Andrews a gentle voice that gets under your skin

AWARD-winning Americana singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews put on an excellent acoustic show at Mareel on Wednesday night, writes Zdenka Mlynarikova. Coming all the way from America, her Shetland gig was part of the acoustic UK solo tour, which also saw her perform at London’s Union Chapel. Andrews played songs from her latest album May Your […]

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Winter vomiting bug closes two schools

SHETLAND Islands Council has confirmed that two local schools have stayed closed today (Thursday) due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug. While a one day closure of the primary department of Whalsay School was deemed sufficient, the Dunrossness Primary School will stay closed for a second day and will only reopen on Monday […]

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Council to foot the whole bill for new Scalloway fish market

SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) will be forced to fund the entire £5.6 million cost of building the new Scalloway fish market after the scheme missed out on European funding. Infrastructure services director John Smith confirmed today (Thursday) that the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) had rejected a bid for around half the cost of […]

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Norovirus forces two day closure of Dunrossness Primary

Dunrossness Primary School imposed a 48-hour closure on Thursday after an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus. The post Norovirus forces two day closure of Dunrossness Primary appeared first on The Shetland Times.

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Outcry over Faroese fishing rights

THE Scottish pelagic fishing industry has reacted with outrage to news that Faroese trawlers can catch almost 25,000 tonnes of mackerel in the waters around Shetland next year. The pelagic industry was under the impression it was to be consulted on the issue that has angered local fishermen for years. But according to the Scottish […]

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Sella Ness camp ‘damaging the local economy’

AN APPLICATION to renew the planning permission for the Sella Ness workers’ camp has been met by strong objection from some sections of the community, including an accommodation provider and a local development company. Brudolff Hotels Group, which runs three hotels in Lerwick, said in a letter to planners that keeping the facility open “would […]

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Full-on birlin’ line-up for Hogmanay at Mareel

THE FULL line-up for this year’s Hogmanay at Mareel has been announced, with local acts Herkja, Arthur Nicholson and Kris Drever, Girsie and The Loose Ends and Haltadans joining the Peatbog Faeries. The night will begin with a traditional Shetland variety concert, opened by the Peatbog Faeries with performances by the local bands and musicians, […]

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News on North Isles broadband bid soon

COUNCIL officials expect to hear next week if a second bid for £2 million of UK Government funding to roll out fibre broadband in the North Isles is successful. Shetland Islands Council development director Neil Grant told members of the local authority’s development committee on Tuesday that news of the Full Fibre Challenge Fund bid […]

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Draft budget ‘lacks detail’ on what will be coming isles’ way

NHS Shetland will continue to face a “challenging position” despite an increase in funding outlined by the Scottish Government in its draft budget today. Under the draft spending plans announced by Scottish finance secretary Derek Mackay on Wednesday afternoon, the isles’ health service would receive an extra £1.2 million (2.4 per cent) for 2019/2020. Mackay […]

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Swan Sail trainee of the year, Shetland Boat Week, Inksters Solicitors expand

SEVENTEEN year old Cormac Mathieson has been named Swan Sail trainee of the year during a presentation ceremony at the weekend. The teenager from Virkie was chosen for his contribution in the Swan’s voyage between Sunderland and the Danish port of Esbjerg as part of this summer’s Tall Ships Races. Congratulating Cormac on his achievements, […]

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SIC to receive share of £10.5 million for inter-island ferries

Shetland Islands Council is to receive a share of £10.5 million for inter-island ferries next year, following a draft budget revealed by the Scottish government. The news emerged on Wednesday afternoon as finance minister Derek Mackay announced the budget. Shetland Islands Council leader, Steven Coutts, said: “The finance secretary has made some very interesting commitments […] The post SIC to receive share of £10.5 million for inter-island ferries appeared first on The Shetland Times.

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Concerns from union as council approves college merger

CONCERNS have been expressed by the local arm of Scotland’s lecturers’ union after plans to merge the isles’ tertiary education, research and training sector were given the thumbs up from Shetland Islands Council. The Shetland EIS FELA branch said in a statement that it was “very concerned” over the planned financial model for the merged […]

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NHS issues advice for looking after yourself over the holidays

NHS Shetland is encouraging people to care for themselves and their families over the festive season holidays. Familiarising themselves with surgery and pharmacy opening times during the holiday period will be one of the most important things people can do to prepare, according to interim medical director Brian Chittick. These times will be published widely […]

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Councillors give unanimous backing to college merger

Councillors have unanimously backed the long-anticipated merger between Shetland College, the NAFC and Train Shetland. The post Councillors give unanimous backing to college merger appeared first on The Shetland Times.

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Household waste recycling figures on the up

COUNCILLORS have been updated on how the new kerbside recycling scheme has been performing in Shetland – with some seemingly positive results. Members of Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee heard on Tuesday that the percentage of household waste recycled in the second quarter of 2018/19 was 11.2 per cent. This is an increase […]

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Ferry disruption expected

NorthLink is warning passengers of potential travel disruption over the coming days. Wednesday night’s southbound sailing could be late arriving into Orkney. Arrival into Aberdeen is then expected to be an hour behind schedule. Meanwhile, the ferry operator has said that further disruption is expected over the weekend, beginning with Friday’s sailings and continuing until […] The post Ferry disruption expected appeared first on The Shetland Times.

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Athlete travel scheme, works licence application

APPLICATIONS are now open for the second year of the Shetland Athlete Travel Award Scheme. Last year saw swimmers Katie Bain, Mark Hutcheon, Kayla Manson, Adam Millar, Jasmin Smith, Lauren Sandison, along with runners Katie Bristow and Seumas Mackay, each receive grants of up £1,500. It is open to applicants who reside in Shetland, and […]

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Homes could be built at old school site

AT LEAST 60 housing units could be built at the old Anderson High School site in Lerwick as part of its redevelopment. The Knab project is also included in Shetland Islands Council’s plans to attract major funding to the isles through the Scottish Government’s proposed islands deal. A report presented to the council’s development committee […]

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Fishing quota cuts loom as government prepares for final fisheries council

CONCERNS over the prospects of heavy cuts in next year’s fishing quotas have been expressed during the fisheries debate in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday. Following the conclusion of the EU-Norway talks earlier this month all eyes are now at the December EU Fisheries Council next week, possibly the last fisheries council the UK will […]

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Tackling climate change: ‘it’s not news – and there’s no money in it’

IN November 2014, The New York Times published an enthusiastic review of a new book by Naomi Klein entitled This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate. A year later there was a letter to the same paper, in which Professors Tim Jackson and Peter A. Victor wrote: “Imagining a world without growth is among the most […]

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