Busta to receive almost £200k for hotel upgrades
Busta House Hotel near Brae has secured almost £200,000 in funding to make “significant improvements” to the building. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will provide…
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Active Shetland strategy seeks data on physical activity
Shetland residents are being asked to share details of how physically active they are, as part of a study into exercise.
The Active Shetland Strategy aims to “make Shetland the most active community in Scotland” and one of the strategy working groups, including representatives of Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Recreational Trust, NHS Shetland and ZetTrans, is keen to gather baseline data on levels of physical activity and barriers to participation.
A key aim of the group’s work is to support the inactive to become active and it’s hoped that the study will identify factors which may restrict activity levels, such as attitude, physical and mental health, financial or time restrictions, geography and others.
Louise Johnson, of the Council’s sport and leisure service and working group lead, said: “We really want to hear from everyone locally to try to build a picture of physical activity in Shetland, and especially those who are less active, to try to understand more about their reasons for this.
She added: “We’re grateful to everyone who can take a couple of minutes out of their day to respond to our survey.”
There are two online surveys – one for adults and one for school pupils. Both surveys are anonymous and should take no more than two minutes to complete.
Paper copies will also be available at leisure centres, health centres and can also be sent out by post if preferred. To request a paper copy of the survey contact SIC on 01595 744006 or email sportandleisure@shetland.gov.uk.
The surveys will be live from Wednesday 16th June and will be online for four weeks.
Green projects encouraged to apply for £150k grants
Businesses and community groups across Scotland’s islands can apply for a grant of up to £150,000 for projects which focus on sustainability and helping achieve net-zero ambitions.
The new Islands Communities Fund, backed by £2 million of Scottish government funding, is now open for applications.
Applicants will be expected to put forward ‘shovel-ready’ island-based community-led projects and detail how it will contribute to a successful and sustainable future for the islands and support employment and community resilience.
Islands secretary Mairi Gougeon said she was looking forward to seeing the development of “innovative” projects through the fund.
“Projects will support employment, community resilience and a green economic recovery from the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
“This fund will help to deliver projects that contribute to Scotland’s fair and just transition to net-zero and to climate resilient living on our islands.
The submission deadline for applications is noon on Friday, 16th July and projects should be completed by 31st March 2022.
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Busta to receive almost £200k for hotel upgrades
Busta House Hotel near Brae has secured almost £200,000 in funding to make “significant improvements” to the building.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will provide up to £194,000 to Busta for works to their 18 en-suite bathrooms and to make improvements to their website.
HIE said the money would allow 14 jobs at the hotel to be retained and to help Busta continue their endeavour to become “Shetland’s only four-star hotel”.
Busta co-owner Grant O’Neil said they “truly appreciated the support from HIE.”
“Without such help I feel that we would have been in an unavoidable position of having to close not only one of Shetland’s finest hotels, but also one of Shetland’s most historically important buildings.
“Thanks to HIE we have been able to continue to operate and offer our services to both the local community and to national and international travellers alike.”
Power station will transition to ‘standby’ mode in 2024
The Lerwick Power Station will transition into “standby operation” mode in 2024, it has been confirmed.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has confirmed its intention as efforts to connect Shetland to the mainland electricity system progress.
The station currently undertakes full duty operations in meeting Shetland’s electricity demand needs.
But the energy giant says it will provide standby operation until 2035 at the latest.
It says the station will operate in line with SSEN’s other back-up stations on Scotland’s islands, with similar staff levels as currently in place.
The network operator has been reviewing options for a reliable, innovative and cost-effective backup solution to support the security of supply to Shetland once the islands are connected to the mainland grid via SSEN Transmission’s 600MW cable.
SSEN submitted its proposal on back-up arrangements to Ofgem in December 2020.
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Coastguard tends to Yell resident
Coastguard Rescue 900 attended to a medical emergency overnight, airlifting one patient to hospital.
A resident from Yell was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick with an undisclosed injury or illness.
No further information is available at this time.
Council agrees to pursue safety improvements to ‘death trap’ Levenwick road
The council will seek more than £3 million of external funding to improve the safety of a road at Levenwick described as being a “death trap”.
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Replacement Fair Isle ferry gets final approval from SIC
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Brae Tartan Army fans enjoy Scotland’s Euro return
It was the wrong result at Hampden on Monday, but Brae Tartan Army members Ryan Sutherland, James Milne and Addie Manson were pictured enjoying themselves anyway.
Fellow Brae Tartan Army member John Gold told The Shetland Times earlier this month that watching Scotland was “a good trip ruined by the football” and so it proved in Glasgow again this week.
The group took in this week’s 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic from the national stadium and are all heading to London for Friday’s daunting clash against England at Wembley.
Scotland will finish the group with a match against World Cup runners-up Croatia next Monday.
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Criticism levelled against Fair Start Scotland scheme
Less than 10 per cent of people who took part in a Scottish government scheme aimed at providing long term employment opportunities were still in there jobs six months later.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has criticised the Fair Start Scotland scheme after figures were revealed.
He said only nine per cent of people in Shetland who participated in the project had stayed in their roles over the long term.
“Sadly this flagship Scottish government scheme, which was launched with great fanfare, does not appear to be providing sustainable and long-term employment opportunities for the people it was promised it would help,” he said.
“That only six months after signing on to the scheme, only nine per cent of the people concerned here in Shetland – 10 out of 115 – are still in employment with the organisation they joined with the scheme is very disappointing.”
Man dies after coastguard rescue
Following an incident yesterday afternoon when the coastguard responded to a call for assistance from diving vessel Valhalla, a man has died it has been confirmed.
Chief Inspector Paul Daley said: “A 68-year-old man from Northamptonshire has died after getting into difficulty whilst diving off the island of Bressay in Shetland.
“Emergency services were called around 4.30pm on Monday, 14 June, and the man was taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital.
“A second man, aged 52-years-old, was also taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital for treatment following the incident and has since been discharged.
He added: “There are no suspicious circumstances.”
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Update: Divers taken to hospital following rescue
Two divers were taken to hospital after a rescue operation off Bressay on Monday afternoon.
The coastguard was called to assist following a call of an incident involving the diving vessel Valhalla.
One diver was airlifted to the Gilbert Bain Hospital by the coastguard helicopter while another was taken ashore by the vessel and transported by ambulance.
Police Scotland received a report of two divers in difficulty off the island of Bressay at around 4.30pm. Enquiries are at an early stage.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “A diver has been taken to hospital after being reported by a diving vessel to be in difficulty.
“The diver was winched aboard the HM Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh which was in the area on exercise and taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
“After the diving vessel returned to Lerwick and was met by Lerwick Coastguard Rescue Team, a second diver was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance. We have no further information.”
Scotland fans prepare for first competition appearance in 23 years
Fans queued outside the Marlex on Monday afternoon in anticipation of the Scotland men’s sides first match of the European Championships.
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Shetland Food and Drink has published a new digital guide to help explore and savour more of Shetland’s culinary delights.
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Crowds gather for family fun day in Scalloway
Today might well be the day the teddy bears have their picnic, but there were plenty of other folk who turned up for the Scalloway Youth Centre’s Big Lunch.
The event has made a welcome return to the village, marking what is hoped will be a sign of normal life returning due to the easing of restrictions.
Organisers staged a teddy bear theme for the day, which also included raffles and stories in what promised to be a fun-filled time for all the family.
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Dramatic video captures controlled explosion at Dales Voe
A video has shown the moment the Ninian North platform at Dales Voe had its legs blown off.
The dramatic step was taken as part of the decommissioning process of the massive structure.
WATCH: First works league outdoor bowls matches held in Lerwick
The first works league outdoors bowls match was held amid glorious sunshine on Friday evening at King George V playing fields in Lerwick.
Teenage fundraiser earns parliamentary praise for half-marathon effort
Charity fundraiser Brynn Hauxwell was congratulated in Holyrood this week after his latest marathon effort.
Brynn, 16, completed 16 half-marathons in May to coincide with his latest birthday and to raise money for Ability Shetland.
Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston raised a motion in the Scottish parliament to highlight Brynn’s achievement.
“It’s really inspiring to see young people like Brynn taking on challenges like this and being so successful,” Mr Halcro Johnston said.
“He has every right to be proud of his exceptional performance which must have required a considerable amount of grit and determination.
“This certainly wasn’t Brynn’s first challenge, and I doubt it’ll be the last.”
Brynn raised more than £1,200 for the charity last month, more than double his initial target of £500.
Bayes’ owner celebrates 40 years in charge
R.W. Bayes owner Alister Smith is celebrating his 40th anniversary as owner of the shop.
Living Lerwick project manager Emma Miller presented Mr Smith with a cake and a card today (Tuesday).
Mr Smith took over the ownership of the shop on 1st June 1981, having worked there since 1979.
Neil Anderson joined him in the photography and framing shop shortly after Mr Smith took over, as an apprentice, and the pair are still behind the counter now.
Mr Smith said there had been many changes over the years – both in photography and in the people that visited – and added he was glad to have reached the milestone with Mr Anderson at his side.
Fellow shop keepers along da street signed the car wishing Mr Smith well on the anniversary.
Boats take to water on gloriously sunny Saturday
A few sailors seized the opportunity to take to the water in Lerwick on Saturday as summer finally seemed to arrive.
The town centre was busy with swimmers, tourists and dog-walkers as folk got out to enjoy the warm weather.
Showstopping bake winners are crowned
The winners of The Shetland Time’s “Show Stopper” baking competition has been named.
Joann Hoseason’s cake wowed the judge to win first prize, while Holy Wright came second and Tamzin Iversen was named in third.
The cakes were judged by Mercédesz from MM Yummy Cakes, found it difficult to judge the competition due to the high standard of the entries received.
Joann has won a 15x15cm cake and a box of eight Cookie Monster macarons, Holly will take home two boxes of Cookie Monster macarons, and Tamzin will enjoy one box of macarons for her effort.
The Shetland Times wants to thank everyone who entered for their incredible creativity, and congratulate the winners.
Pictures of the winners will appear in next Friday’s (4th June) edition of The Shetland Times.
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- Joann Hoseason with the winning cake.
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- Holly Wright came in second place.
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- Tamzin Iversen’s entry came in third place.
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