Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus MacNeil (pictured) has today welcomed the initiative by the Scottish Government to look into tunnels on the sounds of Harris and Barra, as well as a tunnel link between Mull and the mainland.
Commenting Angus MacNeil said:
“This shows that persistence pays, I am glad to see that this has reached government level and Transport Scotland are now looking into the feasibility of tunnels.
“Our neighbours in the Faroe Islands, not too far away, are currently constructing their fourth tunnel with three in operation.
“It would appear to me that tunnels provide the natural progression in our links, from the causeways that joined the islands in the 90’s and the early part of the century.
“Now we must catch up with people like the Faroese who have been linking the islands, over lengths of 10km, at about 10million per km to construct.
“Over 25 years this is very doable and affordable, this could revolutionise transport on the islands and on the west coast of Scotland.
“Tunnel links will make it easier for us to travel between the islands and will also give us more options to use other ports to get to the mainland.
“The tunnel link to Mull would obviously benefit Mull but also Coll and Tiree and could make Tobermory the port in the south end of the west coast.
“We look forward to seeing what the proposals bring forward and I hope that we can follow the Faroese model which is very successful indeed.
“In the Faroe Islands no one would go back to having ferries once they have the tunnels, similarly with the causeways, people would not want to go back to ferries either in the Hebrides.”
