By far the biggest piece of news this week and the talk of most work places, the coop and post office queues is Calmacs’ decision to implement Sunday sailings from Lewis to the mainland for the first time ever. Only a few weeks ago, Calmac were saying that they would not consider running a Sunday service from Lewis until the recently introduced subsidised ferry fares are reviewed in about two and a half years time. News broke earlier in the week that Calmac were coming to the island to meet with officials from various groups to possibly discuss Sunday sailings but it was rumour and conjecture.
But Calmac has put out a statement saying it has been challenged by the Equality Commission over the lack of seven day sailings to the island. The company have sought legal advice which says they are legally obliged to implement a Sunday sailing. Calmac have said that the advice they have received is that under the 2006 Equality Act, with-holding a Sunday ferry out of respect of traditionalist’s views could infringe the rights of residents. Consequently, they have made the decision to run Sunday ferries and say they are now deciding on logistics and a start date.
This decision will inevitably cause a division of opinion. The pro Sunday ferry lobby claim that the majority of people living here do want Sunday sailings, while the Lord’s Day Observance Society are equally adamant that most residents do not want change. I would imagine if the residents were actually asked – opinion would be fairly equally divided. There is a fear that having Sunday sailings will be the thin edge of the wedge and before we know it all the shops will be open and the last bastion of Sunday closing in the UK will be gone but I am not sure that this will be the case, it didn’t happen when the Sunday flights started up
The Western Isles Lib Dem candidate put out this statement earlier.