Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, the SNP candidate for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat at next month's Scottish Parliament election, has written to Caledonian MacBrayne to urge reconsideration of a decision to curtail the availability of emergency ferry services to Raasay at night.

Mr Thompson decided to act after residents of the island expressed concern that a recent reduction in the availability of the CalMac ferry between 8pm and 9am would leave the island cut off from emergency services in the event of an accident.

In the past, the ferry had been available to transport blue-light services  in the event of an emergency but last summer this changed because of problems with working hours.

In his letter to Peter Timms, chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne, Mr Thompson stated: "I visited Raasay last Wednesday and was concerned to be told that there appeared to be a problem with emergency sailings of the ferry between 8pm and 9am, which could give rise to serious problems should an accident occur on the island between these hours."

He added: "You will understand this is a very worrying situation for the residents of Raasay and I wonder if you would reconsider your position in order to assist the islanders."