Also in the news / Asian restaurants shortlisted, jury trial concerns, Milne Cup cancelled and more …
FOUR of Shetland’s Asian restaurants and takeaways have been voted to a 70+ strong shortlist celebrating Asia’s rich and diverse cuisines.
They are Saffron, Raba Indian Restaurant, Gurkha Kitchen and Dragon House, all based in Lerwick.
The winners of the Asian Restaurants Awards for Scotland will be announced during a gala dinner at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on 18 September.
Organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), national and regional winners will be announced in several categories including best brunch and afternoon chai.
The shortlist was determined by over 10,000 votes from members of the public.
ORKNEY MSP Liam McArthur has expressed serious concerns about plans to transfer jury trials from island sheriff courts such as Kirkwall and Lerwick to the Scottish mainland.
Last month Sheriff Principal for the Highlands and Islands Derek Pyle issued an order to transfer existing proceedings due to the failure of private contractor GeoAmey to provide the staff required for prisoner escorts.
Future jury trials to be held south due to prison escort staffing challenges
Introduced as a temporary measure it is currently unclear when such trials will be able to resume in island courts.
McArthur has now written to justice secretary Angela Constance demanding that steps are taken to allow jury trials to resume in island courts as soon as possible.
“The fact that the failure of a private contractor to fulfil its contract has led again to the centralising of trials is wholly unacceptable. At the very least this will have the effect of restricting access to justice at a local level,” he said.
“As well as the impact on those facing trial, this move will affect witnesses, victims and lawyers representing their clients. All now face the prospect of extra costs in time and travel to attend court.”
THE much-anticipated inter-county football match between Shetland and Orkney on Saturday will now not be taking place after Orkney decided not to send a team north.
Shetland Football Association said in a Facebook post on Monday that the annual Milne Cup fixture was now unlikely to be played this year.
The match was originally scheduled for 29 July but had to be cancelled after fog grounded the Orkney flight.
THE BADMINTON season got under way earlier this week with the first seniors night held at Clickimin on Monday, to be followed by a session in the Brae games hall on Wednesday between 6pm and 8pm.
The Shetland Badminton Association (SBA) is hoping to get more courses lined up with volunteers and parents to help at development squads, competition and other events.
The association’s president Rory Irvine said: “Myself and the SBA committee are hoping for a good attendance and encouraging new players, ex-players and current players to get the season off to a good start.
“We are looking towards getting more clubs established to give juniors an opportunity to play more badminton as well as recreational players.”
More information can be found at the Shetland Badminton Association’s Facebook page or by contacting Rory Irvine at geiranger@live.co.uk
THE Commonwealth War Graves Commission is hosting a tour of the Lerwick Cemetery on 31 August at 7pm.
Meeting point is at the top gate to the cemetery on Knab Road where the guide will meet participants directly inside the gate next to the Cross of Sacrifice.
The hour long tour is free of charge but tickets can be booked via this link.
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