[Stronsaylimpet] OIC - ferry funding

[Limpet editor]

Hello folks - something a little bit different from Kirsty at the 
Council tonight.
We are delighted to let you know that following this afternoon's budget 
announcement at Holyrood, early indications are that we have secured the 
funding for Phase 1 of the ferry replacement programme.
Key things you need to know are:
👉Phase 1 of the Ferry Replacement Programme is for three replacement 
60m vessels serving the islands of Eday, Sanday, Stronsay and Westray, 
providing increased passenger, vehicle and freight capacity  and 
significantly improved passenger facilities, with accessibility noted as 
a key requirement for the design.
👉Councillor Woodbridge and OIC Chief Executive, Oliver Reid, have met 
with Government Ministers and officials over a number of months in an 
effort to secure funding for the Programme through the Ferries 
Taskforce, set up by First Minister John Swinney.
👉Whilst a specific ‘Orkney’ announcement was not made by the Finance 
Minister in her budget speech, a £7.6bn country-wide capital investment 
programme was announced, with an allocation for Orkney included within 
that.  That will be a mix of revenue and capital funding – meaning that 
work can continue to be progressed.
👉Pictured below is Councillor Mellissa Thomson with First Minister John 
Swinney when he was in Orkney last year - along with Orkney Ferries 
manager Eddie Barclay and our Chief Executive Oliver Reid. Visits like 
this have been hugely important to this process.
You can read the full press release - including reaction from Heather - 
here  -
https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/budget-detail-shows-ferry-funding-secured/