New minister will hear complaints on car park charge
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) is to press the Scottish Government once again on the need for an impact assessment before parking charges are imposed at Sumburgh Airport.
The commitment at Wednesday’s full council followed meetings with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) bosses last week where it became apparent that there was no requirement on HIAL to make any such assessment, even though it is a named body in the Scottish Government’s islands bill.
SIC leader Steven Coutts said that HIAL’s remit as part of the government was to keep all 11 of its airports going, and that meant successful airports like Sumburgh subsidising those outside the Highlands and Islands.
HIAL plans to introduce a £3 a day charge at its Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports. But the airport owners will not be able to implement that in Shetland by 1 July, as had been planned, as they are still in dialogue with the council.
Coutts said: “I very much agree that we need to step up its efforts with the islands minister undertake an impact assessment.”
He said that the council will be immediately writing to new islands minister Paul Wheelhouse to that effect.
The same meeting heard that there was an urgent need to press on the government the huge extra cost of living that is entailed in living in the islands.
This would form part of the case being made before the next ferry contract is drawn up for the Northern Isles.
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