Views from the Scord 11.07.08

Harbour activity

A BUSY start to the week saw another trio of leviathans coming into Scalloway in quick succession.

The anchor handling tug Ursus returned gain on Tuesday, joined almost immediately by the Anglian Sovereign and later by VOS Southwind.

Both the Ursus and Sovereign were to return to the port yet again toward the end of the week. As is often the case with vessels of these types they perform partial crew changes on each visit, hence the frequency of return.

Most of the other traffic in the week up to Friday was fishing related with a healthy 1,932 boxes through the Scalloway market.

The local boats Radiant Star, Prevail, Renown, Tranquility, Fertile, Comrades and Ocean Way were joined by the Banff registered Scotia and Discovery and the Boy Andrew from Wick in selling their fish in the village.
The SIC ferry Snolda arrived for service and maintenance at Moore’s slip while the Ronja Settler continues to operate from Blacksness pier.

Community council

The Burra Community Council met on Monday night when on the agenda were a number of routine items with several issues requiring action.

After the use of surveying equipment on the road through Trondra it has been established that the majority of cars using the road are speeding, which is a damning revelation on usage of this new stretch of road. As a result it has been decided that measures should be taken to address this issue and the relevant authorities approached to assist in this matter, whether through improved signage or other means.

Another issue of road safety was discussed with regard to the bus shelter at the top of the Toogs road, which requires children to cross the road for usage during one of the busiest traffic periods of the day, with the added concern that cars manage to squeeze by the bus while it is stopped there, creating a further hazard.

Drivers should be encouraged to be extra cautious and vigilant in a situation like this and in the meantime the community council is in correspondence with the SIC to address the issue.

The “Ludi” road between Southerhouse and Toogs has been identified as an ideal location for verge improvement as in recent times this has become a very popular and much-used route for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to and from the southern parts of Burra. It is thought that a relatively simple improvement would make the area much more suitable, similar to the improvements already made to verges on the brae above the Mail beach.

Grants were made to a selection of local groups: the Trondra Hall was awarded £500 in aid of improvement to kitchen facilities, the Burra Senior Citizens were given £250 towards the regular summer coach tours and the Scalloway Youth Centre was given £200 towards a proposed improvement to outdoor play facilities for children using the centre, who come from Burra and Trondra as well as Scalloway.

Tribute to Jonathan

The Church of Scotland was filled to overflowing on Monday for the funeral of Jonathan Williamson, one of the biggest attendances of a funeral ever seen in Scalloway.

A tragic accident while out walking near his home in Burra led to his death a week past Monday. Jonathan was well known and highly regarded by all with an easy, sometimes mischievous, smile and he always took time for anyone that spoke to him.

He was known to many through his work in fish factories over the years but in more recent years had truly found his niche in life in helping people through the Support Training organisation and in his home and family life around the croft in Burra.

The Support Training network assists young people in gaining workplace skills through work placements and training for the employed and unemployed and it was here that Jonathan’s unique approach, empathy and commitment ranked him as a high achiever and set the standard of being “best in Scotland” for finding placements for people.

Even throughout challenging times in his own life he always remained positive and infinitely patient. A devoted “big brother” to his family he was always an organiser, motivator and those of us that knew him would always feel that they had gained something from any time spent with him.

Truly one of the good guys and an example to us all, Jonathan will be sadly missed by his family, his workmates, those who he helped, all who knew him and the community as a whole.

Mark Burgess