Highland Greens condemn promotion of cheap Wick-Aberdeen flights
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The Highlands and Islands branch of the Scottish Green Party voiced concerns over choices made by Highland Council and the Scottish Government in promoting cheap flights between Wick and Aberdeen.
Greens MSP Ariane Burgess drew attention to the issue on social media and said there was a need for "greater reflection on the role of rail in the north".
Scottish Greens councillor for Inverness West, Ryan MacKintosh, said: “It is even more disheartening to witness Highland Council allocating an additional £300,000 towards the initiative while simultaneously stripping £734,000 earmarked for climate action. This administration’s actions highlight a lack of awareness and ideas for a cleaner, greener future.
"If more of the allocated funds had been dedicated to enhancing services for these communities over the years, there would be no need for Highland Council to trumpet these climate-compromising press releases as triumphs on internal investment. By investing in sustainable transportation options and allocating resources towards energy efficiency measures, we can work towards a more environmentally friendly and economically viable Highland.”
Highlands and Islands Greens’ co-convener Anne Thomas agreed, saying, “We in the Scottish Greens have always understood the need to balance the delicate needs of remote and rural communities alongside the fight against climate change.
"At a time when France is banning short haul flights in favour of train travel, this is a signal that Highland Council and Scottish Government are making the wrong choices by promoting cheap flights between Wick and Aberdeen.
"A train ticket between Wick and Aberdeen is actually cheaper during the same period even than the subsided and promoted seats on these planes – but due to years of neglect to the infrastructure of our remote, rural locations like Caithness, takes six times as long.”
