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MSP makes plea to Sturgeon over Wick Airport


By Gordon Calder

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Scheduled flights from Wick John O'Groats Airport have stopped but other aircraft have continued to use the facility. Picture: Alan McGee
Scheduled flights from Wick John O'Groats Airport have stopped but other aircraft have continued to use the facility. Picture: Alan McGee

Nicola Sturgeon is to be asked to help secure the future of Wick John O'Groats Airport as "a matter of urgency".

The plea to the First Minister was made this week by north MSP Gail Ross, who is frustrated by the lack of progress over efforts to secure a public service obligation (PSO) for the airport which is regarded as a lifeline for the local economy.

The SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross is disappointed by what she sees as inaction by Scottish Government ministers and Transport Scotland after Wick lost its connections to Edinburgh and Aberdeen this year. She says there is no prospect of the services being reinstated without government intervention.

"I am frustrated by the lack of progress from Transport Scotland on implementing this PSO," Mrs Ross said. "It has been a tough year for the airport and we absolutely must do everything in our power to make sure it remains operational and the staff are retained.

"The airport provided a lifeline to Aberdeen and the central belt and any delays in progressing with the PSO will be disastrous for the area. The economic growth of the north of Scotland is reliant on good transport links such as the one Wick John O’Groats Airport has thus far given.

"It is simply unsustainable for business, tourism and the wider community to continue to ask people to make a nine-hour train journey, an eight-hour bus journey or a seven-hour drive to and from the central belt or the north-east."

Mrs Ross has previously urged Scotland's transport minister Michael Matheson to support a PSO for Wick John O'Groats Airport and now wants Ms Sturgeon to look at the issue.

"My constituents and I cannot continue to be disadvantaged and isolated for where we choose to live," the MSP said.

"MSPs and MPs and local councillors across all parties have expressed support for a PSO, as have businesses and the local authority. Caithness Chamber of Commerce compiled an excellent business case earlier this year which puts forward sensible pricing and timetabling options."

Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris says it is of "the utmost importance" to have regular, reliable routes from Wick and feels a PSO is the way to achieve that.

She said: "Given the scale of the task facing the region as we seek to restart our economy after lockdown, and the specific challenges facing Wick John O’Groats, we need the Scottish Government to act now to secure our lifeline air links."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said last week: “We recognise the issues faced by the Caithness area in relation to the loss of the Wick to Aberdeen and Edinburgh air services, as well as more generally. We are carefully considering the business case submitted by Caithness Chamber of Commerce and will respond as soon as we can."


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