Caithness transport links 'going backwards, not forwards'

TRANSPORT links in Caithness are "going backwards, not forwards" but would be helped if Wick John O'Groats Airport qualified for a public service obligation (PSO) subsidy, it has been claimed.

Davie Alexander, chairman of the Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council, said airline services have been cut while opening hours have been reduced and he said some flights are unreliable.

Bus and rail services are often the subject of criticism too, members of the trade union council heard at their latest meeting.

Mr Alexander said good transport links are required to encourage companies to come to the far north as the county seeks inward investment to counter the impact of decommissioning and loss of jobs at Dounreay. People thinking about coming to Caithness ask about facilities, education, infrastructure and transport, he said.

Mr Alexander said local air links could be improved if routes from Wick qualified for a PSO. This can be granted where services are not profitable but are vital to the economic development of the area.

A report has been commissioned to look at options, opportunities and costs of a PSO for Wick John O’Groats Airport. Discussions are continuing with Transport Scotland and a consultancy firm has been engaged to develop a final business plan for submission and consideration, the meeting heard.

"Caithness Chamber of Commerce is doing some good work as regards that and I hope they are successful," he said. "I know Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd [the airport operator] is doing a lot of good work too, and there appears to be more going on than we know, but in general transport links in the county seem to be going backwards and not forwards."

Bus and rail operators Stagecoach and ScotRail were also criticised over their services. Keith Bramall, a Unison representative, said it was "an absolute disgrace" the way a woman with a stoma bag was treated as she travelled on the X99 bus from Caithness to Inverness.

She wanted to change the bag in the toilet but was unable to do so as the toilet was locked. She was told there was a comfort stop at Dornoch. As reported in the Caithness Courier recently, the bus company company investigated the incident and apologised to the woman.

It was also felt more should be done to try and cut the rail journey time between Caithness and Inverness. Improvements have been undertaken on the line but according to the trade union representatives they will take just a few minutes off the four-hour journey.

The north train trolley service was also criticised. It was said passengers take their own refreshments and snacks on board as they do not know if the trolley will be available on the train or not.

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