Ferry consultation

ANOTHER round of consultations on further major cutbacks to ferry services is set to kick off next month.

Shetland Islands Council will hold drop in sessions and more formal consultation meeting in all island communities starting on Monday 12 November.

The SIC is already in the process of implementing savings of £1 million to the inter-island ferry service and now seeks views to save a further £2.8 million.

Proposals put forward include:

• Bringing back ferry fares on Bluemull Sound;
• ending the two vessel service on Bluemull Sound;
• basing the Skerries ferry in Skerries;
• reducing Yell Sound to one ferry;
• reduce Whalsay to two 12 hours shifts;
• ending the ro-ro service to Papa Stour;
• cutting the crew on the Bressay ferry from five to four.

North isles councillor Robert Henderson tried to remove the option of reducing the Bluemull Sound service, but was defeated by six votes to 13.

The council aims to make decisions at its last meeting before Christmas on 19 December.