Stornoway Port Authority's concerns 'listened to'

The transport minister has listened to concerns about berthing facilities for a new ferry at Stornoway, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has said.

The £41.8m vessel is to start sailing on the Stornoway to Ullapool route in June 2014.

Stornoway Port Authority (SPA) chiefs told Keith Brown in a meeting on Wednesday that only one of their two berths will be fit to handle the ferry.

They also warned that Ullapool has a similar issue.

John Mackay, chairman of the comhairle's transport and infrastructure committee, said the local authority supported SPA's call for early action to bring all the berths up to standard.

He said: "It is very much to be welcomed that the minister has agreed to look further at the Stornoway ferry infrastructure requirements and that the minister has listened to the representations made by the SPA on safety concerns and ferry turnaround times."