Local News for Monday 15th July 2019

CALL FOR ACTION ON CREW CRISIS FACING FISHING FLEET

Following a recent Maritime Safety drive, SNP MP Angus MacNeil called for the UK Government to finally act on the crew shortage crisis facing the West Coast fishing fleet which is a key safety issue.

At a parliamentary meeting with Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, Mr MacNeil said ensuring access to a skilled crew was paramount to safety at sea and urged the UK Government to allow skippers to recruit crew from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) as they did in the past.

Currently many boats are tied up due to a lack of suitable crew meaning loss of earnings and a knock on effect on local economies.

The Maritime Minister announced an additional £700,000 for training and safety equipment on fishing boats.
This is on top of an existing £250,000 pot, which is matched by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

Mr MacNeil said: “There is a united voice on this from the Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Western Isles Fisherman’s Association and it is about time that the UK Government listened.

Read more: Local News for Monday 15th July 2019

Local News for Thursday 11th July 2019

SGN GAS WARNING SIREN TEST IN STORNOWAY TODAY

Scottish Gas Networks (SGN), is the operator of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage site on Sandwick road.
The site is subject to the requirements of the Control of Major Accidents Hazards Regulations 2015 as a result of the maximum quantity of LPG stored on the site.
SGN have a warning siren installed on the site used to warn the Public of any incident that has the potential to effect People outside of the site.
The siren will be tested today, Thursday 11th July commencing at 10am over a duration of no more than one hour. Both the “Warning Alarm” – continuous short pulses of high pitched sound - and the “All Clear” – a continuous low pitched sound - will be tested a number of times, for a maximum duration of three minutes each time between 10am and 11am today.
Members of the Public are advised to refer to notification sent out by mail recently to households in the area should they have any concerns.
The Public are also reminded that should they ever experience a gas Emergancy or smell gas, to call the Gas Emergancy contact number free on 0800 111 999. For all other emergencies dial 999.

Read more: Local News for Thursday 11th July 2019

Local News for Friday 12th July 2019

ISLES MP STANDS UP FOR REFUGEES IN PARLIAMENT

Recently in Parliament, Isles MP Angus B MacNeil led calls for the Tory government to urgently reform refugee family union rules to ensure that vulnerable people with close relatives in the UK have safe and legal pathways to reunite with them.

Mr MacNeil led a debate in the House of Commons and also hosted a reception in Parliament in partnership with charity Play for Progress which supports unaccompanied child refugees through therapy, music and the arts. The reception was sponsored by Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd and the Association of Exiled Scots.

During the debate, Mr MacNeil called on the UK Government to back his Private Member’s Bill that, if passed, would allow child refugees in the UK to sponsor their close family to come to the UK; expand the qualification criteria so that young people who have turned 18 and elderly parents qualify; and, reintroduce legal aid so refugees have the support they need to navigate the legal system.

Despite the UK government’s opposition, the Bill passed its Second Reading with cross-party support.

The Refugee Council, the UN Refugee Agency, Amnesty UK and the British Red Cross are amongst a number of agencies that back the Isles MP’s Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill.

Read more: Local News for Friday 12th July 2019

Local News fr Wednesday 10th July 2019

HIAL PRESSED BY MSP OVER STORNOWAY AIRPORT CAFÉ

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan asked HIAL why it has taken so long to get any catering facilities back up and running in Stornoway airport since the previous café closed in March. It is understood that the service will now be up and running at some point in August.
Commenting, Alasdair Allan said: “While travelling back and fore between home and Holyrood each week, I have received many comments about the lack of any catering facilities in Stornoway airport. These have been closed for over three months now.
HIAL have told me that it has been challenging trying to attract a suitable candidate to operate the catering facility, but that they have now secured a suitable vendor. They hope to be up and running again by mid-August if not before.

I can appreciate the difficulties involved, and welcome the progress now made, but it is disappointing that we have gone virtually a whole tourist season now in this regrettable situation.”

Read more: Local News fr Wednesday 10th July 2019