Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission chairman, Mr Sandy Matheson this week insisted only an "insignificant figure" is involved in re-aligning the new ferry terminal access road.

Diggers started dismantling the stone wall skirting the seaward side of the road, which run behind Ian Maciver's yard, late last week to enable the access road to be widened.

But the Commission chairman assured the Gazette no extra in-filling is required, keeping costs down. The road widening only entailed moving the wall a few feet, Mr Matheson continued. Before the diggers returned the road was already double track, the work being carried out was to improve the bend and visibility. It was just not the case that the land dispute with Mr Ian Maciver, owner of Stornoway Engineering Company Ltd., had created a bottleneck.

"This piece of ground which was the subject of discussions is neither here nor there to the development, and won't hold it back. That matter is now closed," Mr Matheson stated.

He went on that the Commission had been trying to "tidy up the boundaries" and had offered Mr Maciver in the region of six or seven times the area of ground in exchange, but he had rejected this deal.

Mr Ian Maciver, meanwhile, remarked: "The land I wanted in exchange was not designated for any use and would not have cost the taxpayer a penny.

"I wonder if those in the Scottish Office who are shelling out for this know what is going on?"

Earlier this month the Gazette revealed that the negotiations between the Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission and Mr Maciver had broken down over 50 square metres of land required for the construction of the access road to the £7.6 million ferry terminal.

The block of land at the rear of Mr Maciver's Stornoway Engineering Company premises juts out into road, narrowing it as the carriageway swings left towards Shell Street.

Mr Maciver blames the Pier and Harbour Commission for the failure to reach a deal and accuses them of trying to snatch twice as much land from him as was agreed during a site visit.

The engineering firm boss says all he wants is his legal fees paid and enough land to operate his business properly.

The Commission have stated the contract for the external works is still expected to be completed by late March or early April.

Original article Stornoway Gazette Jan 29 1997.