Scarista House
All favourite
Gaelic songs
Hebrides Shop
“Almighty fight” over Sabbath ferry sailings 19/5/09
Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd is refusing to make public the text of a legal opinion which, the Company claimed last week, now means they are 'obliged' to start a Sunday ferry service between Stornoway and Ullapool.
And island opponents of Sunday sailings are now securing counsel, asserting that 'the gloves are off.'
'We've had hard advice already from the highest legal quarters that CalMac's understanding of law – specifically, the Equality Act they invoked last week – is fundamentally flawed,' says local Lord's Day Observance Society spokesman Angus MacKay.
'Our Chairman, Rev.Dr. Ian D Campbell, emailed CalMac boss Peter Timms on Saturday, asking politely if we could be sent a copy of their opinion from Queen's Counsel – for which, as taxpayers, we paid.
'Mr Timms not only refused point-
'That's sadly typical of the manner which Caledonian MacBrayne have handled this matter from the start. As far as we're concerned, the gloves are now off.
'Once we've got our own advocate's opinion we will make it public -
Mr Mackay said: “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar oppose Sunday sailings; The Stornoway Trust shares their view. Last summer an Inquiry Committee of the Scottish Parliament on our ferry services made plain this matter can only be resolved locally; and the Minister himself has made plain his respect for local democracy on the issue.
“But Calmac are now wheeling out mysterious lawyers and asserting we are going to get a Sunday ferry whether we want one or not.
'Our first advice from a senior advocate is that CalMac's interpretation of the Equality Act is wildly incorrect.
“We urge Calmac's Board to get a second legal opinion and to proceed now with enormous caution, because if they're going to try and force this on the people of Lewis they are in for an almighty fight.
'If a Sunday ferry service were allowed to start, it would be irrevocable and would have immediate and serious consequences for a whole, unique way of life. We'll fight to the last ditch to stop it happening and we're ruling nothing out.'
Meanwhile the local Lord's Day Observance Society has formed a dedicated 'battle-