Also in the news / New bus service, Linkshouse demolition and more…
WHAT is described as Shetland’s first commercial bus service, which is primarily designed to give visitors and cruise ship passengers an alternative activity on Sundays, has been launched.
The R Robertson & Son Ltd service will offer four circular journeys every Sunday until 29 September, and it will allow people to hop on and off at sites including the Clickimin Broch, Sands of Sound, Scalloway, Hamnavoe, Meal beach and Tingwall Loch.
Passengers are able to buy a day ticket costing an adult £15 for unlimited travel. A poster says there will be local fares available.
Operations manager Alex Johnson said: “It is hoped that this service will go some way to relieving the pressure on existing local bus services which struggled with capacity on busy days last summer, whilst also providing additional transport options to local residents.”
THE DEMOLITION of an old building in Yell is already in the offing not long after the Scottish Government’s planning decision ruled that it could be taken down.
A demolition method statement for the C-listed Linkshouse, which is now effectively a shell of a building, has now been submitted to Shetland Islands Council’s planning service.
A letter with the statement says owner Lindsay Laurenson is keen to demolish the property “as soon as reasonably practicable” given that it is subject to a dangerous building notice.
There is an agreement to try to retain items like lintels and larger pieces of masonry.
The demolition method statement says the public road which runs next to the building, providing access to 12 properties, will have to be closed when work is underway.
Last month the Scottish Government ruled that demolition was the “only option” for the ruined building, which dates back to 1700s and was also fire damaged a few decades ago.
Demolition the ‘only option’ for Linkshouse, government decides
Members of Shetland Islands Council’s planning committee agreed with its owner that it should be demolition, but the matter was taken to the Scottish Government because of an objection from Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
A TOURING children’s theatre show mixing dance and drama is coming to Mareel later this month.
Independent Arts Projects in association with National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) is bring their touring show Shō and the Demons of the Deep north to Shetland.
The show, by Zoë Bullock, is a “visual adventure story about overcoming fear, and how the actions of one generation can affect the next”.
The production is inspired by the powerful picture book of the same name by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko.
Bullock said: “Shō and the Demons of the Deep is a hopeful, joyous show about how we can work together to confront what scares us. It’s based on a beautiful picture book, and we’ve worked hard to do that justice and make something magical.
“Creating it with a wonderful team and the support of the NTS has been an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to share the story with people across Scotland.”
The show is taking place at Mareel on 24 April at 6.30pm, with ages eight plus recommended – tickets are available now.
There is also a schools only performance at 11am that day.
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