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Pro Sunday ferry campaigner Uisdean Macleod welcomes seven-day ferries

Uisdean Macleod who fought for Sunday ferries has welcomed Cal Mac’s moves to establish seven-day sailings.

He said a Sunday service would be well used by people getting “away for  the weekend whethever its for pleasure, for business or for a hospital visit

He said that a number of factors had blocked Sunday ferries but “I am glad that the issue is hopefully now resolved.”

He added: “There is quiet anticipation  - we are very hopeful that we will finally get a seven-day ferry service.”

Mr Macleod said: “It will benefit the community. There are many varied benefits for a Sunday ferry.

“Particularly, it would be a full weekend service allowing people to leave the island and get back without interrupting their work schedule.  Monday morning for many people is difficult to take off.”

He  said that many tourists departed a day or two early in the absence of a Sunday service: “For visitors to the island they generally leave on a Friday or a Saturday.”

Mr Macleod said one example is the Hebridean Celtic Festival: “In the summer that runs onto a Saturday night.

“But a lot of visitors to the festival leave on the Saturday because they (otherwise) can’t get away until the Monday. People’s work commitments don’t allow that.”

On the claims that the Sabbath-breaking ferry would be a negative impact on a tradition carried on for centuries he stressed: “No-one one is trying to destroy anyone’s way of life.

“I’ve personally never campaigned to stop any custom or any tradition.”

Pro Sunday ferry campaigners welcome seven-day sailings                 17/5/09