Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch will debate on the Caledonian Canal in the Parliament and is visiting Bona Lighthouse with the Chair of Scottish Canals, Andrew Thin, on Friday 5th of June.

The debate on the Caledonian Canal is a Members’ Debate, secured by Mr Thompson to be heard in the Parliament on Thursday the 4th of June.

Officially opened by the Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, in December last year, Bona Lighthouse was designed in 1815 by Thomas Telford and was the smallest manned inland lighthouse in Britain, guiding vessels between the waters of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal.

Mr Thompson said, “I am delighted to be visiting Bona this Friday with Andrew Thin, who is the Chair of Scottish Canals, where I will get to see Bona’s fantastic restoration for myself. This will follow a debate I am leading on the Caledonian Canal in the Parliament on Thursday the 4th of June.

Bona Lighthouse is one of the canal’s most iconic buildings and has been brought back to life as a unique holiday cottage, which is fantastic news for the great canal and the Highland economy as a whole”.

Dave went on, “Once an example of cutting edge technology, Bona guided ships into the canal for more than a century before technological advances rendered it obsolete and it fell into disuse.

However, the refurbishment means we now have another tangible link to our Highland heritage, ensuring that the visiting public will benefit, and securing additional income for Scottish Canals, which will help maintain the asset for future generations”.