Man to face trial after pleading not guilty to murdering partner 

A man is to stand trial charged with the murder of his partner in Shetland.

In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 6th December) edition of The Shetland Times:

 • EXCLUSIVE: Infected Blood survivor calls for more accessible Hep C testing, treatment.

 • EXCLUSIVE: Police chief offers advice after hundreds of fraud cases revealed.

 • EXCLUSIVE: Patients helped by hyperbaric chamber.

 • EXCLUSIVE: Noise pollution from Viking turbines “like a motorway”.

 • Skipper on “confusing” quota changes for 2025.

 • “Once in a lifetime” sight of new killer whale calf.

 • SPORT: Full results of the Shetland Badminton Senior Open.

Click here to get The Shetland Times delivered to your device every Friday morning.

Councillors to debate free bus tickets 

Councillors will vote next week on a two-year trial program for all-round free bus travel across the Isles.

If successful, the plan would make Shetland the first place in the UK with free bus rides for locals.

The motion, proposed by Shetland South councillors Alex Armitage and Robbie McGregor, will go before their colleagues in a vote at the full council meeting on Wednesday.

Mr McGregor said free transport “would grease the wheels of Shetland’s economy.”

Free buses would be a “win-win-win for people, planet and the Shetland economy” said Dr Armitage, noting the Scottish government’s aim to reduce car travel a fifth by the end of the decade.

“We have more private cars on the road than ever. It’s just not sustainable,” he said. “We need bold, innovative policies like fare-free public transport to provide real incentives for folk to get on the bus.”

Dr Armitage and Mr McGregor first proposed free bus and ferry travel for islanders two years ago, but the idea was narrowly rejected over the question of funding.

This time, Dr Armitage said there are “cost-neutral” options for the SIC, drawing on a possible new tourist levy, government funds announced in the new budget, or the isles’ community benefit fund.

“We were knocked back when we tried this two years ago,” Dr Armitage told The Shetland Times, “but I’ve been working quite hard to get it this time.”

If passed, next week’s motion will ask councillors to look for funding before voting on a roll-out plan in the new year.

UPDATE: Trapped truck forces Whalsay to go down to single vessel

Whalsay’s ferry service was forced to go down to a single vessel due to a “stuck” fuel truck. 

According to the service’s voicebank, the LHD fuel truck’s brakes were “stuck on” the Linga – with the vessel forced to remain at the Vidlin terminal until the issue was resolved. 

As a result, the Hendra has been operating to a single vessel service between Whalsay and Laxo. 

All bookings had been suspended and vehicles were advised to use the booked lane. 

The Linga is expected to depart Vidlin at 12 noon and will resume full service along with the Hendra from 12.45 onwards. 

Petition for new connectivity plan reaches parliament

Rural communities can ill afford to be left behind in the “digital age,” a Labour Party campaigner said after he submitted a petition to parliament.

Scottish election hopeful John Erskine – who is running on the list vote – called for a new digital connectivity plan to be developed for the Highlands and Islands.

The petition asks the Scottish government to tackle digital infrastructure shortfalls, improve mobile internet coverage, and foster public-private partnerships, creating opportunities for economic development, healthcare access, and education in the region.

This comes before “significant changes” are made to telecommunications in the region with the impending phase-out of radio teleswitch meters and the retirement of copper phone lines.

“Reliable internet and mobile coverage are not luxuries—they’re lifelines for businesses, education, and healthcare,” Mr Erskine said.

“A comprehensive digital connectivity plan is vital to ensuring these communities have the tools they need to thrive.”

Challenges with telecommunications already face the Highlands and Islands, he added, with 25 per cent of Shetland experiencing internet speeds below 30Mbps.

Mobile phone connections were “patchy or unreliable” in many areas and gaps in digital infrastructure hindered growth in tourism and local industries.

The Holyrood public petitions committee considered the submission for the first time on Thursday, 28th November.

Rival spaceport ‘paused’ as aerospace firm announces switch to SaxaVord 

An aerospace company has switched its launch plans to SaxaVord after “pausing” construction at a rival spaceport.

Survey seeks views on possible 10 per cent council tax hike

A survey seeking views on council tax – including a possible 10 per cent hike – has been launched.

Efforts recognised at fire service awards ceremony

A firefighting youth instructor has gained recognition for the support and guidance he gives to youth volunteers.

Tenants return to Sandveien homes

The first tenants to return to Sandveien were welcomed after major construction work to rebuild the properties.

Almost two years after families were moved out for the demolition of the hold houses, the process has now begun for those people to return to their new homes.

Partners Kyle Duncan and Kitty Horváth, and their two children, have today (Monday) moved into a newly-built three-bedroom property.

Their return marks the final stage of the housing project, with other tenants expected to move in over the coming days and weeks, in time for Christmas. 

SIC housing executive manager Anita Jamieson said she was delighted for the project to be coming to an end.

“Handing over the keys and seeing our tenants moving into these houses is a great moment and the housing service is really pleased to be able to celebrate the completion of this project,” Mrs Jamieson said.

Work began in March 2023 on the rebuild project, which comprises six two-bedroom houses and two three-bedroom houses.  The overall project cost around £2.5 million, which has attracted £700k of funding from the Scottish government’s More Homes Fund.  

The project was fully delivered by local companies comprising lead contractor DITT Ltd (supported by local subcontractors), plus architects PJP Architects, engineering consultants Mott Macdonald, quantity surveyor Jim Nisbet and Case Shetland as clerk of works. 

‘Alarm’ and ‘concern’ after Knab housing plan slips back two years

Councillors have sounded the “alarm” at cuts in affordable housing funding which have forced a two year delay to the Knab development.