Shetland and Western Isles bridges and tunnels 'would cost less than ferries'

Shetland council leader Gary Robinson said the cost of building a tunnel network would be “more favourable” because ferries need to be replaced.

While Western Isles council leader Paul Steele said building a bridge between Harris and North Uist was “within the cost of replacing vessels.”

They were speaking at the Scottish Affairs Committee in the House of Commons.

Shetland wants to ditch its ageing ferry fleet and connect five islands with underground tunnels, much like in the Faroe Islands.

The Western Isles wants to build bridges or tunnels across the sounds of Harris and Barra to link the southern part of the Outer Hebrides with the northern part.

It is also considering a bridge or tunnel to the mainland.

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Mr Robinson said the issue in Shetland was upfront cost.

He told the committee: “Looking at tunnels, the issue is not around how much the money is, it's what the period over the expenditure is.

“Because we've worked out that it will probably cost the same, in fact, it actually looks more favourable over a period of time to have tunnels connecting the islands rather than ferries, because ferries need replaced every 30 years or so, ferry infrastructure and the ports needs to be replaced as well periodically.

“All of that adds up to a cost that is probably more, over a period of time, than it would be to build the tunnel.

“But the challenge I think, for us, and probably one of the reasons why we're here speaking to government, is that the cost of the tunnel is up front, but the benefit of the tunnel extends probably well for 100 years.”

Mr Steele said the cost for the Western Isles was “not ridiculous”.

He said: “We have done some research on the different sounds: we’ve got the Sound of Harris and the Sound of Barra links that we’re looking at.

“The Harris one is something that we’ve looked at for quite a while. We had plans drawn up. We’ve had different ways of looking at it and how it could be funded and resourced.

“We’ve got costings for what it would cost for the mix of a causeway and bridge to cover that. Rather than tunnels it would be a fixed link of a different sort.

“There’s a cost to do that but also incorporating renewables, as a way to finance it over a certain period.

“For that link, we have the two and that’s probably the more doable of the two at the moment. There might potentially be a tunnel for the other one just because of the geography.

“We have got rough costings and they’re not ridiculous.

“They’re within the cost of replacing vessels.”

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Mr Steele added that the Western Isles is considering a potential link to the mainland.

He said: “We are engaging with Transport Scotland on it and there’s going to be a community consultations and engagement on fixed links.

“We are also going to try and ask them to include potential for a fixed link to the mainland to gauge views.

“Ultimately, are we looking long term to connect ourselves to mainland Scotland?

“It might be something, it might not be something islanders are looking to do.

“But seeing as we’re doing a consultation on fixed links, it’s going to be really, really important.”

Western Isles councillors clashed over the merits of a tunnel to the mainland earlier this year.

Several councillors have said the 30-40 mile link - such as between Rarnish in Benbecula and Neist Point in Skye - was crucial to the future of the Outer Hebrides.

But others said it would threaten their culture or lead to further centralisation of public services.

The Scottish Government has included possible links between Harris and North Uist, and between South Uist and Barra, in its latest long-term transport strategy, the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2).

But Transport Scotland considered two options for a link between the Western Isles and the mainland but did not take them forward because of the “anticipated technical challenges of their construction and the likely high cost”.

Western Isles council has said the population of the islands had reduced by 5.5 per cent to 26,200 since 2011.

Scotland’s ageing ferry fleet - and the problems with the controversial and costly two vessels built at government-owned Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow - has led to cancellations skyrocketing in recent years.

It is perhaps little surprise that former SNP minister Alasdair Allan, who had been MSP for the Western Isles since 2007, was ousted at this month’s Holyrood election.

His replacement, Labour’s Donald MacKinnon said extra bridges or tunnels in the Western Isles would “tranform connectivity between our islands”.

He said: “It is important that full consideration is given to the possibility of fixed links across the Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra. There is no doubt that these would transform connectivity between our islands.

“However the immediate priority must be a functioning ferry service - both routes are currently operating with restrictions due to technical issues with the vessels. This is an unacceptable situation that islanders have been enduring for far too long.

“I look forward to engaging with Scottish Government on discussions around fixed links and how they plan to deliver the ferry service that islanders deserve.”