Weather halts some ferry services

Some inter-island ferries have stopped for the night due to high winds.

Sailings on the Yell Sound, Whalsay and Skerries have already ended, with the last trip on the Bluemull Sound due to return at 9.10pm.

The Met Office has forecast a blustery night with winds as high as 69mph.

However, the Bressay ferry is currently running to schedule.

Hjaltland unveils new homes in Walls 

Hjaltland Housing Association has celebrated after completing four new homes in Walls.

Council leader wins top award

Council leader Emma Macdonald has won the Cllr Awards Scotland Leader of the Year.

Mrs Macdonald was one of 44 councillors who were nominated to be at the event in the Edinburgh City Chambers last night (Thursday).

Isles MP warns NHS will go into ‘reverse’

NHS services risk going backwards, the isles MP warned if the National Insurance contribution increase is not offset for GPs and other care providers.

Speaking during an Urgent Question in parliament, Alistair Carmichael referenced discussions with GPs in the isles who are reducing recruitment as a result of the tax increase.

The government has provided the NHS as a whole an increase in funding to cover the increased tax, but this does not apply to GPs, who are considered to be private operators despite working for the public sector.

The Liberal Democrat agreed with the government that it should do what it can to prevent the vital health service from “going into reverse” but that was exactly what it risked doing.

“I met with [a GP] on Friday who told me that as a consequence of having to find extra National Insurance contributions, they won’t now be able to make a support post permanent, which was on a temporary contract, and they won’t proceed with the recruitment of the extra GP that they were wanting to take on,” Mr Carmichael said.

Something had to give, he added, as GPs would be eligible for employment allowance as private contractors but are unable to as they work entirely in the public sector.

Minister for health Karin Smyth said it was a “complex” situation that GPs found themselves in.

“We absolutely understand the precariousness of primary care, they are crucial to our plans for developing the health service, and we will be discussing with them in the normal process about the allocations for the following year,” she said.

After the exchange, Mr Carmichael said that GPs and care providers were now making cutbacks because of uncertainty.

“That will inevitably have an effect on the health services on which we all rely,” he said.

“The government must give more clarity on their plans as soon as possible – and confirm that they will offset the increased NICs cost for GPs and care homes.”

Bring back shared cabins, MSP says

An MSP has called on Serco NorthLink to reintroduce shared cabins on its ferry services.

SNP elected member Emma Roddick has urged the company’s managing director Stuart Garrett to do everything in his power to bring back the policy.

For those ferrying between Aberdeen and Lerwick, it is an “accessible” way to travel, according to the list politician.

She was “completely unclear” why they had not been reinstated after the pandemic.

“Numerous constituents have contacted my office, expressing their disappointment and concern over the continued absence of what was a popular and cost-effective option for travellers,” Ms Roddick said. 

It was clear that the ferry operator had been facing capacity issues, she said, but added this had caused “significant inconvenience” to passengers.

Ms Roddick added: “The lack of affordable cabin space directly impacts constituents’ ability to book travel at times that best suit their needs. This, in turn, restricts their access to essential services, employment and education.”

Allowing shared cabins to be booked would help address capacity challenges and provide a “comfortable and affordable” travel option.

Lerwick Dental Practice to deregister NHS patients 

NHS Shetland has confirmed Lerwick Dental Practice will deregister NHS patients.

The health board said it had become aware of Lerwick Dental Practice’s decision to deregister some of its NHS patients.

“As independent dental practices operate as private businesses, they have the freedom to make decisions about service delivery, including whether they treat patients under NHS regulations and on registering or de-registering NHS patients, which may not involve prior consultation. Unfortunately, NHS Boards are unable to control these decisions,” the health board said in a statement.

NHS Shetland Public Dental Service (PDS) is currently working at almost 50 per cent less capacity than the pre-covid workforce levels, but over 70 per cent of the Shetland population registered with the service.

As a result, the PDS is only able to provide an emergency/non-routine service for the patients de-registered by Lerwick Dental Practice.

Frankie’s win national award

Frankie’s Fish and Chips shop in Brae has won a national award.

They were named Best Chip Shop (North) at the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards atthe Double Tree by Hilton in Glasgow on Monday night.

The chippy was also highly recommended in the best dine-in restaurant and best fish supper (north) categories.

The team at Frankie’s celebrated their win on Facebook, saying: “Huge thank you to our amazing team and customers.”

The business was launched in 2008. It was taken over in 2020 by Corinna and Mark Hoseason.

Shetlanders join Rosebank protest in Edinburgh 

Members of climate activism group, Shetland Stop Rosebank, joined a national demonstration in Edinburgh today (Tuesday), marking the beginning of a legal challenge against Rosebank oil field .

Drilling at Rosebank - slated as the UK’s largest untapped oil field 130 kilometres north-west of Shetland - was initially consented by regulators last September. 

Since then, the Supreme Court ruled regulators must consider the environmental impact of projects holistically: in Rosebank’s case including not only drilling and extraction itself, but also the eventual combustion of the oil.

Environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift have jointly asked the Court of Session in Edinburgh to revoke consent for Rosebank and the Jackdaw gas field near Aberdeen. That judicial review began today.

Sanjeev Prasad, 18, a medical student who grew up in Lerwick, attended a demonstration outside the court because he was worried about climate change.

“As a younger person, it’s my future,” Mr Prasad said.

“I’m from India, and I’ve seen how climate change can affects countries,” he added, from deadly flooding in Pakistan to Spain, more recently.

“Every time I go to Bangalore, which is the city I’m from, it’s hotter each year.”

Uplift and Greenpeace say the Rosebank oilfield will generate more CO2 than the 28 poorest countries in the world do each year.

Rosebank’s majority owners, Norway-based Equinor, say the development will support 2,000 jobs during its construction and more than 500 while it is operating.

Andrea Sanchez, a Bressay resident and climate activist, acknowledged the isles have a strong historical connection to oil and gas, but said it was important that locals also raised their voice in opposition.

“We are the closest to the oil field, and therefore it’s our voice that that matters the most,” Ms Sanchez said.

“There’s a lot of people here in Shetland that are in favour of oil and gas developments because we benefited a lot from from that in the past. However, there’s a few of us that are against [them] because we can see and we can understand the climate emergency.

“This doesn’t have implications just for Shetland or the marine area around Shetland, but it’s got implications for the whole world.”

Greens councillor Alex Armitage did not attend the protest, but said the legal challenge was an opportunity for the UK government to show “climate leadership globally,” just a few days before the start of COP29.

“Leaving Rosebank oil in the ground is Britain’s bargaining chip when we’re talking with other larger polluting countries,” Mr Armitage said. “They can see Britain as a climate hypocrisy while we continue to drill for oil.”

Airport passengers gain access to quiet room 

Passengers travelling through Sumburgh Airport can now take advantage of a new quiet space, called the West Voe Quiet Room.

Located in the departure lounge, the room is the result of a collaboration between the airport team and members of the Airport Accessibility Group (AAG). 

The room was named after the West Voe beach as it sits close to the airport and  features as a print on one of the walls of the room.

Shetland Sands chairwoman Marie Pottinger said the room would provide privacy to those experiencing baby loss.

“If a parent who is travelling to Aberdeen regarding the loss of their baby is required to travel on a commercial flight rather than Air Ambulance, this room will allow them to have space and privacy from the public before boarding,” she said.

Ability Shetland team manager Stephanie Bain said the room would also prove beneficial to those who experience sensory overload.

“This room is a really important addition to the airport, for residents and visitors alike to Shetland as airports can be quite overwhelming for some people with loud noises, bright lights, and bustling crowds.

“By providing this dedicated space, Sumburgh Airport are promoting inclusivity and supporting disabled individuals and their carers to travel more comfortably and confidently so we are very welcoming of this addition by HIAL.”