Funding and prioritisation

Issue

Concerns about references to budget constraints are raised, particularly linked to those ICP proposals to encourage better utilisation of existing ferry capacities including through fares. There are views that changes to fares that would affect affordability for residents and/or visitors could damage island sustainability. Views expressed suggest that providing additional capacity, particularly for vehicles and freight, should be of greater importance than addressing public sector affordability.

Response

A number of proposals in the draft Strategic Approach explored how to deliver and develop ferry services, as a key part of island transport connectivity, during a period of financial constraint. These included the proposed approaches on investment prioritisation, capacity and demand, freight and fares. These are considered further below.

As set out in the draft Strategic Approach, the delivery of the Islands Connectivity Plan, including through community needs assessments, provides an opportunity to look at how and why people use ferries, as well as fixed links, air services and onward and connecting travel taking account of the differing roles of operators, local authorities and Scottish Government. These assessments would identify options to address transport connectivity problems for island or peninsula communities that could include aviation, fixed links and onward and connecting travel, as well as ferries. The aim would be to provide reliable and resilient connectivity to essential services for local communities and other users in a cost-effective way, while supporting local authority development plans and island economic growth. Exploring the potential for improved connectivity between islands could allow for improved access to existing island-based services such as schools and medical practices thereby increasing potential demand for, and sustainability of, those island services. This would complement, and reduce reliance on, connectivity with services based on the mainland, consequentially easing current capacity pressures, particularly for vehicle deck space. This would be particularly relevant where islands are closer to other islands than they are to the mainland.