13.0 NEXT STEPS

13.0 NEXT STEPS

13.1 Future milestones in the development of the Draft Ferries Plan are listed below. This includes the key dates when the key stages are expected to be completed.

13.2 Views on the Draft Ferries Plan and the findings of the SEA are now being sought. Please provide your comments to Colin Grieve, Transport Scotland (colin.grieve@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk) or to the SEA Gateway (sea.gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).

13.3 A Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) type appraisal of each of the routes and services options will also be carried out before the final Ferries Plan is published. The STAG type appraisal includes environmental issues and will provide an opportunity to pursue some of the issues raised in this Environmental Report. Consultees' views and the results of the STAG type appraisal will allow us to determine what routes and services each community should receive, and what vessels and ports and harbours are required to provide these services. It will only be then that we can have a full understanding of the level of investment required. The final Ferries Plan will provide details of the final investment required and details of how we will ensure our funding priorities can be met over the period of the Ferries Plan, to 2022.