Hay’s Dock cordoned off

A 50-metre cordon has been put in place at Hay’s Dock by the Lerwick coastguard and police after items were found on the seabed there.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team are understood to be on their way up to Shetland to deal with the items and expected to travel up on Friday.

A coastguard spokeswoman said they had been made aware of the items on Friday evening and subsequently set up the cordon.

Shetland Space Centre ‘delighted’ to join with sector representatives seeking greater collaboration

Shetland Space Centre joined with other representatives seeking collaboration to strengthen their industry.

Shetland’s new dental director arrives with more than 20 years’ experience

NHS Shetland appoints Antony Visocchi as new dental director.

Lerwick M&Co store saved

The M&Co shop in Lerwick will be saved as part of a restructure that will see dozens of stores close across the country.

Administrators were appointed at the fashion chain in the spring as the coronavirus pandemic forced closures.  On Wednesday the retailer announced plans to close 47 stores, with 380 jobs at risk.

The Lerwick branch  is safe, according to chief executive Andy McGeoch. The company is pulling out of many locations but wants to retain 200 “local High Street stores”.

Mr McGeoch said: “Local economies rely to a huge degree on their town centres and we have seen too many High Streets hollowed out by successive shop closures. 

“More and more people are beginning to realise that, if they don’t support their town centres, everyone’s quality of living really takes a hit, so we are proud to be playing a part in the drive to shop locally.”

Library warns 3,200 books due back on the same day may crash its system

Shetland Library has more than 3,000 books due back on the same day – and fears it may crash its systems.

The library renewed all of its customers’ books at the start of lockdown, so that they would not beed to be returned until 30th August.

That accounted for more than 14,000 books.

Although the library has since received around 10,800 of its pre-lockdown books, the remaining 3,200 are still due back – all on the same say.

“We’re a bit worried this will crash our systems,” the library posted on social media.

The library has urged people to help by returning their books – and taking others out when they visit.

“We need to keep some stock equilibrium or we’ll be packed to da gunnels,” it added.

Customers can have their books delivered as well as phoning or emailing orders for collection.

People can visit the library between 1.30-5pm on Monday to Saturday.

Hiroshima anniversary tree planting postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions

A tree planting to mark today’s 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb has been postponed due to Covid-19. 

The SIC and Shetland Amenity Trust had intended to plant the tree at the Jubilee Flower Park in Lerwick – but will now organise the event for a later date due to restrictions on public gatherings.

The bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the first and only occasions nuclear weapons were used in warfare. 

To mark the 70th anniversary, the global Mayors for Peace organisation sent the SIC seeds from Ginko trees which had survived the Hiroshima blast. They were planted and cared for by the amenity trust. 

It was hoped they could have been replanted for the 75th anniversary. 

SIC convener Malcolm Bell said: ““Ideally we should have been able to come together to mark this anniversary, but that just isn’t prudent at the moment.

“I look forward to better days when we can plant a tree for peace, wishing friendship, goodwill and cooperation across the world.”

Physical education to be done outside

Physical education classes will be carried out entirely outside when school lessons resume next week.

New guidance from Education Scotland has been handed to Shetland Islands Council days before the planned re-opening of schools.

Staff from children’s services had been in discussions with Shetland Recreational Trust about possible use of the Clickimin Leisure Complex for PE  – although no swimming classes were being made available to any pupil isles-wide during the first term.

However, changes are now afoot following the new advice.

Quality improvement manager Robin Calder told The Shetland Times: “Children’s Services have received guidance from Education Scotland very recently that encourages PE to take place outdoors.

“We are having further discussions with school managers and Shetland Recreational Trust about that.”

It comes as schools, which have been closed since March,  prepare for a “soft” opening in light of continued suppression of coronavirus.