BBC Alba presenter Mary Ann Kennedy has said the Scottish Government must work with Highland Council to resolve a ferry crisis that threatens businesses and tourism.
The celebrated Mod Gold medal-winning singer and businesswoman told of her fears that the suspension of the Corran ferry will put her recording studio in Lochaber out of business after more than 20 years running.
The route between the Ardnamurchan peninsula and Corran provides direct road access to Fort William and tourists, businesses and locals face a lengthy diversion by road.
A reduced service has been in operation since January while repair work is carried out on the main MV Corran.
However, the relief vessel, the Maid of Glencoul, broke down on Friday and Highland Council said there could be no service for several weeks.
Everything is driven to Inverness and there is no understanding of what it is to live in Caithness or Lochalsh or in Lochaber.
It is the busiest single-vessel ferry route in Scotland and carries more than 270,000 cars each year.
People living in Fort William, Ardgour, Sunart, Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Morar, Morvern and the Isle of Mull are among those who regularly use the ferry.
Ms Kennedy, who runs Watercolour Music and a self-catering business in Ardgour said Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes had "not got involved" in the issue despite “staking her claim on the leadership on looking after rural communities".
In response, today, Transport Minister Kevin Stewart said he intended to visit Lochaber in "due course" to learn more about the council’s plans to address the problem.
“We [the community] deserve the respect of this problem being dealt with," said Ms Kennedy.
"We are like an island only people are not paying attention to us like an island.
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“People think that because it’s not a mainland ferry, it’s not very important but everything is predicated on the ferry.
“It’s absolutely connected to the economic infrastructure.
She said her clients, visitor traffic and delivery drivers were facing a 75-minute detour round Locheil and Loch Linnie "in a place where the road infrastructure is minimal and the public transport infrastructure is barely there".
“It’s frustrating beyond belief,” she said.
“Where I am, is on the single track narrow between the ferry and the main road to Mallaig.
"You have to go through Fort William, up the Mallaig road and all the way down this tiny, wee single-track road that is not built for large vehicles.
"We are seeing timber lorries, delivery lorries. [There is] a huge uptake in traffic and a lot of very, very frustrated drivers.
“This is lambing time as well and the sheep are not all fenced in.
“Most of our clients come from further afield.
“We work with musicians across the spectrum and always the USP we had against basement Glasgow studios where you don’t see the light of day until you’ve finished your session was that we had this beautiful open, natural space where you can be inspired.
“I am for the first time, seriously concerned about the viability of our business."
She added: “You are talking about all the folk on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in Sunart, Moidart, Ardnamurchan.
“But also Mull because for a lot of people it was the preferred connection to come across here and then go across Lochaline to Fishnish.
“It’s even more important because the CalMac service is so affected.
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“It affects a very wide area and locals, businesses and visitors. I personally don’t prioritise one over the other because we are such a tourism-dependent part of the world.
“In the last five to eight years, [the area] has really blossomed.
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She accused Highland Council of treating the ferry service as if it was dispensible and pursuing an “Inverness-centric” agenda and said she was now in favour of a fixed link, such as a bridge, connecting Corran with the peninsula.
"Everything is driven to the city and there is no understanding of what it is to live in Caithness or Lochalsh or in Lochaber," said Ms Kennedy.
“I was so against a fixed link for so so long because the ferries sustain communities.
“The council has said, 'We don’t really want to run a ferry service, we are not very good at it”. That is word for word what an official said.
“The Scottish Government, even though transport lands at their feet has said it is a council issue.
“Nobody has come out into the communities.
“The Highland Council are the big baddies at the moment but actually, the Scottish Government is the ultimate culprit because they are not very good at doing boats either.”
Sarah Fanet, SNP councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan said she was doing everything possible to support the businesses affected.
She said: "The first thing to remember is we are stuck in the situation.
"We cannot have a replacement ferry because the two ferries are designed for the route - that's the whole problem.
"You have to design a special one.
"I am in the communities and I want to do everything I can to limit the isolation and then I want Highland Council, stakeholders and the Scottish Government to all work together to find a solution."
Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart said: “The operation of transport links across the Corran Narrows is the responsibility of the Highland Council.
"Any decisions on maintenance, upgrades, or options to replace ferries would be a matter for them.
"I would be happy to visit Lochaber in due course, to learn more about the Council’s plans for the Corran Narrows.
”The previous Deputy First Minister also announced in the budget process that the Scottish Government would provide full revenue funding to Councils who run their own ferry services. Officials are in discussions with the Highland Council about these costs.”
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