Runway legal appeal

SHETLAND Islands Council has confirmed it will appeal against a Court of Session ruling in favour of airport operator HIAL in the legal dispute over the Sumburgh runway extension.

HIAL is suing the local authority for over £14 million in damages for alleged breach of a 2005 contract which saw the SIC provide engineering works for the £10 million runway extension into the sea.

Earlier this month Lady Scott paved the way for HIAL to go ahead with its claim – prompting local MSP Tavish Scott to rail against the “ludicrous” situation and demand an out of court settlement in what is “effectively a dispute between two different arms of government”.

In a short statement the SIC confirmed it would appeal against Lady Scott’s ruling that HIAL had not been too late in raising a claim against the council.

Council leader Gary Robinson said: “This is an extremely unfortunate situation, but the council has no other option but to defend itself in this case.

“The matter is subject to legal proceedings, and it would be inappropriate to comment further, but it is our responsibility to protect the interests of the wider community.”