EnQuest makes charitable contributions through health and safety scheme

Three charities have benefited from almost £15,000 in donations from an energy giant.

EnQuest made the bumper grants to Clan Cancer Support, Shetland Heart Screening and the RNLI stations in Aith and Lerwick through its Greenie Day Health and Safety Executive (HSE) scheme.

The scheme sees money banked throughout the year for every day at Sullom Voe Terminal with no health and safety incidents. 

Around £14,750 of contributions were split between the charities, with Clan receiving £7,800, Shetland Heart Screening £2,950 and each lifeboat station given £2,000.

Ferry commuters urged to have “back-up plan” during timetable changes

SIC environment and transport chairwoman Moraig Lyall has urged North Isles commuters to consider how “essential” their travel is and have a “back-up” plan ahead of timetable changes.

Community council urges energy giants to move project to another site

A community council has urged two energy giants to look for alternative sites for a major project.

Statkraft and SSEN are currently looking to build a substation to connect the Mossy Hill windfarm to the new 132kV power lines being erected just outside Tingwall.

That is likely to be built to the west of where the top end of Ladies Drive meets the A970 main road north out of Lerwick.

Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council has now urged the two companies to reconsider their choice.

Chairman Andrew Archer said some people may not realise “how big these buildings are” that are being proposed by the energy giants.

“The larger building is 105-metres long – that’s longer than the new Anderson High School,” he said.

“Rather than digging up yet another bit of the landscape, Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council feels that other options should be properly explored before the proposals go any further.”

Mr Archer said they had suggested the buildings be constructed at the Staney Hill quarry instead.

But he said Statkraft “won’t even consider our suggestion”.

“We are asking them to pause the process, talk to the quarry owner and the quarry operator and see whether it is possible. 

“Surely that’s not too much to ask.”

Statkraft project manager John Thouless said he was grateful that people from the community had reached out to discuss their concerns.

However, there had been a thought process before selecting its proposed site near Ladies Drive.

“The site has been carefully chosen, in order to safeguard critical infrastructure, minimise visual impact, and reduce disruption for local residents during construction,” Mr Thouless said.

“I’m looking forward to speaking to members of the local community soon, as our plans progress.”

Body scanners to be introduced at Sumburgh Airport

Full body scanners are set to be introduced at Sumburgh Airport from the start of June.

That will mean passengers can bring liquids of up to two litres in their hand baggage on to flights.

Passengers who do not wish to use the body scanner will be able to request an alternative search method.

New regulations mean all UK airports must upgrade their X-ray screening equipment by 1st June.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial)’s upgrades will allow passengers at Sumburgh to now bring 2L of liquids on in their hand baggage.

They will also be allowed to leave electronic devices in their hand baggage during screening.

Hial says it has spent around £1m on improving its security equipment.

‘A ticking time bomb’ – concerns about groups of tourists cycling

Large groups of tourists cycling on Shetland’s roads are “a ticking time bomb”, one councillor has claimed.

There have been numerous concerns raised about cruise ship groups taking off in great numbers.

That has made it difficult for drivers to pass the groups, with some even cycling in thick fog recently.

Neil Pearson asked what could be done about this – including possibly staggering the groups, or asking them not to travel in such numbers.

SIC roads safety officer Elaine Skinley said they would be speaking to cruise companies about this.

Mr Pearson said he had almost had an accident with a cyclist who he “could not believe” was on the road in thick fog without any hi-visibility clothes on.

Chief inspector Stuart Clemenson said cruise ships were now bringing their own bikes for tourists to use.

And he added they would be asking Lerwick Port Authority to give some basic guidance to visiting ships – like Orkney Islands Council has done.