met islanders in Uist on Monday to discuss the situation. | Almost all of June's sailings to South Uist have been cancelled, sparking a protest in Lochboisdale by islanders earlier this month. CalMac chief Robbie Drummond met islanders in Uist on Monday to discuss the situation. |
| Mr Drummond told the meeting CalMac would review how it prioritised its services. | |
| Drone footage of the protest held in South Uist with cars parked on the road to Lochboisdale | Drone footage of the protest held in South Uist with cars parked on the road to Lochboisdale |
| The comhairle's transport chairman Uisdean Robertson said connectivity was essential to the sustainability of island communities. | The comhairle's transport chairman Uisdean Robertson said connectivity was essential to the sustainability of island communities. |
| He said: "The recent parlous state in which our ferry services have been left underlines this and shows that we need to show serious leadership in securing and improving our transport networks. | He said: "The recent parlous state in which our ferry services have been left underlines this and shows that we need to show serious leadership in securing and improving our transport networks. |
| "Transport should not be a junior ministerial portfolio instead the next minister should be appointed at cabinet level and give every support by the rest of the government to ensure the portfolio is properly funded, especially our ferry services." | "Transport should not be a junior ministerial portfolio instead the next minister should be appointed at cabinet level and give every support by the rest of the government to ensure the portfolio is properly funded, especially our ferry services." |
| Mr Yousaf said the appointment of a new transport minister was expected soon. He said the post was overseen by a cabinet secretary. | Mr Yousaf said the appointment of a new transport minister was expected soon. He said the post was overseen by a cabinet secretary. |
| He told BBC Scotland: "I can give an absolute assurance, whether it's to colleagues in the Western Isles or colleagues in other island communities that rely on these lifeline ferries, that transport is of the utmost priority, not just for myself but the entire government." | He told BBC Scotland: "I can give an absolute assurance, whether it's to colleagues in the Western Isles or colleagues in other island communities that rely on these lifeline ferries, that transport is of the utmost priority, not just for myself but the entire government." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Isle of South Uist | Isle of South Uist |
| Ferries | Ferries |
| Lochboisdale | Lochboisdale |
| CalMac | CalMac |
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