Sunday sailings

Published on Wednesday 20 May 2009 20:53

You report (14 May) on Caledonian MacBrayne's plans to commence Sunday ferry sailings to Stornoway, despite the protests of the local people, seeking to defend their distinctive way of life. The reason adduced was the right of a minority to leave the island any day they wished. We know there are other islands where ferries only call on alternated days, or less, so this is a spurious argument.

The need of weekend visitors to reach their work in the south can be met by reverting to the departure timings of MV Lochseaforth

over past decades. There is still time for a ferry leaving at 00h15 hours on a Monday to return and resume its normal schedule for the day. In the Seventies, when Sunday sailings were instigated to the Isle of Mull, our protest was ignored. However, that summer virtually every service was dislocated by vessel break-downs. Finally, the MV Lochseaforth ran aground with the company chairman and managing director on board. There is a price to pay ("in this life and that which is to come") for transgressing God's laws needlessly.

(REV) D S FRASER

Newmarket

Isle of Lewis