Driver alert

DRIVERS are being warned to steer clear of Lerwick’s Commercial Street between 11.30am 5.30pm or they will be fined as the police step up their presence in the town centre.

Lerwick police have spent Monday and Tuesday warning drivers that they intend to enforce council traffic regulations on the town’s main shopping street between Market Cross and Fort Charlotte.

Last month the council voted to erect bollards on Burns Walk, one of the most popular access routes to Commercial Street.

The council wants to see traffic restrictions imposed more vigorously and has approached the local police force to make it a priority.

Police area commander Angus MacInnes said he had only recently become aware of the restrictions and accepted that it was a contentious issue, with many drivers disagreeing with the controls.

“However the council has traffic orders in place and it is our duty to make sure that they are followed,” he said.

Under the rules only emergency service and council vehicles, along with disabled badge holders are allowed during the restricted hours.

From Wednesday morning the police will be imposing fixed penalties on anyone caught on the street during that time.

Meanwhile the police are maintaining their high profile checks on licensed premises, with 300 carried out during March to clamp down on substance abuse, violence and anti social behaviour.

Shetland police recorded 144 fewer crimes during 2012/13, a reduction of more than 21 per cent, with a 77 per cent detection rate, the highest in the northern region.