'Don't raise Scottish ferry fares'
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A PLANNED 2.7% increase in ferry fares for operators travelling to and from the Western Isles of Scotland has been slammed by local hauliers.
David McLaughlin, owner of Isle of Lewisbased McLaughlin Plant & Haulage, said he has been losing business since the removal of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET), a tax relief for operators using the ferry route, in March 2012.
Last week, Transport Scotland revealed a £1.9m investment to ensure fare increases from summer 2014 are pegged back at 2.7%, but McLaughlin said he has already felt the effect of previous increases.
Fares rose 50% in 2012 and by another 10% in April.
"The prices have had a huge impact already," McLaughlin said.
David Wood, owner of Woody's Express Parcels in Stornoway, said: "There is an urgent need for the government to understand the detrimental effect such massive increases are having on the fragile economies of our islands."
Scottish transport minister Keith Brown said: "We are aware of the views of some hauliers on the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree routes on the effect of the transitional arrangements we have put in place to move commercial hauliers to non-RET fares, and we are listening."