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Islanders fight for return of late night ferry sailing

BBC A man with a beard and moustache stands on the shore, a body of water behind him. He wears a khaki green waterproof jacket, a green fleece and a polo shirt.BBC
Scott Muir believes a late ferry service would be much more beneficial than the current early morning sailing

Islanders on Jura are fighting for the restoration of their late ferry service.

Argyll and Bute Council withdrew its 21:30 service, between Port Askaig on Islay to Feolin on Jura, in July. The last ferry now leaves at 18:30.

Islanders said the five-minute sailing was hugely important to children attending after-school clubs on Islay, and to people making their way home from appointments on the mainland.

The local authority said it was continuing its discussions with the community around ferry services.

Getty Images The ferry is a small landing craft like vessel. It is blue with a white and red bridge.Getty Images
Jura is connected to the large island of Islay by a five-minute ferry crossing

Jura is home to about 260 people.

Port Askaig, on the larger island of Islay, provides a connection to the mainland via a Caledonian MacBrayne service. It also has an airport.

Scott Muir, chairman of Jura Community Council, said islanders had been working "tirelessly" to have Argyll and Bute Council's late night sailing restored.

"The half nine has been run up until July this year and then, without any formal warning from the council, they cut the sailing," he said.

"We've been fighting for the last five months to get that reinstated."

Muir said islanders had suggested the council stop an early morning sailing in the short-term and restore the later one.

"Eighty-four percent of the community has shown that they are dissatisfied or extremely unsatisfied with the current state of affairs with the 21:30 being removed," said Muir.

He added: "Anybody who is vulnerable in the community use that late sailing to connect with medical appointments on the mainland.

"Now it's been withdrawn they are not able to make those appointments in Glasgow."

A smiley woman in a red beanie hat and an arran knit cardigan stands in front of the stone wall of a cottage.
Pi Davidson says the loss of the late ferry has affected her holiday let business

Pi Davidson, who runs self catering holiday accommodation Bothan Jura Retreat, said there had been an impact on local businesses.

"I have had two guests who have tried to get here on the late CalMac ferry and then could not get over, so I refunded them," she said.

"That obviously has a knock-on impact to other business on the island."

Argyll and Bute Council said it was making progress with an action plan for the island's ferry services.

A spokesperson added: "Any changes we make must be affordable, safe, sustainable and legally compliant."

Getty Images Low, white walled houses with the Paps of Jura hills rising behind them.Getty Images
Jura Community Council said most of the island's community were unhappy with the change

Transport Scotland said Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn would respond to the community council "in due course".

A spokesman added: "The Scottish government must respect the autonomy of local authorities to develop their own standards and accountability to local electorates for the delivery of ferry services for which they are responsible.

"We want to do more where we can to support councils in improving services in their area, including the Jura ferry route.

"However, this does remain an operational matter for the council."

They added the council had been provided with a further £11.4m of resource and £15.5m capital for inter-island connectivity, in addition to its allocation of £275.8m for 2026/27.

The spokesman said: "This underlines our wish to see our island communities better connected and provides Argyll and Bute Council with greater flexibility to deliver the ferry services they are responsible for."