Big plans for Sandness

A TINY Shetland village is launching an eight month feasibility study in a bid to turn around its fortunes.

The Sandness Community Development Group (SCDG) was formed last September to convert the community’s enthusiasm and commitment into permanent improvements.

The remote village has around 150 residents and lies at the end of a treacherous seven mile single track road on the extreme west of the Shetland mainland.

The SCDG committee has appointed local woman Penny Armstrong to carry out the survey after securing Awards for All lottery funding.

The first stage will be a consultation with every household in Sandness.

The committee hopes that plans for development could be drawn up by April next year.

The group was formed last year to fight the council’s plans to close the village’s small primary school.

While councillors decided against closing the school, its future is not secure and remains a target for cuts to the education budget.

SCDG chairman Garry Jamieson said they want to make sure Sandness remains a thriving and viable rural community.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to build on what we’ve got already. It will energise the community and take us from strength to strength,” he said.

“We can look at how we can improve our services and make Sandness a place where more folk want to stay.”