Fair Isle Ferry funding secured

Funding for the Fair Isle Ferry has been secured, following the uncertainty of last week’s budget.

Questions over the future of the project were raised after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves left out funding for Levelling Up schemes in her announcement to MPs in Westminster.

But the Scottish Secretary for Scotland Ian Murray confirmed in a letter to all local authorities about their funding for local growth initiatives.

Mr Murray said the UK government will be investing nearly £1.4 billion in dozens of important local growth projects across Scotland over the next 10 years – including almost £27 million for the Fair Isle Ferry development.

He said this would ensure economic growth is seen the length and breadth of the country.  

This was a “historic budget” for Scotland, Mr Murray said, adding it would “herald an era of growth.”

“Over the summer I wrote to every local authority to set out our commitment to building strong and trusted relationships so that together we can deliver the change our country needs,” he said.

“I am pleased to be able to write to them again to confirm their funding allocations.”

In recent weeks, the SIC said it was continuing its work on the project in the hope that a funding decision would soon be available. 

The council recently completed a tender process for the new vessel, which is hoped to replace the aged Good Shepherd IV.

According to the notice, the new, larger 24-metre load-on, load-off vessel would have the capacity for 12 people at an estimated cost of £5.7 million. 

Overall the project is expected to cost £40-45 million, with the bulk of the spend going towards harbour works in Grutness and New Haven, which are necessary to facilitate the new, larger vessel.

Fundraiser set up to help couple after house fire

A fundraiser has raised hundreds of pounds to replace items in a Lerwick house which was ablaze last night (Tuesday).

Rhanna Latham and her husband Gary had come back from the supermarket to see the fire brigade at their house on Harbour Street.

The shocking incident had occurred because of a small heater had caught fire, wrecking their home.

So far, £475 has been raised on the GoFundMe website.

On the fundraising website, Mrs Latham said it has left them devastated with Christmas just around the corner.

“Thankfully we were out at the time but our home is wrecked and we have lost a huge deal. My husband is a joiner and unfortunately most of his tools have been ruined,” she said.

“Whilst we are incredibly grateful no one was hurt, it’s completely devastating especially being so close to Christmas and will take a huge deal of work to get the place liveable again.”

She added that they unfortunately had no content insurance on their home, so had set this fundraiser up.

Harbour Street blocked as emergency services attend house fire

A road has been blocked off by emergency services attending a house fire in Lerwick.

Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and rescue are at the scene in the town’s Harbour Street, where they have blocked access to pedestrians and traffic.

Scottish Fire and Rescue said three appliances (two from Lerwick and one from Scalloway) were called out after 8pm this evening (Tuesday), with firemen wearing breathing apparatus. Two hosereel jets and a thermal image camera are also in use.

This is an ongoing story and updates will follow as they happen.

Anderson High School marks Remembrance with 1,800 woolly poppies

Anderson High School in Lerwick has decorated its commemorative stone cairn with a blanket of woollen poppies as a symbol of remembrance for those who have died in conflict.

Roughly 1,800 poppies — some knitted, some crocheted and some made from the base of plastic bottles — have been draped  over the cairn.

The design was partly inspired by a 2014 display “cascading” over the walls and moat of the Tower of London.

Headteacher Robin Calder called the display “striking” and emphasised the importance of teaching children about historical wars.

“Remembrance is an important topic for pupils, to understand the impact that past conflicts had in Shetland and elsewhere,” Mr Calder said. 

Children, staff and parents came together to knit the poppies while younger children made paper cut-outs for classroom windows.

Ability Shetland also sent in poppies from their social club made from the bases of plastic bottles painted red.

Children will spend the week involved in a number of other remembrance activities: from remembrance-themed lessons, to breaktime fundraisers for Poppy Scotland, the Scottish armed forces charity. Students will also write remembrance “postcards” for former pupils who have died in conflict.

The school will host a small ceremony at 11am on Armistice Day, Monday 11th November, at the school’s war memorial, which lists all former pupils of the Anderson Educational Institute who died in the First and Second World Wars. 

Brae High School inspection identifies ‘many aspects of good work’ 

An inspection highlighted a number of positives for Brae High School and Nursery – with some areas in need of improvement.

Fire at St Ninian’s beach outdoor sauna

A fire broke out at an outdoor sauna on St Ninan’s beach this afternoon (Sunday).

Young people invited to join sports panel

Young people are being invited to apply to represent their generation in sport.

Man could lose licence after driving his girlfriend’s car when she was locked up at court

A 30-year-old man could lose his licence after driving his girlfriend’s’ car without insurance when she was locked up.

Musical impresario Jeff ‘Dr Jazz’ Merrifield dies 

Stalwart of the Shetland music scene Jeff Merrifield has died.