News / In brief for 9 June 2011
Litter mountain
SHETLAND Islands Council highlighted the annual £113,000 cost of dealing with Shetland’s litter by dumping nine tonnes of rubbish onto Commercial Street on Thursday.
Environmental health manager Maggie Dunne said the litter, contained in nine tonne-bags, represented how much was
collected off Da Street in one month alone.
Anyone seen dropping litter was issued with a fixed penalty as part of Wednesday’s promotion, with a particular focus on smokers. UK-wide the number of cigarette butts dropped weighs an estimated 122 tonnes, so to discourage that free butt puches were handed out.
“People have been shocked by the amount of rubbish on display today. After a Saturday night the street is in a terrible state, but it is cleaned up before most of us get to see it,” Ms Dunne said.
“Many people think that dropping one piece of litter, especially something small like a cigarette butt, doesn’t matter, but we want to show the accumulative effect of all those small pieces of rubbish – it soon builds up.”
Another flight request
NORTHERN isles MSPs Tavish Scott and Liam McArthur have extended their campaign for improvements to air travel by calling for the exemption on air passenger duty (APD) to apply to incoming flights as well.
The Liberal Democrats say the high fares on island flights impose a serious burden on local communities and act as a real disincentive to visiting tourists.
The pair are already calling for the government to bring back the air discount scheme for commercial, public and voluntary bodies. They describe charging APD on inbound flights as an “anomaly”, when outbound flights are expempted.
Mr Scott said: “It is vital that the government recognises that our flights are lifeline services, you cannot catch a bus or train south from Shetland and, for many journeys, the boat is not an option. They are therefore different from other air services and should not be taxed.”
Youth volunteer awards
A COMPETITIVE awards scheme to recognise young volunteers in Shetland is being launched for the second year running.
The Shetland Youth Volunteering Awards has two prizes, the first for the group, project or organisation that does the most to involve people aged 25 or under, which is sponsored by Voluntary Action Shetland and carries a prize of £500.
The second award is sponsored by The Rotary Club of Shetland to acknowledge volunteers aged from the first year of secondary school to 25 years with a prize of £500 split between the individual and the organisation they help.
More information is available from VAS youth development worker Kathleen Williamson on 01595 743910 or Kathleen.williamson@shetland.org, or by visiting www.shetland.communities.org.uk.
Alwyn platform shut
THE ALWYN North oil and gas field operated by French company Total in the North Sea has been shut for routine maintenance.
Oil from Alwyn North is transported to Sullom Voe oil terminal via the Brent pipeline, while the gas goes to St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead.
The shutdown is expected to last between two and four weeks.
I Spy Shetland
SHETLAND’S nature reserves are being promoted in a new Michelin I-Spy guide being produced with the help of VisitScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The pocket-sized spotters’ books are a throwback to the popular I-Spy guides of the 1950s and ‘60s, and the new one called Scottish nature features more than 100 species and reserves such as Hermaness, Noss and the Keen of Hamar.
Like the original I-Spy books, points are awarded based on the rarity of the object, with the opportunity to be awarded with a certificate for every 1,000 points.
Free copies of the book are available through www.visitscotland.com/surpriseispy
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