Emotions ran high at a meeting between Cal-Mac officials and islanders about the new ferry which will take over the Oban-Barra-South Uist service next year.

Angry and frustrated was how the chairman of Castlebay Community Council summed-up the general feelings of around 70 people who turned up for the joint meeting on Monday evening.

And Donald Manford said that representatives from Cal-Mac openly admitted that the design of the new ferry was not suitable for the route and would cost £600,000 more in fuel costs.

Managing Director for Cal-Mac, Colin Paterson, has repeatedly stated that it was not possible to produce an acceptable vessel to cover all requirements at a greater speed than 16.5 knots.

"As far as I am concerned the meeting went extremely badly, they came and told us what they were doing and did not give us a chance to consult with them - the users of the ferry," hit out Mr Manford.

"We are getting a vessel that is larger than the one we already have but it's not any faster and will cost £600,000 a year more in fuel, which doesn't make any sense.

"If it was given an extra metre of depth - which would still make it suitable for the route - it would completely revolutionise speed and fuel efficiency."

He added: "They conceded that the design of the vessel that will replace our existing one was unsatisfactory and that it could be the last of its kind to be built."

The chairman also expressed dissatisfaction at the way the new ferry plans were handled.

"Cal-Mac said the reason why they had to hurry along the plans was because this is the only chance in this 'window of opportunity', as they put it, that they can take advantage of Scottish Office funding for the new ferry, or they could lose out on it altogether"

However, Mr Manford felt that it would not be such a bad thing if funding was withdrawn as he did not believe the new vessel would bring any benefits to the local community.

"I am extremely concerned about the economic impact on the Island in the years to come - we are going to be lumbered with this vessel well into the next century and we will bear the brunt of the costs," he said.

"Other ferries which have shorter routes from the mainland are being upgraded to reduce their travelling time while ours will still take seven hours.

"The conclusion that we have arrived at, is that the vessel may well be a large freight carrier for the future which may improve the standing of the company.

"But the people of Barra, Eriskay and South Uist are being sacrificed for the good of the company."

There was a danger, he added, that many of the disgruntled islanders could end up "hating" the company and Mr Manford called for their unrest to be addressed.

The issue of accommodation on the ferry was raised at the meeting - where members of Northbay Community Council were also present - but it is understood that berths will not be provided in the immediate future.

But the community councillor said that they were not going to "shut their mouths" and give up without a fight.

He explained that meetings are planned over the next fortnight to consider their options.

Said Mr Manford: "An option that is open to us is that we try to generate public indignation of Cal-Mac's misuse of funds."

Original article Stornoway Gazette 1997.