News / Testing of vacant SIC offices to be conducted
SCAFFOLDING is to go up around Shetland Islands Council’s HQ at the North Ness ahead of “essential load testing” to be conducted early in the new year.
The Lerwick building has been vacant for 15 months after owners SLAP informed the local authority that it would have to vacate the offices due to concerns about its structure.
The £7.3 million office block is owned by SLAP, the property arm of Shetland Charitable Trust, but the council is the property manager.
The two organisations’ legal teams have been in dispute since over responsibility for resolving sagging floors in premises that were only completed in April 2012.
Around 200 council staff were moved out of the building in September 2016 and are now working from a variety of SIC-owned premises throughout Lerwick. The local authority continues to pay rent of around £500,000 a year as part of its lease agreement with SLAP.
A council statement said: “Essential load testing on 8 North Ness is due to begin on 8 January, and is expected to take around 10 days to complete.
“Preparatory work is underway onsite, with the test area being cleared and scaffolding due to be installed over the next few days.
“Access to the building is restricted until further notice, and members of the public using the car parks at the building are asked to be aware of the ongoing works.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
