Debate to be held on coastguard helicopter

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has secured a debate on the future of coastguard helicopter services following plans to quadruple response times.

Mr Carmichael previously led a debate on the issue in November 2023, following revelations about the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s plans to quadruple the emergency response time for the helicopter service based at Sumburgh from 15 minutes to 60.

During that debate, the then-government committed to a review of the proposals, which was supposed to be published by the end of 2024 but has yet to be made public.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Carmichael said: “I am glad to secure this debate to get some definitive answers on the future of the search-and-rescue helicopter service in the isles. Ministers in the previous government committed to a review which was to report last year but there has been no sign of it as of yet. We cannot wait any longer.

“The planned quadrupling of response times could easily be the difference between life and death at sea. The blunt truth is that the more you strip back these services the more likely it will be that people fall through the gaps and lives are lost.”

The debate will be held on Tuesday 14th January.

Read the full story in this week’s Shetland Times.

Care home criticised in report

The Walter and Joan Gray care home in Scalloway has been described as unsafe and understaffed in a damning report from the Scottish Care Inspectorate.

While personal care needs are mostly met and rooms were found clean, staffing shortages have put residents at risk of infection, food poisoning and fire at the Church of Scotland facility, according to the report published on Friday.

Across five key factors the report — based on a surprise inspection in November – ranks the home’s service as “weak” while leadership and planning are “adequate”.

Across over a dozen pages the inspectors list medicine mistakes, untrained staff preparing unsafe food and limited access to fresh drinking water.

Inspectors also found broken fire doors and emergency plans which could have evacuated residents to parts of the home at a higher risk of flames. Those plans have since been updated, inspectors noted.

The care home’s manager, Sue Anderson, declined to comment. The Church of Scotland has been contacted for comment.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of The Shetland Times, out on Friday, 10th January.

Tuesday’s sailings not cancelled, just delayed, says Northlink

Both north and southbound ferries between Lerwick and Aberdeen this evening (Tuesday) will depart off-schedule and not stop in Orkney because of rough weather.

The southbound sailing scheduled for 4:30pm will instead leave at midnight, and is expected to arrive around 1pm on Wednesday.

The northbound sailing will leave Aberdeen an hour earlier than scheduled at 4pm and may be up to two hours late arriving in Lerwick on Wednesday morning.

Just before 10am this morning NorthLink had announced both sailings would be cancelled altogether, before updating their schedule with the delayed sailings half an hour later. 

NorthLink said disruption can be expected to continue through till at least Thursday.

Monday’s sailing from Aberdeen to Lerwick departed early and was bumpy through the journey.

“I can’t lie to you folks it’s going to be poor,” Hrossey’s captain announced leaving Aberdeen harbour.

“We’re going to make a run for it, but it’s northerly swells and we’re heading north so we’re going to be slamming into it all night.”

More detailed updates will follow throughout the week as forecasts are updated, NorthLink said.

Big smiles after big skate catch

It’s an impressive catch by anyone’s standards, and for fishing enthusiast Kieran Llewellyn there was plenty of reason to smile behind such an impressive haul.

Kieran caught this large skate, weighing an estimated 45 to 50lbs.

WATCH: Big otter makes appearance

It may be too cold for many of us to venture outside, but this hardy otter was not to be put off.

The big draatsie was spotted making its way from The Shetland Times carpark this morning (Friday).

Meanwhile, anyone looking to travel by inter-island ferry might be advised to check before setting off.

Advice on the Yell Sound information line advises of a single vessel operating this morning until further notice.

The advisor even goes as far as to discourage anyone from leaving their house, advising folk to “sit at home with the fluffy slippers on and a sweet sherry”.

Snow and ice grip isles

Icy conditions are gripping the isles this morning, as a wintry blast impacts on travel.

It comes after a Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice was issued yesterday.

Temperatures have reached as low as -2.4C, with a wind chill of -8C.

There have been further snow showers overnight, causing travel difficulty for many.

A gritter reportedly left the road this morning in an area near Gonfirth.

‘Bombshell’ revelation shows ministers overruled NorthLink to force through 10 per cent fare hike

Ministers overruled NorthLink to demand a 10 per cent ferry fare hike – according to a “bombshell” revelation.

Mirrie Dancers create epic New Year display

The Mirrie Dancers have been out in full force this evening (Wednesday) – creating a breath-taking start to 2025.

Folk across the isles have been sharing epic images of the display with colours ranging from green to pink, purple and red.

Among those to capture it was Vicky Tylsar who photographed the dazzling sky in Toab.

Did you see the Northern Lights? Send us your photos by emailing [email protected]

Happy New Year

Here’s wishing everyone all the very best for 2025.