Back in September, we wrote to Islands Minister Mairi Gougeon (together with representatives from four other Argyll islands) to complain that the compensation scheme for ferry disruption (The Island Business Resilience Fund, IBRF) was divisive and unfair. It excludes the vast majority of islands affected, including Mull and Iona. A little later the topic made it to First Minister’s Questions, but even so, more than two months on we still have not received any response from Mairi Gougeon. (we’ve sent a few reminders too!)
This week however, invitations to IBRF consultation events have been issued, and they are extended to businesses on ALL islands served by CalMac, not just Arran, Colonsay and Uist (the islands that are currently eligible). This is the kind of consultation that should have occurred prior to the IBRF being implemented, if Scottish Government had adhered to its own Islands Act. Under the terms of the 2018 Act, any islands policy should be shaped by first conducting an Island Community Impact Assessment (ICIA), and undertaking early, robust, meaningful and effective consultation. In the case of the IBRF, there was none (by their own admission).
Retrospective as it may be, this consultation is welcome and may indicate a change of heart by Mairi Gougeon’s department. So if you run a business on Mull and Iona (or any Scottish island served by CalMac), please try to make it to one of the online consultation events below. Please attend if your business has been affected by reduced capacity (like the absence of the MV Isle of Mull for the first half of the summer season and Frisa-only service now), general cancellations, unreliability or tourist downturn caused by loss of visitor confidence … or any other aspect of our crumbling ferry system.
The sessions are planned for: