Government must stop putting isles in a box, demands Scott

MSP Tavish Scott wants the Scottish government to guarantee its maps will not put Shetland in a box.

Legislation should be passed that stops Shetland being put “in a box” in official Scottish government publications.

That is the view of isles MSP Tavish Scott who says the geographical error is not just irksome but would show the government takes “island proofing” seriously.

Mr Scott has tabled an amendment to the Islands Bill that would ensure that official publications put Shetland in its rightful place. The bill focuses on provisions designed to strengthen and protect Scotland’s island communities.

The MSP says he has seen Shetland on official maps placed in a box either in the Moray Firth or just off the northeast coast of the Scottish Mainland.

He said: “Shetlanders are rightly irked when they see Shetland placed in a box in the Moray Firth. I strongly believe the Scottish government should portray the country it serves with accuracy.

“The principle is important here.

“A recent Scottish government strategy on loneliness made this geographical mistake. I asked Scotland’s most senior civil servant to correct the error.

“But from now on, I want to ensure that mistake just cannot happen. Putting Shetland in its appropriate place would go some way to rectifying the perception that the islands are an afterthought. It will visually align the government with its stated political commitment to island proofing.”

The Islands Bill amendments will be debated next Wednesday in Holyrood.

COMMENTS(3)

Add Your Comment
  • Steven Jarmson

    • March 19th, 2018 20:39

    The legislation should cover weather reporting too.
    Recently both BBC UK and BBC Scotland have taken to cutting us out altogether!
    I’ve seen the weather four times in the last 7 days, the South mainland was just visible on the “full” UK map, and non-existent on the close ups.
    Irksome is one way of putting it.
    But, I suppose it’s just a reflection of the neglect Shetland suffers at the hands of the our southern colonial masters.
    I’m quite sure when it comes to getting our taxes they’ll very quickly find us!

    REPLY
  • Ronald Young

    • March 20th, 2018 10:15

    OK, I’m a “Southerner” – from Derbyshire, but until I first visited Caithness, then the two wonderful island groups to the N of Scotland in the 1970’s, I always thought that they were somewhere in that area that’s labelled “Moray Firth”

    And something that’s just as bad – some road atlases show both Shetland and Orkney to a much smaller scale than the rest of the UK.

    Lets get the Northern Isles not just where they are, but also shown to the correct scale!

    REPLY
  • David Spence

    • March 21st, 2018 9:21

    Yep, it is a bummer when the boat gets close to the edge of the box, and we have to pay a toll to get out. Reminds me of Blazing Saddles, when they had to pay a toll at the gate, and only the gate, in the middle of the desert. lol

    REPLY

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.