Plenty of opportunity to air views on public bus service

PEOPLE across the length and breadth of Shetland will get the chance to give their views on the public bus network over the coming weeks.

ZetTrans, Shetland’s transport partnership, will host sixteen drop-in sessions.

There will also be an online survey which will be live from 19 August to 19 September.

ZetTrans said people’s views will help to shape the network, which includes mainline and feeder buses together with rural shopper and health centre services, from mid-August 2025 when new contracts get underway.

The partnership said data from recent years has shown that the Covid-19 pandemic, cost of living pressures and the introduction of free bus travel for the under-22s have all contributed to a change in how people travel.

Councillor Moraig Lyall, who chairs of ZetTrans as well as Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee, said: “Our public bus services provide essential transport for many people in Shetland to access work, education, health care, shopping and leisure opportunities.

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“With the changes in patterns of use that we are seeing, for example a huge increase in the number of young people using services, it is vitally important that we understand what is needed so that the network can evolve in line with those needs.

“We also want to ensure that services are affordable and integrate with other modes of transport. I would urge everyone, whether they currently use services, may use them in the future, or don’t use them because the current network makes it difficult, to come along to a drop-in session or give us their thoughts by completing the online survey.

“Feeding all the ideas that come forward at this stage into the review process will help ensure that the next version of the bus network meets the needs of the community as widely as possible.”

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The area transport forum drop-in sessions will take place as follows:

North Isles

• Tuesday 20th Aug             1800–1930    Fetlar Community Hall
• Saturday 31st Aug             1500–1800    Mid Yell Hall
• Thursday 12th Sept           1800–2030    Unst Leisure Centre

North Mainland

• Wednesday 4th Sept         1830–2100    Ollaberry Hall
• Saturday 7th Sept             1030–1300    Brae Hall

Whalsay and Skerries

• Wednesday 18th Sept       1800–2030    Whalsay Leisure Centre

Central Mainland, Scalloway, Burra and Trondra

• Saturday 31st Aug             1030 – 1300  Whiteness and Weisdale Hall
• Tuesday 10th Sept            1830–2100    Scalloway Hall
• Thursday 19th Sept            1830–2100   Tingwall Hall

West Mainland, Papa Stour and Foula

• Thursday 22nd Aug           1830–2100    West Mainland Leisure Centre
• Saturday 7th Sept               1430–1700   Walls Hall

South Mainland and Fair Isle

• Wednesday 11th Sept       1830–2100    Carnegie Hall, Sandwick
• Saturday 14th Sept           1030–1300    Cunningsburgh Hall

Lerwick and Bressay

• Saturday 24th Aug            1400–1700    Islesburgh Community Centre
• Monday 26th Aug              1700–1900    Bressay Hall
• Thursday 5th Sept             1830–2100    Staney Hill Hall