A row erupted yesterday over the decision by Scotland’s largest regional airport operator to impose parking charges at three of its island airports.
Councillors from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles have condemned Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) for plans to charge passengers a minimum of £3 to leave their car for anything over an hour.
The charges are to be broughtin at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, Kirkwall in Orkney and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
The move, happenig in early summer, will bring the three terminals in line with Hial’s city airports in Inverness and Dundee.
The operators say it will save £500,000 in the first year.
Chairman of Transportation and Infrastructure for the Western Isles, Uisdean Robertson, spoke of the implications the charges will have on residents.
He said: “A flat rate of £3 per day, irrespective of whether you’re parked for two hours or 24, seems a high charge. The one-hour drop off/pick up zone is to be welcomed, as is the exemption for those accessing healthcare, but I think the overall scheme could be improved so as to be fairer to the travelling public.”
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott added: “I deplore this decision and will campaign to stop the introduction of a Hial tax on islanders travelling. I stopped this happening when I was the Transport Minister and I am very disappointed that an SNP Government is allowing the introduction of charges. Shetland will campaign against this. Sumburgh is right at the south end of our islands. It is 25 miles from Lerwick. Public transport links are not frequent so for most travellers there is no option but to take the car to the airport.”
A free hour pick-up and drop-off period will be in operation, as well as a ticket waiver scheme to allow passengers travelling to medical related appointments free parking.
Councillor Andrew Drever, Vice-Chair of the Development and Infrastructure Committee in Orkney said: “It is unfortunate that this announcement has come out of the blue with no prior consultation with stakeholders of public. The introduction of parking charges will have financial implications for North Isles residents who regularly fly between their homes and access to services in Kirkwall and who use the Airport parking free of charge on a regular basis. I note, and welcome, that NHS patients will receive a dispensation, but I see that disabled barge holders will be charged for parking which I would expect will be an unwelcome move.”
Managing director Inglis Lyon said: “HIAL is committed to being open and transparent in its operations and our decision to increase charges has been taken in the best interests ensuring long-term sustainability of our airports.”