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Skye high tolls hit island firms
Page 13
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by Derren Hayes • A new report shows the Skye Bridge is costing local hauliers nearly half a million pounds a year: some firms are so badly affected they are being forced to close operations in the island.
An economic study carried out for the Highland Council by In dependent North ern Consultants estimates that the return artic fare of £50.80 is costing the area's hauliers around £450,000 a year.
Costs to the haulage industry in general could he close to Lim because this figure only includes tolls paid by Skye and Kyle hauliers and not through traffic using the bridge to go to the Western Isles.
The study also found removal of the tolls could generate an additional annual income for Skye of £2.5m with the equivalent of 208 jobs. Aggregates supplier Redland is closing its Kyleakin quarry on Skye at Christmas, partly due to the high price of paying the tolls. Seven jobs will go, including some drivers.
John Mackinnon, managing director of general haulier Skye Transport, says paying the tolls has cost him an extra £41,000 this year for his seven vehicles. "You've got to carry on even though some of the extra cost can't be passed on to the customer," he adds.
I— This week the Scottish High Court of Justice rejected an appeal by George Anderson— the first person to be fined for refusing to pay the Skye Bridge toll—that the tolls were set illegally.
The ruling means cases against another 350 protesters can now proceed at Dingwall Sheriff Court.