Work to start soon on Fetlar breakwater, councillors told

Work on the Fetlar breakwater should start by the end of next month after frustrating delays.

Tender documents for the £3.2m project have been issued and a contract is expected to be awarded in late October.

The community in the island have been crying out for a breakwater and pier for several years.

The project has been dogged by persistent delays, however.

In June it emerged the breakwater was facing the latest in a long line of hold-ups – this time over a problem acquiring land from a tenant.

At the time North Isles member Josie Simpson was concerned the council could lose out on £300,000 in European funding if the project did not get started in time.

However members of the ZetTrans committee today heard the land purchase had now been agreed in principle.

Talks are underway to roll out the funding towards the project.

Mr Simpson welcomed the move, but questioned why things needed to take so long to get going.

“It’s moving along, but it has seemed to be dragging on,” he said. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed with the time it has taken.”