Leftover Buchan Alpha supplies donated to foodbank

ONE hundred and fifty kilograms of food left unused on the Buchan Alpha platform, which is currently being dismantled in Lerwick, has been donated to Shetland Foodbank.

The donation came after nearly 250 crates of food were collected at the Tesco supermarket in Lerwick earlier this month – the equivalent of 3,286 meals.

Items taken from the Buchan Alpha included long-life tinned goods and biscuits which were left in the platform’s stores when it was brought into Lerwick earlier this year for decommissioning after it ceased production in May.

Veolia UK central region director Ian Williams said the company, which is working alongside Peterson in dismantling the structure, wants to continue supporting local projects in the coming months.

“Supporting the communities where we operate is a key part of our local commitment and we are pleased that this donation will help support people in Lerwick and across Shetland,” he said.

Recent figures revealed that there has been a 43 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of emergency food parcels being distributed by Shetland Foodbank, which is located on Lerwick’s St Magnus Street.

Between 1 April and 30 September this year, 284 emergency food parcels were given to local people in crisis. That compares to 198 given out in the same six-month period during 2016.

A number of primary schools across the isles have also donated items recently.