Scorrie

Contact landlords who are offering houses and negotiate hard.
 
There's a fair few empty rental properties hanging around with greedy folk thinking they can still charge what they were milking the oil industry for. It'll sink in with the brighter ones that a lower rent long term is better than short term greed.
Unfortunately, those who hocked themselves up to the eyeballs with a buy-to-let mortgage to enable them to get their snout in the trough will be coming unstuck as they can no longer command the retal income to cover the overheads and will offloading their proerties onto the sale market.
 
 
That's my take on it, anyway. But even if I'm way off beam, I wouldn't just ignore the higher rental adverts - get in there and negotiate. You never know......

Bulldozers?

No. I was meaning the red/buff coloured half round markings crossing the road. There's one outside Captain Flints and one between McKays and the Thule.
 
I've heard them referred to as 'Courtesy crossings' but can't seem to find much in the way of hard facts. They don't seem to be mentioned in the highway code.
 
I did find a reference saying they are not actually crossings but are there to assist pedestrians to find a place where it may be safe to cross.

That, is one of Calamity's very many sites, punting everything from some funky design of boat sails to Gold Soverieigns, and just about every other equally off beat thing inbetween.
 
Some were very short lived, others, like that one have hung around.

With a link to forvik.com, it's not to difficult to figure out the history and, indeed, who owns/operates it.
 
My money is on Stuart Hill.....

Health & Safety.   I don't think they would be allowed to use a "4 Gang".. 

Can't they just put a three pin plug into a socket at the marina?  They could run a four-gang on that.

Well Scorie, just think how the water front/harbour area has been spruced up with the LPA buildings(Customs Shed, Albert Building, Stewart Building) and the North Ness buildings too.
 
Lovely buildings with a touch of Scandinavian character which have brightened up what was a very drab and run down area at one time.
 
I often think about what would have been built to replace them at one time - just cold block and harl!.
 
Hopefully if the LPA build a new cruise pier and centre on the site of the old fish market we'll see another nice Scandinavian style of building.

OK, here we go again.
 
Let's break down your opening post:
 
 "and the usual line rolled out is "weather related" which i find hard to swallow."  
 
Some evidence that this (and other) cancellations are due to weather and that local, as opposed to likely weather conditions encountered later on the trip would give your opinion more credence.
 
"I think cruise operators are beginning to realise that things aren't so rosy up here." 
 
What are you on about here? Local anguish over traffic calming measures? Rising house prices? No Tunnocks teacakes in Tescos? 
 
"Finally anchoring is frowned upon nowadays so this projected cruise berth in the town centre has never been more needed."
 
For a kickoff, anchoring off Lerwick is not 'frowned upon nowadays'. There's no issues regarding the seabed environment just off Lerwick harbour as far as i know.
Secondly, if you believe that Shetland is such a bad place for cruise ships to visit, how come you would be more than happy for other folk to spend millions on a new berth to bring these cruise ships here? It can't possibly change your opinion that Shetland is a bad gig, can it?

His boat, and his 'erection,, were by all accounts located on land that belonged to someone else. Unless he had a signed and sealed agreement, which there's no word of, to have it there the owners are entitled to ask him to shift his turd whenever they like. By all accounts they gave him notice to do just that, and when he didn't they did it for him.
 
Yeah, maybe a bit tough on him, maybe the owners and planning used each other a little bit to get what they wanted, and maybe the owners timed things to suit themselves, but so what. If he was for real, I seriously doubt what he built was anything like, sizeways at least, like what the owners thought they were allowing him to build, and were glad to be rid, and if he was intent on picking a fight with Planning, he really shouldn't have involved a third party over whom he has no control and may have no sympathy for him and his antics.
 
He's quoted as saying his boat can't be shifted, as it needs work. stoness! If it can't stand being lifted on a truck for a short trip from Aithsvoe to Ocraquoy, it'll never be shifted again ever, regardless how much it's worked on. If he won't can't plant it next to his house to work on, and have whatever shelter around it there he sees fit, and have whatever arguments with whoever he sees fit on his own turf, or not as the case may be, he needn't whinge when he involves other folk with it and they mess with his plans. They have rights too.

Maybe they couldn't bear to inflict even more endless whingeing from some Shetlanders on their passengers?

Stuart Hill may be right in some of his research, but after several court appearances on various
charges including invading small islands, and breaking into private premises, he has little but
nuisance value.
He seems to relish confrontation, and his latest escapade involves a particularly unsightly boat
shed. The planning department have ensured it was pulled down and there will be few tears shed in
the Cunningsburgh area. There are many who feel he seems able to do whatever he likes, and now to
his great distress he has found this is not the case.
He asserts that he needs the boat shed to make his craft seaworthy once more. I would suggest that
this is a particularly bad idea. If his boat hits the water again the chances are he would require
yet another rescue, courtesy of coastguard services provided by a government he doesn't recognise.
The planning dept. get some bad press, but deserve some credit this time.

^ Any Government anywhere anytime will sell out anything or anyone in a heartbeat, that's the name of the game. A UK Government or a Tory Government is no different to any other, they'll take whatever deal looks "best" for them, from the "inside" looking out, with only as much regard for the views of the rest of us on the "outside" looking in as we force down their throats violently.
 
If any industry is sitting back on the strength of a few vague "promises" of a politician that they'll be "looked after", they arguably deserve all they will get out of that arrangement - Absolutely sweet bog all, and be charged for its delivery.
 
Anyone wanting to ensure an eevn half decent deal on anything from the politicians needs to be out there, lobbying politicians loudly, forcibly and visibly, embarrassing them in to visibly proving that they can deliver the goods, its the only way its ever worked, and probably ever will.

Reality is, basically, how many shops can a smallish "market town" such as Lerwick support?
 
Anyone who thinks that there should be shops selling "everything" is living in "cloud cuckoo land".
 
Down the years, I have seen many changes on the street and it has always managed to re-invent itself to reflect people's needs.  Unfortunately, imho, it is no longer a "prime" retail site.  The Toll Clock, although it has "limited" spaces, beats it "hands down".
 
Example: Does anyone else remember Stove and Smith, Televiradio, The Music Box, etc.?  With just those three, you could buy Televisions, Music Centres, Refrigerators, Washing Machines and a whole host of other household items as well AND (within reason) get them delivered. 
Nowadays, people are more likely to buy that kind of stuff from the Coop orTesco/Mail Order.  Why, mainly price but, because there is not the "wealth" here that people think there is and, they have gotten "lazy" and are far to "busy" to get off their backsides and look.  If they can't drive to/park at the doorstep, they go where they can.
 
Having said that, there are still a few local shops that do make an effort. 
Example:  All the above can be bought from George Robertsons who WILL deliver if needed.  They, unlike Coop//Tesco/Mail Order, will also attempt to properly service their warranties and are, generally, a very good outfit to deal with.  (NO, I do not work for them....  Praise where it's due)
 
Bit of a "ramble" I'm afraid and, I've got work to do...

Look around other areas of the UK and see how life has been improved for residents, visitors and businesses, by the removal/vast reduction of traffic in an area. Businesses, usually without exception, whinged about the future improvements, fearful that their trade will decline. They usually moaned about loss of footfall whilst the improvements were taking place, and also asked for reduction of business rates.
 
Once the traffic-limited zone was put in place there was suddenly an improvement in the area. Delivery vehicles were only allowed in at certain hours, those with disabled badges could still gain access, driving slowly. The transformation area of the area brought a whole new environment. Parents and their kids could wander about without the fear of the little ones being knocked down by traffic, pollution was much reduced, seating was added so people could sit and chat, cafes opened and put tables and chairs out on the street, it became a relaxed environment, not the battle that we have with traffic at the moment.
 
Whilst we don't have the climate for pavement cafes, the reasons that I hear most often voiced for not visiting The Street are: high prices, limited range of shops and goods, lack of parking, and battling with the traffic, a lot of which shouldn't be on The Street. Taken one at a time, high prices are set by the business to maximise profits and offset the running costs of rates, rent, staffing costs, heating, lighting, shrinkage etc. We do seem to have a lot of staff in the local shops here compared to the national chains. That and the greedy landlords will go a long way towards explaining the costs. Times have changed, and internet shopping is so much simpler and cheaper that it is a very attractive option. With free returns available, buying the more difficult things like clothing is no longer a difficulty. Lack of range of goods is often countered by the vendor advising that she can get order that in for you. You can easily order it in for yourself, and save money to boot. The lack of range of shops is down to what people see as being a potential source of profit. Many businesses have come and gone, in recent memory, in just one shop, there has been a sweet shop, bric-a-brac shop and a nail salon, and they all closed down. Perhaps the market is not big enough? Lack of parking is often put forth as an argument, but as has been said before, parking is plentiful and mostly free here. A trip to many places on the mainland will often see you paying inordinate sums to park. Safety is always in peril as you walk down the street. Shared spaces pedestrians/vehicles is always difficult and this should be limited as far as is possible. The Police could do a better job of putting an officer there at random times and issue a few fixed penalty notices, which would curtail the cars very quickly. It is only a short drive from the station after all!
 
We are going through a time of change. Online shopping is becoming more prevalent through its ease and excellent pricing. Shopping centres need to become attractive places where people can socialise and relax with a cake, a cup of coffee and friends, perhaps buy a piece of bric-a-brac and a magazine, discretionary purchases. Gone are the days of high streets being the shopping hubs, having been replaced by out of town shopping barns, and latterly online shopping. The death of the high street has been slow, and hopefully it will continue. I look forward to The Street being a better environment for pedestrians, with a mix of accommodation, modern bars, restaurants and cafes.

Cobblers.

There is without doubt an impact an environmental impact of vehicles having to slow down, rather than being able to travel at a constant speed. I lived in a house with trees in the garden at the edge of a mini roundabout, where cars almost always had to stop. The puff of exhaust as each of them pulled away had an effect that was all too evident on the trees, they grew high but with little foliage, and that what was there was discoloured. My suggestion is that if this is of concern to you, and you are able to ambulate, then you should perambulate more and drive less, but making excuses for the inability to walk from a to b is something the able-bodied have finely honed in their skill set.

Cobblers.

Cobblers.

By 'swirly' tarmac, do you mean the coloured sections? If so, then the colour is just to highlight the traffic calming area.
 
As for stopping for pedestrians, no, it's not necessary to stop for them if they are on the pavement waiting to cross. The calming measures are not there to act as pedestrian crossing points. If the pedestrians are on the road or stepping onto it, it would be advisable to let them cross. Exactly the same as you should at any other time. 
 
Regarding the 20mph markings, I'm a bit rusty on what is required legally to change the speed limit on any given section of road. But my understanding is that local authorities have the power to reduce speed limits where they believe it is necessary. So reductions to 20mph through traffic calming areas or on sections of road where it is believed road users are vulnerable are fairly common.
 
(Another edit)
 
I'm talking about the speed humps themselves regarding pedestrians, not any pelican crossings or other formal crossing arrangements. Can't say I spotted anything 'unusual' about any crossing points, but maybe they didn't register

Sorry Capeesh, but I can negotiate them in an tiny Alto with no hassle at all. If someone's demolishing their undercarriage the it's because they're going too fast or haven't the very basic wit to negotiate them with ones side on the hump and one side missing it..........
 
Let's face it, there's swathes of these things across the UK effectively slowing down the dimwitted minority who care effall for anyone's safety. And the 'disruption' to other motorists is absolutely negligible.

Calm down dear, it's just a few lumps in the road, nothing to get anxious about.

Christ - are folk really that blaet o twartree new speed humps and/or time poor that the nanoseconds they/the new speed limit will add to their trip in ower will put them off going altogether?
 
It's just as well the fortunes of most town centres south dunna rely on the custom of Shetlanders. There are a hell of a lot more 'obstructions' to get into them (traffic lights, one way systems, pedestrianised streets and a lot more traffic) and when you do, the chances are you have to pay for the privilege of parking further from the shops than you do in Lerwick.

Can't see what all the fuss is about. Go to 99.9% of towns and cities anywhere else in the world, and Lerwick will appear to be a motorist's heaven. Very little traffic and easy on-street parking with no restrictions. The speed bumps and 20mph limit is along a very limited section of road. I love the fact that right throughout the islands the road surface is as near to perfection as is possible to attain. I have said to family and friends down south that I have two games I play when driving along a road. On mainland UK it's 'Dodge the pot-hole' which is incredibly difficult. Up here in Shetland, I play the game 'Spot the pot-hole', which is even more difficult. Shetland's roads really ARE that good. And family and friends that have visited me over the past 4 years have said as much. Shetlanders, be proud of what you have here. 

Early days, and there are improvements all the time. The technology in use today is very much in its infancy. In the next 10 years the majority of new cars sold will be pure electric, and they will have a range of 300+ miles. Don't dismiss it yet. 
 
Orkney produces well over 100% of its power needs from renewables, mainly wind, and the council are actively encouraging the residents to swap to EVs. Can't understand why that isn't the case here in Shetland. We have no need to be connected to the national grid for 'our benefit'.