UK government to listen to island leaders about connectivity issues
MP Michael Gove will chair an Islands Forum focusing on the importance of physical and digital connectivity for remote islands.
Mr Gove, who is the Levelling Up secretary, will lead the meetings in the Isle of Lewis on 9th and 10th October.
The forum will focus on connectivity – and particularly their importance to islands with no fixed links to the mainland.
SIC political leader Emma Macdonald and chief executive Maggie Sandison have been invited to attend the event, the UK government said.
Mr Gove said two previous forums – in Orkney and the Isle of Wight – clearly demonstrated the government’s appetite to work on behalf of island communities.
“I look forward to meeting again on the Isle of Lewis, to discuss connectivity, reflecting the physical and digital connectivity challenges islands face,” he added.
Bob Marsh
So little positive seemingly coming with any sort of alacrity from Scottish Ministry of Transport and it’s relevant directorates such as maritime. The ministers revolving doors of said department in recent times probably exacerbating the situation with regard to ferries and roads/tunnels. The recent Audit Scotland report commented on below re scot. gov’s plans does not indicate expectation for any improvement, particularly when considering such as the £200m and counting wastage gone into the Ferguson ferry contract under scot.gov management of that situation.
On the issue of Gove’s uk.gov Levelling Up department support for such as improving sea link to Fair Isle. While one can question optimal use being put for said funds, with this new needed Lewis initiative he appears promoting the value of uk.gov as opposed to scot.gov to island communities.
One might consider important for uk.gov to connect to Shetland in view windmill green energy and now Rosebank sanction benefitting both the UK exchequer and net zero aspirations. More surely in the pipeline as Brent back over $90/bbl. Sad thing is Shetland essential support of these activities has such poorly SIC negotiated leveraged net yield to the local community, yet foreigners see potential and invest.
https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/26-billion-scottish-government-infrastructure-plans-no-lon-327899/