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REGIONAL Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has welcomed a commitment from Moray Council to go back to serving hot school meals.

It comes after she wrote to all local authority chief executives in Highlands & Islands in August, raising her concerns about the nutritional content of the cold packed lunch which was being made up in canteens and served to pupils in their classrooms as part of social distancing measures.

Mrs Grant was concerned a hot school dinner was the only cooked meal of the day for some children and she raised the issue in Parliament and with deputy First Minister John Swinney.

She argued appropriate measures should be taken, where possible, particularly in the colder months, to ensure all pupils were given a hot lunch in school.

And now, in a letter to the MSP this week, Moray Council has confirmed it has returned to a hot meal option.

Mrs Grant said: “These last few months must have been very challenging for our school leaders. Having to navigate government guidance to ensure compliance to ensure our children stayed safe must have been a battle. But it saddened me to hear children were being handed a sandwich and some side bits, but nothing warm, nothing cooked, for their lunch. For too many children that school meal was their only hot meal of the day. That’s why I was so glad to receive Moray Council’s letter this week confirming all schools in the council area will now be serving hot lunches again. I’m sure this will also be very welcome news for parents.”

 

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has praised NHS Shetland’s health team for setting up its own Covid-19 home testing system.

Mr Grant last week highlighted that there were large swathes of the Highlands and Islands where ordering a Covid-19 home testing kit was a useless exercise due to the postal delivery and collection system.

Prompted by constituents saying they could not receive a home test, she asked the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre to research a list of all areas where tests could not be delivered.

The independent research unearthed that people in Inverness and Moray were covered, but large areas were not including postcodes on the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Argyll and Bute, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

However, NHS Shetland’s Chief Executive, Michael Dickson, has now revealed how his health authority set up its bespoke system and Mrs Grant is asking the Scottish Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, if other rural and remote areas could do the same.

“I was inspired by Shetland’s example, which managed to get around a major flaw in national planning for Covid testing,” explained Mrs Grant.

“However, the Chief Executive did tell me it wasn’t an easy task and required a lot of work to get it up and running.

“I have now contacted Ms Freeman to ask if other areas of the region could learn from Shetland’s example and set up their own individual delivery, pick-up and results systems so residents can receive quick and accurate results without leaving their homes.

“I was pleased to hear that Shetland’s home testing scheme had protected its on-island capacity for those who are more unwell or may require transfer to the mainland for treatment.”

Mr Dickson told Mrs Grant credit for the work has to go to the Covid testing team in NHS Shetland led by the Public Health Consultant Susan Laidlaw.

Any resident of Shetland makes contact using a web form which generates an email to the testing team. For those who can’t access the internet we have a dedicated phone line.

After the request is received, contact is made to arrange for a dedicated driver to make a safe drop off and a pick-up time for the self-test kits.

If, for example, the call is received on a Monday morning the test would be dropped off and if possible picked up that afternoon.

The test is then securely packaged up with the others that need processing and dispatched that night on the overnight ferry from Shetland which arrives into Aberdeen at 7am Tuesday morning, a courier collects it and transports it Glasgow Lighthouse Lab for processing and the health board and the patient usually receive the result on Wednesday.

Mrs Grant was told that flights could be used but the ferry was more reliable.

Last week Mrs Grant explained that alarm bells rang for her when two constituents living just 50 or 60 miles from Inverness, in two different areas, discovered they could not get a home-testing kit.

NHS Highland’s new Chief Executive, Pam Dudek said: “I am afraid that access to postal COVID testing as part of the UK Testing Service is still not possible in many parts of NHS Highland and we have not been able to get access across the whole area.

“This relates to the configuration of the UK postal testing system and is not connected to the way local laboratory tests are carried out.

“Other testing routes are available such as the mobile units and assessment centres, but these may not be suitable for people who do not have access to transport. There is potential for individual arrangements to be made for transporting people to tests, but this will not be possible in all cases. We are continuing to look for ways to expand testing and to facilitate home testing in areas without access to the postal service, but I am sorry that this is not yet in place and recognise the frustration that it causes.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has been told work to install new 50mph speed limit signs on the A9 Tain bypass is nearing completion.

Transport Scotland has written to her after she took up constituents’ concerns about road safety around Tain’s Aldi and Lidl junctions.

BEAR Scotland is currently completing the installation of electrical cabling for illuminated signs on the A9 and will affix the remaining signs to posts once this is complete. It is expected that all works will be finished by the middle of November, however this may change due to weather and/or unforeseen circumstances.

Mrs Grant said: “I understand the new limit will not come into force for up to a month, to allow the change to go through a legal process. However, I do hope that a lower speed will lead to fewer accidents on this stretch, especially with winter just around the corner.”

Mrs Grant was initially contacted two years ago by constituents who told her that ‘nearly every week’ an incident happens’ around the Asda and Lidl junctions. At the time it was highlighted that 11 accidents had taken place around the Tain junctions, labelling it the worst A9 hotspot.

Transport Scotland is looking into other safety measures including the community’s call to have roundabouts at the junctions.

There are large swathes of the Highlands and Islands where any request for a Covid-19 home testing kit is a useless exercise, a regional MSP has uncovered.

Prompted by constituents saying they could not receive a home test, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, asked the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre to research a list of all areas where tests could not be delivered.

The independent research unearthed that people in Inverness and Moray were covered, but large areas were not including postcodes on the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Argyll and Bute, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

Mrs Grant was shocked by the results.

“Alarm bells rang for me when two constituents living just 50 or 60 miles from Inverness, in two different areas, discovered they could not get a home-testing kit,” explained Mrs Grant.

“However, I wasn’t prepared for the research to find that most of the region could not get a test delivered to their door which is disgraceful and shows, once again, how we are just missed out of Government planning and development.

“While, the Scottish and UK Governments are quick to highlight mobile, permanent and walk-in testing units, some constituents may not have transport, or be able to use transport to these centres and they may be miles away, or be a carer for someone more vulnerable.

“If people can’t get access to testing it makes a mockery of all the Government announcements on ‘if you have symptoms get a test’. It just beggars belief! The Scottish Government cannot wash its hands of this and bat the blame back to the UK Government. It has to represent people in our region.”

Mrs Grant did take up the issue with the Scottish Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman and with NHS Highland.

NHS Highland’s new Chief Executive, Pam Dudek said: “I am afraid that access to postal COVID testing as part of the UK Testing Service is still not possible in many parts of NHS Highland and we have not been able to get access across the whole area.

“This relates to the configuration of the UK postal testing system and is not connected to the way local laboratory tests are carried out.

“Other testing routes are available such as the mobile units and assessment centres, but these may not be suitable for people who do not have access to transport. There is potential for individual arrangements to be made for transporting people to tests, but this will not be possible in all cases. We are continuing to look for ways to expand testing and to facilitate home testing in areas without access to the postal service, but I am sorry that this is not yet in place and recognise the frustration that it causes.”

Public Health Minister, Joe Fitzpatrick, who replied for Ms Freeman, said in his response: “Clearly the pressure on the UK system is intense and we need the testing programme to work for all of the UK, to be able to flex to meet the changing profile of this virus and to be accessible to all people regardless of circumstances. We agreed to take part in a UK wide testing network in good faith, foregoing consequential funding as a result, as this was and ideally remains the most effective efficient way of securing access to test kits and lab capacity.”

Ends

Note for editors  list of postcodes which Covid-19 tests cannot be delivered to and SPICe research below that:

 

Argyll & Bute

• PA20 – Isle of Bute & Midpark
• PA28 – Campbeltown, Southend, Carradale & Sanda Island
• PA29 – Tarbert & surrounding area
• PA30 – Ardrishaig & Inverneil
• PA31 – Lochgilphead & surrounding area
• PA32 – Inveraray
• PA33 – Dalmally
• PA34 – Oban, Toberonochy, Arduaine, Ellenabeich, Lismore, Balliemore, Easdale, Luing, Scarba
• PA36 – Bridge of Orchy
• PA41 – Isle of Gigha
• PA42 – Port Ellen & southern Islay, Isle of Islay
• PA43 – Bowmore, Isle of Islay
• PA44 – Bridgend, Sanaigmore & Nave Island, Isle of Islay
• PA45 – Ballygrant, Isle of Islay
• PA46 – Port Askaig & Bunnahabhain, Isle of Islay
• PA47 – Port Wemyss, Isle of Islay
• PA48 – Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay
• PA49 – Kilchoman & Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay
• PA60 – Isle of Jura
• PA61 – Colonsay & Oronsay
• PA62 – Lochbuie, Isle of Mull
• PA63 – Kinlochspelve & Croggan, Isle of Mull
• PA64 – Auchnacraig & Gorten, Isle of Mull
• PA65 – Garmony & Craignure, Isle of Mull
• PA66 – Fionnphort, Isle of Mull
• PA67 – Bunessan, Isle of Mull
• PA68 – Balnahard, Dhiseig & Inch Kenneth, Isle of Mull
• PA69 – Balevulin, Isle of Mull
• PA70 – Pennyghael, Carsaig & Scoor, Isle of Mull

 

 

 

 

• PA71 – Gruline, Isle of Mull
• PA72 – Salen, Isle of Mull
• PA73 – Ballygown, Ulva & Gometra, Isle of Mull
• PA74 – Kilninian, Isle of Mull
• PA75 – Tobermory, Isle of Mull
• PA76 – Isle of Iona
• PA77 – Isle of Tiree
• PA78 – Isle of Coll

 

Caithness, Sutherland & Ross

• IV6 – Marybank
• IV17 – Alness
• IV18 – Invergordon
• IV19 – Tain
• IV20 – Portmahomack
• IV21 – Gairloch
• IV22 – Achnasheen
• IV23 – Garve
• IV24 – Ardgay
• IV25 – Dornoch
• IV26 – Ullapool
• IV27 – Lairg
• IV28 – Rogart
• IV54 – Strathcarron & Applecross
• KW1 – Wick & John O’Groats
• KW2 – Whaligoe
• KW3 – Lybster
• KW5 – Latheron
• KW6 – Dunbeath
• KW7 – Berriedale
• KW8 – Helmsdale

 

 

• KW9 – Brora
• KW10 – Golspie
• KW11 – Kinbrace
• KW12 – Halkirk & Gobernuisgeach
• KW13 – Forsinard
• KW14 – Thurso and northern Caithness from Skerray to East Mey
• KW4 – Doesn’t exist?

 

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

• HS1 – Stornoway
• HS2 – Lewis
• HS3 – Harris
• HS4 – Isle of Scalpay
• HS5 – Leverburgh
• HS6 – North Uist
• HS7 – Benbecula
• HS8 – South Uist
• HS9 – Barra and Vatersay

 

Orkney Islands

• KW15 – Kirkwall
• KW16 – Stromness, Voy, Skaill, Sandwick, Graemsay, Hoy, Rackwick, Murra, Lyness, Longhope, Brims, Flotta, Fara

 

 

• KW17 – All of Orkney Islands except Kirkwall, Stromness, Skaill, Hoy, Lyness, Longhope, Flotta

 

Shetland Islands

• ZE1 – Lerwick, Gremista & Scalloway
• ZE2 – All of Shetland Islands (including Fair Isle, Foula & Bruray) except Lerwick, Gremista, Scalloway, Sumburgh & Toab
• ZE3 – Sumburgh & Toab

 

Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch

• IV4 – Beauly
• IV6 – Muir of Ord
• IV8 – Munlochy
• IV9 – Avoch
• IV10 – Fortrose
• IV11 – Cromarty
• IV40 – Kyle of Lochalsh & Raasay
• IV41 – Kyleakin, Skye
• IV42 – Ashaig, Skye
• IV43 – Isleornsay, Skye
• IV44 – Kilmore, Skye
• IV45 – Aird of Sleat, Skye
• IV46 – Tarskavaig, Skye
• IV47 – Carbost, Skye
• IV48 – Sconser, Skye
• IV49 – Broadford, Scalpay & Pabay, Skye
• IV51 – Portree, Skye
• IV52 – Plockton
• IV53 – Stromeferry
• IV55 – Dunvegan, Milovaig & Stein, Skye
• IV56 – Struan, Skye

 

 

• IV63 – Drumnadrochit
• PA80 – Lochaline
• PH30 – Corrour
• PH31 – Roybridge & Roughburn
• PH32 – Fort Augustus
• PH33 – Fort William & surrounding area
• PH34 – Spean Bridge, Loch Lochy & Loch Arkaig
• PH35 – Invergarry & Loch Quoich
• PH36 – Ardnamurchan & Loch Sunart
• PH37 – Glenfinnan & Loch Shiel
• PH38 – Lochailort, Roshven & Glenuig
• PH39 – Arisaig
• PH40 – Loch Morar
• PH41 – Mallaig, Inverie, Isle of Muck & Soay
• PH42 – Isle of Eigg
• PH43 – Isle of Rum
• PH44 – Isle of Canna
• PH49 – Glencoe & Ballachulish
• PH50 – Kinlochleven

 

SPICe research

 

Areas which cannot receive home testing kits

You asked for any information available on the areas you represent which cannot receive home testing kits due to delivery delay to the main laboratory.

There are 2 sets of exclusion zones in which the Home Testing Kit (HTK) service has limited operation. Where they overlap, the HTK service cannot operate at all.
They are:

• locations that the Royal Mail cannot collect from
• locations that lack Priority post-boxes

The Scottish Government provided a list of the Royal Mail excluded collection postcodes. Not all fall within the Highlands and Islands region but I have included the list in full for completeness below:

Falkirk: FK17,FK18,FK19,FK20,FK21
Outer Hebrides: HS9,HS8,HS7,HS6,HS5,HS4,HS3,HS2,HS1
Inverness: IV4,IV6,IV8,IV9,IV10,IV11,IV21,IV22,IV23,IV24,IV26,IV27,IV40,IV41,IV44,IV45,IV46,IV47,IV49,IV54,IV63,IV99,IV51,IV17,IV18,IV19,IV20,IV25,IV28,IV42,IV43,IV48,IV52,IV53,IV55,IV56
Kilmarnock: KA27,
Kirkwall: KW8,KW9,KW11,KW13,KW17,KW16,KW15,KW1,KW2,KW3,KW4,KW5,KW6,KW7,KW10,KW12,KW14,
Paisley: PA80,PA78,PA77,PA76,PA75,PA74,PA73,PA72,PA71,PA70,PA69,PA68,PA67,PA66,PA65,PA64,PA63,PA62,PA61,PA60,PA49,PA48,PA47,PA46,PA45,PA44,PA43,PA42,PA41,PA36,PA34,PA33,PA32,PA31,PA30,PA29,PA28,PA20
Perth: PH50,PH49,PH44,PH43,PH42,PH41,PH40,PH39,PH38,PH37,PH36,PH35,PH34,PH33,PH32,PH31,PH30
Shetland: Truro: ZE3,ZE2,ZE1

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has quizzed Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary, Fergus Ewing, on how the Scottish Government is going to tackle residents’ concerns about dirty camping and future tourism pressure on Highlands and Islands communities.

In answer to a Parliamentary Question, Mr Ewing said a multi-agency group, which met in September, will report back in November to look at solutions and make recommendations to Ministers.

The group will address two themes, education, engagement and enforcement and a national visitor management plan, along with the provision of visitor facilities, Mr Ewing said.

Mrs Grant said: “While it’s good that this group is meeting and plans to consult with other interests, including the private sector, it is worrying that Mr Ewing has stressed adequate service provision is ultimately for the local authority or national park authority involved.

“Councils and public agencies in our region were already struggling with their finances before this pandemic hit and the extra stress caused by Covid-19 will further tie their hands to invest in solutions.

“Communities and local businesses want the Scottish Government to hear their voices on this issue and want to be assured that next year there are solutions and infrastructure in place to relieve pressure on pinch points such as the NC500 and on the Western Isles.”

Ends

Note for editors the PQ reply

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

26 October 2020

Index Heading: Economy

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what actions were agreed as a result of the meeting convened by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism on 14 September 202 with public agencies to discuss issues associated with camping, pressure on rural communities and the local environment, particularly in relation to the Highlands and Islands.

S5W-32106

Fergus Ewing: The group agreed to identify how public bodies, communities and national park and local authorities might work closer to identify long term solutions to visitor management at rural pinch points and scenic areas.

The group agreed to consult with wider interests, including the private sector, and to identify solutions and make recommendations to Ministers along 2 workstreams – one aimed at addressing education, engagement and enforcement and one to examine a national visitor management plan and an overview of collective visitor facilities provision. This group will report back in November.

While the responsibility for adequate service provision is ultimately for the local authority or national park authority involved, we recognise that many areas of rural Scotland have seen an uplift of visitors in recent years. This group will therefore build on the work of the successful £9m Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund which has helped realise material solutions at rural pinch points through the installation of infrastructure such as car parks, toilets and motorhome waste disposal points.

The group agreed to identify how public bodies, communities and national park and local authorities might work closer to identify long term solutions to visitor management at rural pinch points and scenic areas.

The group agreed to consult with wider interests, including the private sector, and to identify solutions and make recommendations to Ministers along 2 workstreams – one aimed at addressing education, engagement and enforcement and one to examine a national visitor management plan and an overview of collective visitor facilities provision. This group will report back in November.

While the responsibility for adequate service provision is ultimately for the local authority or national park authority involved, we recognise that many areas of rural Scotland have seen an uplift of visitors in recent years. This group will therefore build on the work of the successful £9m Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund which has helped realise material solutions at rural pinch points through the installation of infrastructure such as car parks, toilets and motorhome waste disposal points.

 

NHS HIGHLAND has told North MSP Rhoda Grant it cannot reveal whether patients were tested for Covid-19 ahead of being discharged from hospital into a care home.

The health board said it was “unable to provide the level of detail you have requested, as this constitutes personal data”.

Mrs Grant said she agreed it was in nobody’s interest to identify individuals but health boards had a clinical responsibility to ensure discharges are safe and she would rephrase her questioning.

Five patients were transferred in March from Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to Home Farm Care Home in Portree, Skye.

According to official figures, 10 residents died after testing positive for Covid-19 at the care home during an outbreak detected at the end of April.

Mrs Grant lodged a Freedom of Information request asking had each patient undergone testing, and if so, what were the results.

By reply, the health board said: “Detail cannot be provided about the discharges of individuals in relation to Home Farm because of the risk of identifying persons or additional personal information about the individuals.”

It said disclosure would contravene Data Protection.

Mrs Grant said it was worth going back to them.

She said: “We’re not asking for names to be revealed. We’re just asking were patients being tested, and if they were being tested, were they positive when they were moved? This is a really important issue. People need to know whether or not this happened which is why I have decided to refine my request and if that fails I will take this to the Office of the Information Commissioner. There are ways and means of finding things out if they are wholly in the public interest, which this is. We are in the middle of a pandemic, people need to know competent decisions are being made to protect us all.”

She added: “Looked at on another level, this Freedom of Information ruling could be an important step towards vindicating the public interest in understanding the scope and scale of the Scottish Government’s ability to protect care homes during this pandemic, and the efforts made to conceal it”.

Mandie Harris, the widow of Home Farm Care Home resident Colin Harris, who died after testing positive with Covid-19 early in May, during the outbreak, said she could not understand why this information was not available to the public.

“NHS Highland certainly isn’t being very free with their information,” she said.

“They even have excuses as to why they cannot give it out. But people do have a right to know about this and I for one am glad Rhoda isn’t giving up. Who are they really trying to protect by not coming clean with the answers? It really makes you wonder.”

 

A COMMUNITY left counting the cost of the closure of its outdoor education centre has backed an MSP’s bid to the Scottish Government for funding support.

Ardgour Community Council told MSP Rhoda Grant the closure of the Abernethy Ardgour School of Adventure Leadership meant the loss of nine jobs and those nine families and individuals, some with school-aged children, have had to relocate from the community due to all the jobs having tied housing.

The Abernethy Trust closed the centre amid the coronavirus crisis. Residential school trips are still banned under coronavirus guidelines and there are fears many other outdoor education centres will follow suit and be forced to shut nationwide.

Mrs Grant wrote to Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes raising concern for Ardgour’s rural community and economy and seeking emergency support.

She said: “I share the concern being expressed by the Scottish Adventure Activity Forum and other organisations for the future of this country’s outdoor education industry. I have written separately to Scotland’s Education Secretary John Swinney and Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead this week.

“However, if anyone needs a clear picture of the immediate impact an outdoor centre closure has on a community they need look no further than Ardgour. I am told the families and individuals forced to leave the village included a mix of ages and school-aged children. The lack of available housing and the current economic climate has made it incredibly difficult for these people to remain in this small rural community. I know the loss of these families across the spectrum will be significant and that’s why I am calling on the government to step in with support. The government has a duty to stop this from happening in other areas. It needs to fund the sector to safeguard other centres from closure during the pandemic.”

Kendra Turnbull of the Ardgour Community Council said the outdoor education centre also ran an outdoor instructor training program which brought around 12 adults to the area.

She said: “These temporary residents were active in the community, regularly volunteering at community events and attending the local church. Again, their loss will be felt. These examples illustrate the personal stories and wider community effect that the closure of outdoor centres will have. Real lives are being affected.”

She went on: “In the interests of all youth, and vulnerable rural families and communities in Scotland we would urge all MSPs and MPs to campaign on their behalf to secure the future of outdoor residential centres. The Scottish Government needs to review their recent decision not to invest in them.”

Mrs Grant and her Labour Highlands & Islands MSP colleague David Stewart MSP are supporting the #SaveYourOutdoorCentres campaign.

Mr Stewart has also been making representation for outdoor education centres in the constituency, namely Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre, Argyll, which serves communities in the Highlands, and Fort William’s Outward Bound Trust’s long-running Loch Eil centre.

Mr Stewart has also written repeatedly to Scottish Government ministers and has contacted the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to highlight the predicament of both centres.

“He has also to the Highland Council’s chief executive, Donna Manson, and raised the issue through the Scottish Parliament.”

 

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, has lodged two Parliamentary Questions on the effect of Covid-19 on the region’s aviation industry.

Mrs Grant is questioning the Scottish Government on what assessment it has made of the impact on Highlands and Islands air routes in the light of the pandemic and what it plans to do to protect the region’s connectivity.

She has also asked the Scottish Government what it plans to do in the light of Loganair suspending its Inverness/Shetland service and following the collapse of the two air routes from Wick John O’ Groats airport.

Mrs Grant’s Highlands and Islands colleague, Labour MSP David Stewart, has continued to press the Government to bring in a Public Service Obligation – a type of state aid – on the Wick routes to help the future development of the area.

“It’s vitally important the Scottish Government preserves and protects all the region’s air routes,” said Mr Grant.

“These are lifeline services and should be recognised as such. It shows the need for more Public Service Obligations to protect our routes to our islands and remote communities.”

Question S5W-32449: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/10/2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on Highlands and Islands air routes of the COVID-19 restrictions, and what action it is taking to protect the region’s aviation connectivity.

Current Status: Expected Answer date 06/11/2020

Question S5W-32450: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/10/2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to (a) Loganair (i) suspending its Inverness-Shetland and (ii) ending its Wick-Edinburgh service and (b) Eastern Airways ending its Wick-Aberdeen service; what discussions it has had with (A) the relevant chambers of commerce and (B) other stakeholders regarding this, including whether there is a business case for a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to be considered, and by what date it expects a solution to this issue will be announced.

RHODA Grant MSP has been assured Highland Council will listen to the views of Skye’s North Coast community before going ahead with upgrade plans for Uig Harbour.

The Highlands & Islands Labour MSP wrote to the council’s chief executive Donna Manson pressing the need for further consultation with the community after accessibility concerns were raised over the council’s plan to incorporate steps instead of a pontoon and ramp.

She said: “The council has a duty to listen to the voices in the community and I was glad to receive a letter back from the council’s head of infrastructure Colin Howell this week confirming further community consultation will be carried out.

“Hundreds of people signed an online petition amid fears this harbour scheme will discriminate against people with disabilities. And a petition has also been raised with the Scottish Government for the Public Petition Committee in which the council is engaging.

“I welcome the government’s commitment to fund this scheme but it has to be funded properly to ensure the community gets the best design possible and one that is accessible to everybody.”

The harbour is being redeveloped to accommodate the new Skye triangle ferry when it comes into service. 

However, the harbour development has been postponed.

Mrs Grant learned last month the scheme is on hold after tenders exceeded the funding allocation from the Scottish Government’s transport unit, Transport Scotland.

Mrs Grant said: “I wrote to the local authority and to the Scottish Government’s transport secretary Michael Matheson raising questions about this.

“Mr Howell replied this week saying the delay is unlikely to be prolonged. He said the scheme’s procurement strategy had to be reviewed because the project was unattractive to all but one bidder. 

“However, Mr Howell is confident a revised strategy will be agreed in the near future with Transport Scotland which he says can be re-advertised to interested contractors so tenders can be invited.”

 

Rhoda Grant MSP is raising her concerns with Scottish Government’s ministers for the mental health of students following today’s ban on socialising with anyone outside of their halls of residence or accommodation to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Labour member for Highlands & Islands said she wants reassurances from the government that it will encourage universities and all those involved in supporting students through this period, to utilise all support available for students who are struggling to cope mentally with social isolation.

And she has also urged all those working and supporting young people to flag up any concerns they have about a young person saying, “better to act unnecessarily than not to act at all”.

It comes after today’s Scottish Government announcement banning students from going to pubs, parties or restaurants in a bid to stem a spate of coronavirus outbreaks.

Mrs Grant said: “All steps have to be taken to stop the spread of this virus, but it will be totally unacceptable to just leave students without support. This situation is going to have a pretty catastrophic impact on young people’s mental health. We hope it’s not just their physical health but their mental health that is being looked after and that all the support available is drawn upon for them and their families.”

She went on: “In normal circumstances, students are going to university and they’re homesick, but they at least have the Freshers Week of fun and distraction. Now they’re left with just homesickness and isolation. There’s a lot of young folk breaking their hearts and parents are probably breaking their hearts too because their young ones have flown the nest. To worry that your child, because that’s what they are, is alone and scared and homesick must be so hard to bear. It’s not only the children’s mental health that will be suffering, this must be having an impact on the parents as well.

“I’m raising this with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman and John Swinney, Education Secretary. I want everyone to be aware of these young student’s mental health and I would call on all those involved in their support right now to use all the avenues of support that is available for them. Better to act unnecessarily than not to act at all.”