sheltie53

Yes but they didnt and that allowed Shetland's Social care and culture to survived until 2013 albeit with a severe reduction of local speakers thanks to the Uk educational system who would like everyone to talk a version of Inverneesion and learn French when the first foreign person they are likley to meet this far north will not be French. Note# spellchecker no wirkin.

Maybe off topic a little but is this history repeating itself. http://www.saxavord.com/history-of-shetland.php Now , Who wants to support an independent Scotland ?

Wait and watch the local situation is already pushing down prices as the clock is wound backwards.

One of these Petersenns likes to call the Police when a car overtakes a student when in an emergency situation even when lit up like a christmas tree with horn sounding and lights flashing. Causing more distress upon the driver and his student who is totally oblivious to the ability and perhaps the qualification and experience of the driver with all the warning lights a civi vehicle is allowed to display. Not a bad instructor in any way but!!!!

I think he is more a very astute businessman who has got his lawyers amd accountants to go through the contract with a fine tooth comb to shave off every penny of the costs that can be shaved off and to add every charge that can be allowed. Sharper than the people who drew up the contract. MuckleJoannie, I reckon you hit the nail the head.

Looks like Shetland is in the hands of a "trickster" Maybe it is time to make a stand publicly through our MSP requesting an investigation into the overall situation including the award of contract by Govt. Letters to-- Constituency Office: 171 Commercial Street Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0HX Telephone: 01595 690044 Text relay calls welcome. Fax: 01595 690055 Website: http://www.tavishscott.com

Just checked the cost of our family holiday with our caravan to the UK mainland. Including food and drinks of some kind, return will be around £900 inc Islander discount! Which is Blo^^£ ridiculous. How can we expect a tourist to industry to survive, would you "Visit Shetland" given the real cost of actually getting here. The consequences of the Scottish Government placing this contract within the "for more profit" sector is a disaster for us. I only hope the Wishy Washy person will react with SHETLAND as a priority but doubt it will make any impression upon the Scottish Government.

Do might as weel wee ida wind as pit wirds tae dat ein as leist Tavish ill offer support fir wir Shetland! da ein idder is owr wishy washy. Self preservation is just the Grains of the iceberg

Chernoble !!

Calm discussion is what is required to find a cure without major cost. It is a shame to lose a very nice site with one of the best views in Britain but that is where we're at . Assuming a new school is actually required !! that's for another thread, this thread is about the need for a camping facility in Lerwick. Seafield is brawly exposed but facilities are there, it would not be my first choice and I understand there are plans for construction in that area. The unused area at the back of the Gilbertson Games park could be suitable, basic facilities are there and any income from camping/tourers could help support employees already looking after the grounds but, is it big enough. Where else?

It strikes me that many groups will be effected; including the Shetland Tourist trade. I suggest there is a need for a camping site in Lerwick but, where is an alternative area with suitable facilities? Seafield, Back of the Gilbertson Games Park,---

Comments on this closure without replacement and the effects of it's loss welcomed !

It worries me that this person still does not understand how their actions can upset their VICTIM or ashame the greater community; that being the case this person should be dismissed never mind resign, how this person was allowed to speak on behalve of their community offers more questions ! Action required ?

quote="chookyargyll"]Okaydokay, lets have a look at at serco's "offer". First off, 36 catering staff made redundant. The vast majority go back to the good old days of P&O and are very experienced seamen who cannot stomach the new serco regime who are refusing to accept the terms and conditions carried forward from both P&O and Northlink which were negotiated and carried out in good faith by both employers and employees. This will lead to undermanning of the ships on both the Aberdeen-Shetland, Scrabster-Stromness route. This means that the passenger carrying certificate on both the Hjaltland and Hrossey will be reduced to a maximum of 350 passengers. Almost every weekend both boats carry more than what will now be allowed. When this was pointed out to Stuart Garett that there was always a possibility of fog, snow or any other unexpected occurance (ash cloud ?) which would close the airports in Sumburgh and Scatsta, and which would mean more passengers trying to travel by boat than the passenger certificate will allow his reply was, and I quote "We will leave them on the quayside" When this contract was awarded to serco it is no longer a lifeline service but is now a business driven to make profit for the serco shareholders. Next their much vaunted and screamed from the rooftops "exciting" new refurb and Gastropub experience.(Nandos will not be amused to find they are being quoted in the same breath as this bunch of cowboys!) Mr Garett has stated that the refurb for both boats has cost £ 1 million, but to put that into perspective the company were quoted £ 1 million to chip and paint the CAR DECK on each boat at the last dry dock. The refurb is nothing more than a cosmetic makeover that re-uses the recliner seats and relocates them in another area. For instance in the cafe area the carpets and seating which is now almost 11 years old are not being replaced and this is one of the busiest areas on the ship. They are doing away with the very popular A la Carte restaurant and replacing it with an "airport" style lounge. All very good as long as you can afford to pay the £18.50 admission charge, then your meals will be charged seperatley. They are limiting the number in there to 50,but as there is only around 30 comfy seats I would get in there early!! The drive for profit clearly comes at the price of comfort. The reclining chairs which have been relocated to the forward bar and outside the shop should come with a health warning, as well as 4 point seatbelts to keep the passengers in the seat. The new "sleep pods" which have been fitted are all well and good as long as you can afford them. They are £18, £20 and £22 dependant on the season you travel,per crossing. The cafe will only serve breakfast on production of a £10 breakfast voucher.Anyone that just wants a cup of tea and a bacon roll will have to go to the bar for this. (oh I forgot to mention, tea-that will be £1.95 please,bacon roll? sausage roll?egg roll? that will be £3.40 each please!) The whole new "gastropub" experience also comes at a price. All meals onboard are going up in price by between 15 and 20 % Coffee starts at £2.20 per cup. Fancy a pint to while away a couple of hours on your journey? That will be £ 3.80. A bottle of Magners? £4.80 please. The seats in the cafe and both bars are being fitted with dividers every second cushion to stop people from stretching out and sleeping on them.Serco have stated that every person travelling will have a numbered seat, berth or cabin so there will be no "camping out" allowed. The new wifi they have stated they will have is not possible to fit aboard the ships at this time. Meanwhile they are looking into the possibillity of charging for what is at present free. The showers which they are shouting about are being charged at £5 for 5 mins. If you need a towel you pay a £3 deposit which is returned when the towel is returned P&O and Northlink rightly prided themselves on the fact that they did not charge for amendments or cancellations to your travel arrangements as Islanders needs to travel can change with the weather. Serco on the other hand, are introducing an amendment charge. This is £10 for changes made six months to two weeks before travel. Two weeks to one day before travel, this rises to 50% of the TOTAL booking charge, PLUS £10 charge. No travel forfeit all payment. In conclusion, how can serco state they will be having an improved service when they have cut 36 front line jobs,cut 2 freight boats to 1,do away with a popular restaurant, cut the dry dock/maintainance schedule,shuffle about a few chairs and are in the process of cutting shoreside/terminal jobs ??This is all about the bottom line http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/6019-ferry-crews-will-strike-this-month Nuff said

Possible new scam A call was taken at our home today to advise us that out Television insurance had expired and that renewal was due now. The caller was told to “go forthâ€

Well said posiedon

Copied post from Horns O da geo has hit the nail upo da head. Rather than blame absenteeism on a bizarrely high percentage of "skivers", perhaps a closer examination of a management culture that consistently promotes incompetent or flawed managers to "get them out of the way" might be more revealing? I suspect that certain managers may find that the stats regarding folk off on "work-related stress" seem to follow them around as they glide from department to department... As far as I'm aware there is no process in place that examines the effectiveness of management, based on the well-being (and subsequent productivity) of their staff. In my view, a manager that can somehow alienate an entire department to the extent that several people are medically signed off has failed profoundly in their job and, frankly, at being a decent human being. I know ,both anecdotally and through personal experience, of a handful so-called professionals within the council who have practically forced people away from work with their relentless, passive-aggressive bullying. Address this issue head on and I'll wager this largely arbitrary £3 million number will shrink dramatically. This is one of the most important posts and covers several threads. In fear that it might be lost among those who would rather "devide and conquer" / create argument, I have copied it in. Please take note that some employees actually care about their contribution to the community and do put in time for which no remuneration of any kind can be made, perhaps more importantly as result of their devotion are viewed by some as renagades who are out of control !

This must be the words of an accountant flying only a desk.‘ While the aircraft was previously engaged in a training exercise, it was operating a non-revenue flight at the time of the incident in question.’ As the exercise had been completed, the flying was not on behalf of the coastguard, meaning CHC would cover the costs met as it does for all non-operational flying. A spokesman for the MCA said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving a Coastguard helicopter based at Shetland and have asked our contractor, CHC, to investigate as a matter of urgency. ‘The MCA regards any misuse of these assets as completely unacceptable and await the outcome of this investigation As we all know these words could have been spoken by a fool.

This is the kind of joined up thinking Shetland needs just now. Why not do it?

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2012/02/10/trade-unions-voice-contempt-for-disastrous-budget-slashing I think this link tells all. Our elected representatives should be fighting to support Shetland. Single status has destroyed many incomes and their potential spending ability I now work many hours for nothing and am forced to considering part time employment which will create the need for employment of more staff to give adequate cover. Give it a couple of months and watch house prices falling Short sighted or perhaps worse, single status should be revisited if only to create fairness !! And the original idea was ????????

My post was in not intended to annoy anyone, maybe a bit late at night to post sensibly Many people don't use spell checker including me and mistakes happen. Have a look around any Internet site such as ebay and you can see a clear UK wide problem. Are UK educational policies failing us all and potentially effecting future growth.

If "lexanders" post is a reflection of the present educational system and their teaching of the English language we really should consider allegiance to another country.

You ask if Scotland are attempting to plunder Shetland again-- Scottish minister asks Shetland for money to run a ferry fully in the knowledge that there is still some money in Shetland. You might be aware that the same request has not been made to Orkney. Is it the case that Orkney does not have the same financial reserves. Question answered I think !! True Shetland is a small place with small telephony requirements, small water supply requirements, small electricity requirements, small broadband requirements large sewage disposal requirement etc etc but, all could be done locally rather than being dependant upon a very foreign country for basic support.

Isnt it typical of shetlink, a few start a complaint and everyone jumps on. Ironwithin has made several very good points. Maybe support for fair competition should be a consideration!

Santa Claus For outstanding service over many years.