Latest news with #CorranFerry
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
First Corran Ferry foot passenger fare to be introduced
The introduction of the first foot passenger fare on the Corran Ferry is to go ahead after a group of councillors delayed its five-minute, Highland Council-run crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan local authority's economy and infrastructure committee agreed to a £2 charge last month, but its implementation was paused to allow for a further debate on the attending a special meeting of the full council voted 34 to 27 in favour of the fee. The group of councillors had raised concerns about an impact on residents and Baxter, Liberal Democrat councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan, led calls for a debate at a meeting of the full fare would only apply to passengers aged 23 to 60 years would include cyclists, although there would be no extra charge for the alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two Council describes the Corran Ferry as Europe's busiest single-vessel car carries about 10,000 foot passengers, 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles a Council said a £2 charge could generate £20,516 a agreed to a 10% increase on vehicle fares in March, but left a decision on foot passengers to the economy and infrastructure committee.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Highland Council presses ahead with Corran Ferry foot passenger fares
But the move was delayed after a group of councillors pushed for a full debate, as local opposition grew. The plan, which would have raised around £20,000 a year, has now been approved despite fears it could damage the area's 'fragile' economy. The ferry service carries over 10,000 foot passengers per year. Located between the A82 and A861, it provides a 'lifeline' connection linking the communities of Fort William, Ardgour, Sunart, Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Morar, Morvern and the Isle of Mull. The alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two hours, with the ferry providing regular runs seven days a week, with each journey taking five minutes. The ferry is seen as a vital link for some of Scotland's most rural communities (Image: Caroline Wilson) There had been calls for the council to 'pause and review' the scheme until an economic impact investigation could be carried out by October – and allow foot passengers to travel for free until then. Councillors Andrew Baxter and Kate Willis had both called for a pause, brining the issue to a vote before the whole council However, after a vote on Thursday councillors decided to press ahead with the plan to bring in the charges. The debate in Inverness heard emotive speeches from many councillors, with Ardnamurchan representative Sarah Fannet warning that people paying £4 each way to cross the Corran Narrows would lead to a cost of '£80 a month to walk to work'. READ MORE: First foot passenger fare approved for 'lifeline' ferry route Fares to increase on one of Scotland's most scenic ferry routes A petition against the charge had attracted almost 800 signatures, with a local business warns of job losses if the "ferry tax" had gone ahead. Two years ago the ageing MV Corran and back-up MV Maid of Glencoul ferries both broke down, stopping vehicle crossings for 145 days. According to reports, the loss of ferry crossings lead to firms struggling, with the economic loss counted in millions. Ardnamurchan (Image: NQ) Luke Alexander, who owns and runs The Inn at Ardgour where the Corran Ferry lands, said the foot fare would be a "terrible idea". He told the West Coast Today website: "We were never consulted about this in any way. Economically for Ardgour, it has the potential to be devastating. "To add £4 per person to the cost of their visit is prohibitive. It will be like a tax on their visit. "We will lose a minimum of £40,000 in sales, with a worst case scenario of losses exceeding £80,000." Highland Council said the new charge will come into effect this summer and will include foot passengers and pedal cyclists.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Corran Ferry passenger fare paused for more debate
Plans to introduce the first foot passenger fare on the Corran Ferry have been delayed after a group of councillors pushed for a full council five minute, Highland Council-run crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan local authority's economy and infrastructure committee agreed to a £2 charge at a meeting on the group has used a notice of amendment to pause implementation of the fare after raising concerns about how it might affect businesses and residents. Highland Council said a special meeting would be held later this month. Andrew Baxter, Liberal Democrat councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan, led calls for a debate at a meeting of the full council. The charge for the crossing of Loch Linnhe's Corran Narrows was expected to come into effect in the summer. Under the plan approved last week, the fare would only apply to passengers aged 23 to 60 years would include cyclists, although there would be no extra charge for the alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two Council confirmed it had received a notice of amendment and a special meeting would be held on 12 local authority describes the Corran Ferry as Europe's busiest single-vessel car carries about 10,000 foot passengers, 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles a Council said a £2 charge could generate £20,516 a agreed to a 10% increase on vehicle fares in March, but left a decision on foot passengers to the economy and infrastructure committee.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Extra funding sought for Highland-backed small ferry services
Plea for extra funding for Highland small ferries The Corran Ferry is the busiest of the services Highland Council supports It has asked Transport Scotland for its annual grant assistance of £1m to be increased to £1.5m for 2025-26. In a new report the council said fuel, maintenance, staff and contingency costs were all increasing. The local authority supports six services including between Cromarty on the Black Isle and Nigg in Easter Ross, and sailings connecting communities on the Lochaber coast. Highland Council has asked for extra funding to cover rising costs affecting the ferry services it helps to run. In the report to next week's Lochaber committee, officers said that at the time of writing a "positive" response had been received from the public body. News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds More stories from the Highlands and Islands The local authority receives grant funding from the Scottish government via Transport Scotland to help it deliver what are called internal ferry services. They include a service to Inverie, a small community in Knoydart that can only be reached by boat or a walk of about two to three days. The Corran Ferry is the busiest of the services. It carries about 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles a year. The five-minute crossing of Loch Linnhe's Corran Narrows links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardgour peninsula in the west. The alternative journey by road around the loch takes about two hours. Figures in the report suggest costs were rising across the six services. They include overall engine repair costs forecasted to rise from a figure of £326,158 in 2014-15 to £618,000 in 2026-27. Over the same period, fuel costs are expected to increase from £169,843 to £264,181. In November, the Scottish government confirmed that £28m earmarked for road improvements in the Highlands would be used to replace the Corran Ferry's 24-year-old vessel and its 50-year-old Maid of Glencoul. The money was initially allocated for an upgrade of the Longman interchange on the A9, but councillors appealed to the Scottish government to change investment priorities.
