Isles registrars remain

SHETLAND’S island registrars look set to keep their posts after the local authority’s executive committee voted to retain registration on Unst, Yell, Whalsay and Fetlar.

Under the recommendation, Bressay residents will still have to travel to Lerwick to make births, deaths and marriages official and Yell will be left with just one registrar.

Shetland South member Allison Duncan’s motion to keep the island posts won by six votes to two after Lerwick member Allan Wishart proposed centralising the service in the town.

Shetland currently has 21 registrars and carries out around 500 registrations a year, with two thirds being completed in Lerwick.

Officials had recommended closing all rural registrar posts to avoid duplication where hand written records have to be entered electronically later.