News / In brief for 22 December 2010

Protect your pipes

SCOTTISH Water are repeating their request for property owners to check for burst or leaking pipes and repair any problems quickly as forecasters predict the cold weather to continue.

The public utility has also asked people to report any problems they come across on the mains supply outside their property at the earliest opportunity.

They also request holiday home owners, businesses, farms and those responsible for public buildings such as village halls to ensure their property is heated, insulated and protected from the sub-zero temperatures, especially if it is likely to be unoccupied.

Any bursts or leaks on private property should be addressed by the property owner. Any bursts or leaks on the public network can be reported by calling the Scottish Water Customer Helpline on 0845 601 8855.

New sponsor

A NEW consortium of Shetland businesses have stepped in with more than £20,000 to support next year’s Tall Ships Race visit to Lerwick.

Captain Flints, Hughson Brothers and Shetland Refreshments Ltd have joined forces to create Events Shetland, who will take responsibility for running the public bars during the event on Victoria Pier, Laurenson Quay and Holmsgarth.

The Lerwick Tall Ships event has a target to raise £400,000 in sponsorship for the four day event from 21 to 24 July 2011.

Community control

THE SCOTTISH Crofting Federation (SCF) has called for more community control of local land to make the best use of it.

Responding to the Scottish government’s consultation on land use strategy, SCF chairwoman Eleanor Arthur, from Shetland, said there was little new in the government’s strategy document.

However she said it would only succeed in creating thriving and sustainable communities if there was greater joined up thinking across all levels of government and its agencies.

“We need a further stage of land reform to allow more communities to take control of their land and get the best out of it and planning policies and regulatory action to prevent further speculative misuse of crofting land,” Ms Arthur said.