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Hundreds of people taking part in an unofficial online poll disagree with Highland Council’s Corran ferry plan

MV Corran on Loch Linnhe. Image: Allan Milligan/ DC Thomson.
MV Corran on Loch Linnhe. Image: Allan Milligan/ DC Thomson.

More than 600 people taking part in an unofficial online poll have said they want a fixed link at the Corran Narrows.

That’s in spite of Highland Council agreeing to fund two electric ferries for the route only last month.

Highland Council said it will be moving ahead with plans electric ferries despite being a controversial topic in the community.

The 22-year-old MV Corran currently takes people and cars across the Corran Narrows on Loch Linnhe, south of Fort William.

On November 10, councillors agreed to fund two new electric ferries.

But some residents have argued that a fixed link, such as a bridge or a tunnel, would be more beneficial to the communities on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

Currently, ferry crossings are every 30 minutes and take under five minutes to cross the 1,000ft strait.

The council ordered a feasibility study to assess the economic benefits of a fixed link, looking at four bridges and one tunnel option.

Image showing the five options for a fixed link across the Corran Narrows. Image: Stantec Report.

Costings on the five options were either similar to or more expensive than plans for two new ferries.

For example, the tunnel option had an estimated cost of between £40 million and £65 million, while the lowest-costing bridge was £35 million to £45 million.

The community has its say in poll

On November 11, the Corran Narrows Facebook group was set up by Jeff Forrester after he felt the council was not taking into account the views of local people and other ferry users.

He started a poll on the page which has so far received 873 votes.

The option of a fixed link bridge received 650 votes, in comparison to 87 votes for the electric ferry option. Other ideas included building a diesel vessel, moving the ferry to Corpach and a fixed link tunnel.

The Corran Ferry running between Nether Lochaber and Ardgour. Image: Sandy McCook/ DC Thomson.

Mr Forrester has been a resident of Resipole for 16 years, and uses the ferry six days a week. While not a scientific survey, he thinks the poll gives a more representative picture of what local people want than the decision of councillors.

In 2020, a report funded by the regional transport partnership Hitrans concluded the fixed link was “viable”.

However, Highland Council has pointed out that its economy and infrastructure committee unanimously agreed on the electric ferry plans.

The 449-page long detailed report is available from the committee agenda page on the council’s website.

Councilors making up the committee used the report as the basis for decision-making.

Councillors ‘not local people’

But Mr Forrester thinks these councillors, many of them from outside the local area are not best placed to make decisions on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

He said: “The council is not getting a true picture, or being transparent on community engagement.

“We are getting people who live up in Dingwall and Inverness making decisions. They can make any decisions they like because it doesn’t affect them.

Jeff Forrester is a vocal member of the local community. Image: Jeff Forrester.

“It’s a unanimous decision by people who don’t actually work, live or have any sort of commitment to this region.”

Mr Forrester says once the electric ferries come, the area will no longer be considered for a fixed link for another 30 to 40 years.

When approached for comment regarding Mr Forrester’s poll, Highland Council declined to comment as the decision was taken by councillors.

Instead, they reissued their statement at the time the committee made the choice to go down the electric ferry route.

The chairman, representing Inverness South ward, councilor Ken Gowans said: “A lot of work has gone into getting to this stage so I would like to thank our staff, the Corrin (sic) Ferry Steering Group, and all stakeholders, especially the communities for their effort and commitment to securing a future for the ferry service.”

Conversation