Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3)
Feedback updated 25 Jul 2024
We asked
We asked for views on the operation of the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services. This was an opportunity for those who have advocated for change, including aspects such as improved resilience, greater transparency, better communications, responsiveness, service flexibility, and increased certainty for communities and service-users, to directly contribute to the contract development process.
You said
In total, 434 responses to the consultation were received, Most of the responses were submitted by individual members of the public. There were also 41 responses from organisations, including Ferry Community Boards and Ferry Committees. Community Councils and Development Trusts (the two largest groups with eight and seven respondents respectively) also contributed responses.
Respondents expressed views about the ferry services within the Clyde and Hebrides area. A recurring theme was the unreliability of the services, particularly in relation to timetable changes, reduced services, and last-minute delays or cancellations. This has led to a perception of the service being at a crisis point.
Communication issues were also highlighted, with instances of passengers not being informed about cancellations until the last minute. It was stated that the unreliability of the services has caused difficulties for commuters and those needing to attend important appointments, in addition to creating challenges for businesses, affecting the movement of goods and staff.
Despite these concerns, the vessel crew and port staff were often commended for their resourcefulness, resilience, and responsiveness, embodying the qualities desired for the entire CHFS operation.
We did
The consultation responses have been carefully considered and CalMac is working collaboratively with Transport Scotland on a range of improvement measures. We will continue to engage with communities, unions and businesses to update them on the consultation outputs, and planned service enhancements in relation to the issues raised; this includes working with CalMac to proactively roll out an Enhancement and Change Plan. We will be hosting in-person community engagement events alongside webinars to discuss the next steps for the service. Further updates will also be made available via the CHFS3 website as they become available.
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
The Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services play a crucial role in our transport system, providing vital links for residents, businesses, and tourists across the west coast of Scotland.
We are currently developing the new Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS3) and would welcome the views of communities and service users on their expectations for the service.
To date our focus for the new CHFS3 contract has been to review and reflect on the existing feedback from our ferry-dependent communities, key stakeholders and reports conducted throughout the current Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services contract (CHFS2), including the recent report by the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland.
The feedback provided by these sources and further focused discussions with key stakeholders has aided the development of the consultation themes and questions.
Impact assessments
We are committed to assessing the impact of the new CHFS3 contract on ferry-dependent communities and other stakeholder groups across Scotland.
This consultation will support development of the following impact assessments:
- Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)
- Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA)
- Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)
- Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA).
We will publish these impact assessments on the Transport Scotland website. We would like your views on these. Views can be provided to us by emailing Transport Scotland.
For example, your views will inform us about the likely impact of our policy on advancing equality, eliminating discrimination and fostering good relations for people who share certain protected characteristics.
We will take a robust evidence-based approach to the development of our impact assessments and will work in close consultation with key stakeholders and representatives of groups that are likely to be impacted
Next Steps
Transport Scotland’s Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) will shortly consult on the draft ICP Strategic Paper which sets out a proposed vision and priorities for the delivery of ferry services in Scotland, and the Long-Term Plan for Vessels and Ports which sets out plans and proposals for a programme of investments in the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services networks until 2045, and proposes how to prioritise decisions during a period of funding constraints and when difficult choices between projects are expected to be needed. A further update on this consultation will be provided by Transport Scotland in the coming weeks.
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on Transport Scotland's website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
We invite you to share your views during this time to actively shape the forward thinking of the new CHFS3 Contract.
Once the CHFS3 consultation period has ended, responses will be reviewed by a specialist independent analysis team and a recommendations report will be provided to Transport Scotland to consider when finalising the terms of the new CHFS3 contract. We value your input and look forward to hearing your views on how we can improve our Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.
Thank you for taking the time to participate in this important process.
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- Transport
- Main hub
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