ISLANDS 'CUT OFF'

Surge in cancellations on rural routes

- REBECCA MCCURDY

ISLAND communities are being left to suffer due to thousands of ferry cancellations, MSPs warned yesterday.

The Scottish Government's handling of services has been slammed as figures reveal the extent of cancellations and delays on key rural routes.

Figures obtained by the Lib Dems through a freedom of information request revealed a total of 7431 cancelled sailings between January and July 2022.

The cancellation rate has already passed figures for the whole of 2018, where there were 7156 cancelled sailings.

The rates for the whole of 2020 and 2021 are higher, with 7434 and 9351 respectively.

Ministers have faced scrutiny in recent months over the construction of the MV Glen Sannox and the as-yet-unnamed Hull 802. Both are due in service next year, five years behind schedule and feared to be two-and-a-half times over budget.