News / Report: Scalloway Harbour needs swift investment
THE COUNCIL is in the “embryonic stages” of investigating whether a brand new fish market should be built in Scalloway as it strives to ensure the village’s harbour keeps pace with industry developments.
On Wednesday the local authority’s harbour board heard from environmental consultant Julian Farrar, who had been tasked with producing a “masterplan” for Scalloway Harbour for the next 15 years.
He said the council was running a very well regarded port in Scalloway, which continues to be used heavily by the fishing industry – along with growing demand from the oil and gas industry.
But “when you’re enjoying success it’s the time to invest”, and he outlined various schemes ranging in cost from £17 million to £30 million to meet industries’ needs and demands.
Along with either a new or refurbished “state-of-the-art” fish market, he recommended a possible 330-metre extension of the harbour quay to provide more deep water berthing.
Other ideas include new laydown areas, extra warehouses and improved facilities for the oil and gas industry, while he also cast an eye towards potential developments in renewable energy by 2030.
Farrar said it was important for Scalloway to expand to allow it to “complement” what Lerwick offers to the North Sea industry.
Extending the quay would be important because “users need to be able to know they can get a berth” – but there is an urgency because of competition from ports such as Scrabster and Invergordon.
“Just to maintain its position and take advantage, it needs investment both in the fish market as a priority, and in the quays as a priority,” he said.
Such big investments would undoubtedly require money from funding sources outside Shetland such as HIE, the UK and Scottish governments and the EU.
Shetland Central councillor Davie Sandison said they were “extremely worthwhile” ideas to be starting to consider, and the council would have to weigh up the prospect of investments providing a financial return to its harbour operations.
Councillor Billy Fox agreed, but stressed the proposals were “very much at an embryonic stage” and “where we take it in future is very much open to question”.
The report suggested the existing fish market could be replaced with a smaller, more modern one – something which puzzled Shetland Central councillor Mark Burgess, who pointed out fish landings in the islands are booming, bucking the national trend.
“I would dare anybody to sit down with Simon Collins, Brian Isbister, Martin Leyland, Shetland Fisherman’s Association – possibly the most influential fishing association in the country at the moment – and tell them that you should be retracting their infrastructure,” he said.
Farrar said the existing fish market was an “ageing building, and a building which is no longer meeting modern standards”, and agreed it would be important to ensure the replacement was the right size while “making that investment and operating it at costs where the business case works”.
A Shetland Fishermen’s Association spokesman said it was “monitoring developments” and would comment once more firm proposals are on the table.
Councillors including Amanda Westlake and Alastair Cooper also criticised the fact that Farrar’s report relied on figures already were two years out of date.
Farrar responded that the figures would be updated, but stressed the document was chiefly designed to guide the council’s strategy for developing Scalloway Harbour.
But Westlake said it was “the busiest time Shetland has seen since the 70s”, yet the council was “reacting again”. “It’s the hare and the tortoise,” she said. “I can’t emphasise enough my frustration with this. I wanted it sorted a year go. We need to put our heads down and get on with this.”
Infrastructure director Maggie Sandison accepted that it might have been a mistake to hold back publication of the Scalloway “masterplan” until a similar document for Sullom Voe was completed.
She added the council would look at different options for the fish market and quay developments, and report back “as quickly as possible”.
Farrar said his consultation had found “a number of comments about the ‘can do’ attitude in Scalloway”, which councillor Andrea Manson said was a “great accolade to the staff and service providers”.
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