Yousaf urged to look at reducing cabin fares

THE SCOTTISH Government will “explore what we can do” about reducing the cost of booking cabins on board ferries between Lerwick and Aberdeen when it is drawing up the new North Boats contract. Transport minister Humza Yousaf used a visit to the islands on Tuesday to announce a long-awaited cut in fares for passengers and cars. But, while that news was broadly welcomed in the islands, many people have pointed out that cabins often make up a large proportion of the cost of travelling by ferry. Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said he did not believe the argument for excluding cabins from the fare cuts was a strong one.

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Dangerous driving appeal

Police are appealing for information after receiving a report of dangerous driving near Cunningsburgh on Monday afternoon. Officers said the incident was said to have involved a dark blue estate car on the A970 south of Cunningsburgh and a cyclist. It happened at about 2pm and it is believed a person in a dark coloured […]

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Minister non-committal on extra health money

SCOTTISH minister for public health Aileen Campbell has suggested that no extra money will be coming to health and social care in Shetland for the time being. Vice chairman of the isles’ integration joint board (IJB) Allison Duncan told the minister at Monday’s NHS Shetland annual review that “draconian cuts” are on their way if the Scottish Government doesn’t stump up more cash to help tackle the health board’s deficit.

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Rocker prepares to get his locks off at Heavy Metal Buffet

A local rock musician is to shave off his trademark long locks at this weekend’s Heavy Metal Buffet for charity. Having performed in multiple acts over the last six years such as Hoygir and Bulletfarm, guitarist Damien Calder is having his hair shaved to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The hair is being donated […]

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Report of dangerous driving just south of Cunningsburgh

POLICE are looking for information after receiving a report of dangerous driving in the South Mainland on Monday afternoon.

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Islander caught up in Barcelona attack

A WOMAN from Scalloway who was caught up in Thursday's deadly terror attack in Barcelona has opened up on her ordeal.

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Ferry fares to be cut next year following pledge by Humza Yousaf

The Scottish government has finally delivered on its manifesto promise to cut ferry fares, with a pledge to reduce travel costs from the first half of next year.

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Minister confirms big cut in ferry fares

THE COST of travelling to Aberdeen by ferry is to fall considerably after Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf used a visit to Shetland to announce passenger fares will be cut by over 40 per cent and car fares will drop by more than 30 per cent on average. The SNP government has been under pressure to take action in the Northern Isles for years after cutting west coast fares in half, and has now come up with a “variant” of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme taking into account the greater distance between Lerwick and Aberdeen.

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SIC plan for isles-wide recycling collections

KERBSIDE recycling is to be introduced throughout the isles if councillors give the green light to proposals for a radical overhaul of how Shetland Islands Council deals with household waste. Having abandoned a previous, more limited form of recycling collection more than four years ago, Shetland lags far behind the rest of Scotland in recycling less than a tenth of rubbish.

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NHS faces 'draconian' cuts, warns Duncan

"DRACONIAN” cuts, staff retention and the cost of travel were just some of the issues discussed at NHS Shetland’s annual review Monday. The well-attended meeting in Lerwick was chaired by Scottish minister for public health Aileen Campbell, who faced a number of robust questions from councillors, the public and current and former NHS staff.

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Minister urged to help boost health and social care funding

The Scottish government has again been urged to stump up more cash to stop “draconian cuts” facing health and social care. IJB vice-chairman Allison Duncan argued the case today with Minister for Public Health and Sport Aileen Campbell at an NHS Shetland annual meeting. Fears have been raised by the SIC councillor as the council […]

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Hilltop Bar will close at the end of August

The Hilltop Bar in Yell will close at the end of the month after a public meeting failed to generate enough interest.

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Streamline set to cut ties with the Daroja as container service ends

Shipping firm Streamline is ending its container shipping service to customers in the the north isles. The company will now rely on NorthLink ferries to deliver goods to customers in Shetland and Orkney, bringing to an end 35 years of its own service – run by charter vessel the Daroja for the last 10 years. […]

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Lerwick lifeboat rescue to feature on BBC documentary

The Lerwick lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon is to feature in a BBC documentary showcasing the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

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Streamline relinquishes dedicated freight ship

FREIGHT company Streamline Shipping is dispensing with the services of charter vessel MV Daroja and will instead ship goods in and out of the islands using Serco NorthLink’s freight boats. Following a two-week trial period earlier this summer, Streamline confirmed on Monday that – after a decade on the route – the Daroja will be released from her charter this Wednesday (23 August).

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Two sexual assault charges

A TWENTY four year old man has appeared in private at Lerwick Sheriff Court in relation to two allegations of sexual assault.

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Suspicious person update

A MAN has been taken into custody and is expected to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court in due course after local police attempted to trace a person they described as 'suspicious'.

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Bailed over charge of aggressive behaviour

A TWENTY six year old man has been released on bail after being charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a property on the West Side earlier this summer.

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CAB celebrates 25 years

THE LOCAL office of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will celebrate 25 years of offering information and advice to people across the isles on Tuesday.

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Film festival to screen Hillsborough documentary

A SPECIAL screening of a new documentary about the fight for justice after the Hillsborough disaster will take place at this year's Screenplay festival alongside a Q&A session with an expert on the tragedy.

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