The Scottish Government today announced details of a review to consider enhancements to ferry services across all Scottish routes.

The review will consider current provision of ferry services and what improvements should be made to meet future needs. It meets the Government's commitment set out in the 2006 National Transport Strategy (NTS) to “develop a long-term strategy for lifeline services to 2025”.

The NTS committed Government to carry out “a detailed appraisal of routes to determine whether a better configuration could be developed in response to calls for new and faster connections serving those isolated communities and a review of fares structures as part of the affordability of public transport”

Publishing information on the scope and methodology for the review, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “This Government is committed to improving and enhancing ferry services to our remote and island communities.

“The work we are beginning will give us a better understanding of how services meet current needs and how best to configure services to meet future needs.

“We are determined to improve transport links across Scotland so that communities and individuals can make the fullest possible contribution to our goal of increasing sustainable economic growth.

“It builds on work already underway to reduce the cost of ferry journeys to and from the Western Isles, and the enhancements we have made to services to Orkney and Shetland.”

Councillor Alison Hay, COSLA spokesperson for regeneration and sustainable development added: “We value and recognise the central importance of the ferry services to the long-term sustainability of our island communities. The initiative is welcomed, and COSLA looks forward to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to secure a successful review and enhancement of existing services to the benefit of all Island communities.”

The review will run until autumn 2009 and will inform a public consultation in summer 2009 on a strategy for lifeline ferry services.

Responding to the announcement by the Scottish government today of a review into ferry services, the Conservative’s shadow transport minister, Alex Johnstone MSP said: “This review is a long over due opportunity to look seriously at the structure of ferry services and to bring about significant and far reaching improvements to the quality of service provided."

The terms of the review can be found here.

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