New country campsite
A new campsite will be created which it is hoped will also give a financial boost to the South Nesting public hall.
Work has started on the eight-berth site alongside the hall and the contractors expect work to be completed by the end of October. The first campers and caravaners would be welcomed next year.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is supporting the project and has granted £50,000 towards it. Leader and the SIC have also part-funded it and the hall committee put up a “significant sum”.
It means the social enterprise can afford to install caravan hook-up points, as well as a toilet and shower room for visitors.
Hall chairman Ian Smith said: “We are delighted that HIE is funding these developments and we look forward to offering caravaners and campers a unique experience of our community by encouraging them to join in with our events such as Sunday teas, fish and chips nights and any other local functions.
“It will be good to have another income generating aspect to our social enterprise but it’s also great to be able to provide visitors with facilities and the option of using the hall for events including indoor sports during wet weather.”
The new facilities should allow the hall to substantially increase its turnover, which will be reinvested into the public hall to create additional facilities. Volunteers will be recruited to work at the site and there may be an opportunity for a part-time seasonal post in the future.
HIE’s Fiona Stirling said the hall acted as a community hub and the new site would help it improve.
She said: “The committee is enterprising and well organised and want to ensure it has a sustainable future for their already well used and versatile community facility. This will create an additional income from outside the local community which in turn will be reinvested in improving the hall for wider community benefit.”
The project contractors are Robertson and Read, assisted by architects Redman + Sutherland and quantity surveyor Jim Nisbet.
Ali Inkster
An excellent idea with all the camper vans up here in the summer. Why not look at the public toilets that are currently facing closure and adding the facilities there where possible, this may just make them if not viable then at least cost effective and save them from the axe.
David Clare
The current return cost of the ferry for a motorhome and two persons from Aberdeen to Lerwick with a cabin is £688.80. That adds considerably to the cost of holidaying in Shetland… a place we would love to visit.
David Spence
Serco, yet again, causing more problems due to their greed and insatiable appetite for profit at all costs.
I expect Serco, are going to do more damage to tourism due to their greed and insatiable appetite for profits at all costs……..gee, am I repeating myself ? lol
Every time I think of Serco – Greed and insatiable appetite for profits at all costs, comes to mind…………not a very good reputation to be bestowed upon a company lol
Damien Ristori
I’m not a caravan or campervan user but its nice hear South Nesting is to finally get somesort of visitor attraction.
The South Nesting area for years has been needing a new venture such as this & I can only hope in the future that perhaps a visitor centre opens nearby. I’m sure something similar to the Bressay Visitor Centre which is run brilliantly by the local history group could be looked into.
During the 1980s to early 1990s I spent many good weekends & holidays with relatives & friends at the family caravan at Catfirth. The Skellister & Vassa beaches were the only places to explore back then & apart from the local shop the area is so picturesque that one never got bored.
Again very welcoming news but still a few other areas in Shetland could benefit a basic caravan / tent park such as, Heylor, Lunnasting, Voe, Bigton & Aith.
Harry Dent
How about a site in Lerwick?
Oh, hang on…