GLENELG FERRY TOP PRIORITY FOR INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE

15/4/04

“The proposed community buy-out of the Glenelg Ferry will be a top priority in our Initiative at the Edge projects,” promised Eddie Stiven, chairman of the Initiative at the Edge Steering Group for Glenelg and Arnisdale.

The Glenelg ferry plying her trade to and from Skye

“We realise that time is of the essence in moving ahead with our feasibility study into the proposed buyout,” he continued, “And to this end we have been promised help from Highland Council in commissioning a technical report covering all aspects of the marine operation of the Ferry. Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise have also promised us support with an economic survey, and when we are armed with this data, which we hope will be within a matter of weeks rather than months, we will be able to advise the community on the pros and cons.”

“In the meantime, other possible funding sources will be investigated. But we have to be careful too,” he cautioned, “That not only we do we look at buying the Ferry business, but that we also find funding and subsidies for its future operation which may even include upgrading and/or replacing the vessel at some stage. We also want to look at wider aspects of the ferry operation such as the upkeep and ownership of the piers on either side of the crossing.”

It was also announced at yesterday’s Steering Group meeting that the Initiative at the Edge project has a provision for the funding of a local Project Officer who can progress this and other projects.

The Steering Group has now been formally constituted and will progress the project towards the setting up of a Local Development Trust for Initiative at the Edge. The formation the Trust and election of its members will put to the community in early June.

The proposal for a Community Ferry Buy-out will similarly be put to the entire community in due course.