In brief for 7 August 2011

Fencers take trophy

SHETLAND’S sword wielding fencing team gained the upper hand in Orkney at the weekend to win the inter county against the auld enemy.

Pictured behind young Shaun Alderman who is holding the trophy are:

Back row: Matthew Blance, Andy Alderman, Paul Hibbert, Chris Hudson, Stephen Rocks, Phil Hibbert, Paul Whyte;

Middle row: Stephen Leask, Lucy Morris, Mhairi Gifford, Derek Titheridge, Kieran Whyte, Kyle Smith;

Front row: Hamish Stalked, Tim Clayton, Rhodri Hawkins, Sophie Drosso(captain) Kristjan Kerr, Henry Oldbury, Francesca Clayton, Oliver Russell, Carly Sinclair.

Broken leg

SHETLAND coastguard came to the aid of a woman with a broken leg at Voxter Voe on Saturday evening after medical staff were unable to reach her.

The rescue helicopter picked her up around 7.30pm and delivered her to the Lerwick landing site around 8.15pm

NorthLink break up

THE SCOTTISH government is talking of breaking up the northern isles ferry contract into two bundles when the contract is renewed next year.

Following a consultation last year, Transport Scotland is proposing to invite separate bids for the Aberdeed-Kirkwall-Lerwick service and the Pentland Firth crossing between Scrabster and Stromness.

The suggestion has been criticised by the transport union RMT, who described it as a “kick in the teeth” for staff and communities, warning it would open the door for cherry-picking and profiteering.

ADS warning

THE THREE Scottish island councils have joined forces to demand a rethink of the government’s decision to scrap the popular air discount scheme for business travel last April.

SIC leader Josie Simpson, Stephen Hagan from Orkney and Angus Campbell from the western isles have signed a letter requesting a meeting with infrastructure secretary Alex Neil and transport minister Keith Brown.

They say the scheme has saved the councils £1 million between them over the past three years, and its loss “will be at best damaging and at worst potentially ruinous”.

Mr Hagan warned: “There is a real risk that the number of passengers travelling by air will fall, leading to a corresponding reduction in the level of the air service in the future.”