Following an appeal, Stornoway Port Authority has learned this week that the Regional Rating Assessor has agreed to reduce the valuation placed on Stornoway Harbour for the past five years.

With effect from 1 April 2005 the Regional Rating Assessor had set a Rateable and Net Annual Value of £95,000 on the Harbour Undertaking.

 In 2009 based on this valuation the Stornoway Port Authority paid £46,892 in rates to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

 Chief Executive John J. Maclennan pointed out that the Port Authority is responsible for the maintenance of all of the harbour roadways, lighting, waste disposal, etc and in 2008/09 paid an additional £9,009 to the Comhairle for winter gritting of the Harbour Roadways and Piers.

 The new Rateable and Nett Annual Value was reduced to £80,000 which means that in the five year period from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2010 the Port Authority is due a refund of £34,261.

 In that period the Port Authority paid over £219,000 in rates to the Comhairle but in the light of the appeal this liability will reduce to £184,700.

 The Port Authority’s has agreed with their agent, Graham & Sibbald’s recommendation that the revised rating valuation be accepted.