In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 13th December) edition of The Shetland Times:

Calls made for flights to Faroe

A councillor has quizzed Loganair on introducing flights to Faroe in recognition of its close cultural connections.

‘Dynamic’ ferry fares could dissuade tourists from travelling with cars 

Transport bosses are considering “dynamic” pricing for ferry fares to discourage tourists taking cars on NorthLink crossings.

Wishart quizzes NorthLink on extra ferry after warning transport troubles were forcing families out of Shetland

Beatice Wishart has asked about bringing an extra NorthLink ferry into service after claiming families were leaving the isles because of travel difficulties.

Union ‘lights a fire’ with workplace safety regulators over station conditions

The national Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has escalated its concerns over Shetland’s fire stations to the government’s workplace health and safety regulator.

FBU health and safety representative for Scotland, Scott MacRory, yesterday and today (Tuesday) filed complaints with the Health and Safety Executive over three specific stations: Walls, Bressay and Hillswick.

These stations and others in Shetland are cramped and operate without heating or showering, The Shetland Times has reported previously.

Such conditions are not only a discomfort, but pose a real health risk to firefighters working with hazardous chemicals who have nowhere to wash off after a shift.

“We are past pussyfooting around,” said Mr MacRory, who along with other FBU representatives had threatened to report Shetland’s stations if improvements were not promised in a meeting with Scottish Fire and Rescue leadership last week.

“The lid is well and truly off this,” he said.

The Health and Safety Executive has the power to put businesses on probation or prosecute them if they believe workplace conditions are not up to scratch, though the latter course of action is usually reserved for when a worker is injured or killed.

Government officials are expected to respond to reports within three weeks.

“We’ve lit a fire and now it’s a wait to see what happens,” said Mr MacRory.

• Read more in this week’s issue of The Shetland Times,  out on Friday, December 13th.

Inter-isles transport survey opens

A survey on inter-island connectivity has opened to the public to give their views.

Shetland Islands Council launched the survey today (Monday) and it will last for six weeks.

It is the first public consultation event on the subject, with more scheduled to take place in the new year.

The survey focuses on the current problems facing transport between the outer isles and the mainland.

Council chairwoman for transport Moraig Lyall said these issues shape the economy and how residents live their lives.

“It gives us the information needed to understand and evidence the problems,” Mrs Lyall said.

Further consultation will be used to identify potential options for improvement in the future.

The Shetland Central councillor urged as many people as possible to get involved to make a “strong basis” for change.

Mrs Lyall added: “We all, as individuals and as island communities, need to make sure that we give our views and make our suggestions to inform the business case at each opportunity as we move forward. 

“I completely understand that people will feel that this is a long and complex process.  

“However, we need to remember that we are asking for support from the UK and Scottish Governments for very large investments that we can’t afford on our own.”

There are six different options for people to use when taking part in the survey, based on whether it is taken by an island resident, from the mainland or by a business.

Paper copies of the survey are also available on request.

Farming inquiry launches

An inquiry into the future of farming launches today to examine the budget’s potential impact on farmers.

The environment, food and rural affairs committee will look at the policies driving the agricultural sector’s most significant periods of change.

Evidence sessions will be held next week, which will scrutinise proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief.

Committee chairman is isles MP Alistair Carmichael.  

“During this parliament the government will make major decisions on the environment, farming, food security and rural communities that will affect us all,” he said.

“Through our future of farming inquiry, our committee will examine the realities of the issues that farming communities and the agricultural sector are facing.

“Since the announcement in the budget about the changes to agricultural property relief, there has been an enormous amount of concern amongst the farming community that the viability and future of their farms are at risk.  

“The number of farms that will be affected has been disputed between different groups, and in our evidence session next week I hope that we might shed some light on the predicted figures.

“For this debate to move on we need to understand the basis of competing claims and that is a job for which the select committee is ideally suited. 

“The committee has chosen to take a strategic and long-term approach to its work, and so we are opening an ongoing inquiry to be ready to respond to developments as they arise.”  

Councillors approve Northmavine hop extension

Revellers can enjoy an extra hour of drinking at the Northmavine Hop, after councillors approved extended licensing hours at the Hillswick Hall.

Councillors quickly approved the application at today’s (Monday) licensing board meeting at the Lerwick Town Hall, to extend the licensing hours to 2am from 1am.

Members of the board heard that, if approved, the “well run and organised” hall would have an additional hour to allow for party-goers to finish up the drinks they had purchased on the premises.

Alcohol would only be served until 1am but people would be allowed to consume their booze, while the hall is cleared up, with “safety” in mind.

West Side member Liz Peterson said she was happy to see this go ahead, to let people arrange for transport.

She highlighted that there would be very few taxis on the road at such a late hour, and people would be forced to “wait around,” if they were unable to get a taxi by 1am.

Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Stephen Leask said that in previous years the event had been run “quite successfully,” so he had little hesitation to back it.

The hop will take place on Saturday 22nd February, and there were no objections from police to prevent the extension from happening.

UPDATE: Human remains found on aircraft wreckage recovered from sea

Police have launched an investigation after wreckage of a small aircraft with human remains was discovered by a fishing boat.

The Peterhead trawler Barnakle II made the discovery on Friday and was met by police teams as she arrived at Gremista today (Sunday).

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police received a report of a small aircraft having been recovered from the water in the North Sea, north-east of Lerwick, around 2.20pm on Friday..

“The aircraft was brought to shore on Sunday and human remains were found within. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Last October a search operation was launched between Norway and Shetland after a light aircraft lost contact over the North Sea.

The plane had taken off from Germany with one person on board.

The aircraft was believed to have been in the UK search and rescue region. A fixed-wing aircraft was sent to investigate the North Sea area between Shetland and Norway.

HM Coastguard said at the time there was no sign of the plane and the search was stood down.