Increasing Support In Lewis And Harris For Sunday Sailings And Air Links
A poll conducted by MORI Scotland for BBC Scotland's Gaelic community debate series CUNNTAS (translated as "An account of...") suggests that a majority of islanders now favour the introduction of ferry and air services on Sundays. The poll shows that an overwhelming majority would like to see a local referendum on the issue.
The results of the poll are bound to cause fierce debate in these two islands, where strict religious observance has, so far, stopped any attempts to introduce regular travel to and from the mainland on Sundays.
CUNNTAS commissioned MORI Scotland to interview a representative quota of 750 residents aged 18 and over in Lewis and Harris about Sunday transport services and Sunday shopping. Interviews were conducted by telephone on 29 February - 4 March 2000.
A clear majority of those questioned (72%) said they would like to see a referendum on Sunday travel to and from the islands.
61% said they either strongly supported or tended to support the introduction of Sunday ferry services (41% strongly support, 20% tend to support). 24 % said they strongly opposed sailings, while 9% tended to oppose. 4% neither supported nor opposed, while 1% had no opinion.
62% would like to see the introduction of Sunday air services (41% strongly support, 21% tend to support). 20% said they were strongly opposed to Sunday flights, while 12% tended to oppose them. 5% neither supported nor opposed and 2% had no opinion.
While support for ferry and air services seems to be increasing, islanders would not welcome Sunday shopping. 63% of those questioned did not want to see local shops open on the Sabbath (44% strongly opposed, 19% tended to oppose). Only twenty seven per cent favoured Sunday opening (14% strongly in favour, 13% tended to favour). 9% neither favoured nor opposed and 1% had no opinion.
Simon Braunholtz Director of MORI Scotland who carried out the research said "the results to this survey reveal how strong people's feelings are on this issue. It is quite unusual to have such high proportions at either end of the spectrum of opinion - either strongly in support or strongly opposed. We found people enthusiastic to take part in the survey, and as a result have a good sample representing young adults and older residents, as well as those born on the island and more recent arrivals. We hope that this systematic measure of opinion will help throw light on what could clearly be quite a heated debate about change."
It now appears that some members of the public may be prepared to take their case for Sunday transport to the European Court of Human Rights. In a recent letter to Scottish Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack, about the lack of Sunday ferries, local campaigner Dr Finlay MacLeod argued: "We have a new Scotland, with an exciting new Scottish Executive. Are we going to move things forward towards a modern Scotland, and remove once and for all such glaring and debilitating anomalies from the past?" Dr MacLeod informed the Minister that some of the supporters of Sunday sailings have been considering taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.
Donald Morrison will be joined by church representatives, councillors, community leaders and members of the public at the Ferry Terminal Building in Stornoway to debate the findings of the poll.
Cunntas can be seen at 19:30 on BBC 2 Scotland on Thursday 16 March 2000.
