February 23rd, 2011

FERRY CONCERNS

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP has accused the Scottish Government of playing politics with the Gourock-Dunoon ferry tender.

Newspaper reports have revealed leaked e-mails which show former Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson offered an private company an effective monopoly of the service. This throws in doubt the viability of retaining the town-to-town service the community has bveen calling for.

Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: “The Scottish Government has been caught yet again playing politics with the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service and an important issue for communities on both sides of the water.

“It would appear that ministers’ public assurances do not match the deals they are offering in secret and the people of Gourock who rely on this service are right to be suspicious.

“I am also worried about the consequences these deals will have on jobs and the integrity of the transport hub we have in Gourock as it appears the interests of that community are not a priority for the Scottish Government.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/ministers-in-secret-ferry-talks-1.1086692