Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform regarding Scottish Water’s decision to suspend plans for the installation of a new mains water pipe between Tarbert and Hushinish in Harris.

This follows a meeting the local MSP had with members of the North Harris Trust on Friday morning regarding the project. Scottish Water revealed in correspondence to local MP Angus MacNeil that work had been suspended due to an increase in the expected costs, and that they were now reviewing options.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:
 
“It was very helpful to meet up with North Harris Trust members to discuss this issue.
 
“This decision, and the way it was handled, has been received very badly in the affected communities. It seems quite bizarre that some households would have received both a notification of the meeting and a notification of its cancellation in the same batch of post.
 
“I am deeply uncomfortable with how this matter has been handled by Scottish Water. This is an important project for an area of the islands that has suffered badly from depopulation over the last 50 years.
 
“I have written to Roseanna Cunningham MSP, who has portfolio responsibility for Scottish Water within the Scottish Government, to ask that the proposals for laying new mains water pipes between Tarbert and Hushinish are fully considered, and not discarded during the review.”