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Orkney Islands Council confirmed today that it is to withdraw and review its response to the Scottish Government’s proposed savings measures for Northern Isles ferry services, currently provided by Northlink.

The decision has been prompted by yesterday’s announcement by the Scottish Government that the pilot for the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) in the Western Isles will be extended for a further 12 months from next Spring at a cost of around £6.5m per annum.

The Council’s Convener Stephen Hagan has also written a letter to First Minister Alex Salmond expressing his ‘disappointment and dismay’ at the RET decision, and to the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the Council’s concerns.

Councillor Hagan described the extension to the RET pilot as ‘totally unacceptable’ and added: “The Council acted in good faith to consult widely with the community on the eight proposals to find efficiencies of £1m in the north isles lifeline ferry service.

“At this time of cuts I find it incredible that the Scottish Government has confirmed that they will continue to fund for another year a pilot which has already been in place for 30 months, at a cost of £6.5m per annum, when we are being asked to find £1m of cuts to our lifeline ferry services.

“This is not acceptable or fair to Orkney.

“The Government needs to recognise and address the total inequality of how it funds the lifeline services across the islands communities.”