Also in the news / Burra labyrinth, ticket changes, fishing poll and more …
SHETLAND Arts is changing the way that ticket fees work across all of its venues.
From 5 May the arts agency will introduce a 10 per cent processing fee, which will be applied to all tickets bought either online, in person or by phone.
It will replace the previous £1 booking fee, which applied only to tickets purchased online and over the phone.
Shetland Arts said the change was in part due to feedback from customers, particularly those living outside Lerwick, who said the £1 fee was unfair as they were unable to book in person.
It said the change would result in lower ticket prices for most cinemagoers, with tickets costing less than £11 now incurring a smaller fee. Tickets over £11 will see a higher charge, Shetland Arts said.
It explained the main reason for the change was “driven by the rising costs associated with processing ticket sales.”
“These include charges for payment systems, online security, banking, ticketing software and staff time,” it said.
“Although Shetland Arts continues to heavily subsidise cinema and event programming through external funding, this does not apply to the increasing processing costs.”
OCTOPUS Energy is hosting drop-in sessions at Mareel in Lerwick this week as its engineers work to replace radio teleswitch (RTS) meters before the June deadline.
The energy company is offering drop-in services for its customers between 10am and 6pm today, tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday.
The company said that demand had been high, but added it was “vital that any remaining customers get their exchanges booked in while the team is available.”
Thousands of meters in Shetland and Orkney rely on RTS for electricity and hot water, but the service is to be shut down on 30 June 2025.
The meters need to be replaced before 30 June, though Ofgem has said no household will lose electricity supply as a result.
Octopus engineers are in Shetland between Monday 28 April and Sunday 4 May, delivering same-day switches to as many homes as possible.
MORE THAN 91 per cent of people in the Highlands and Islands think the UK should control which vessels fish in its waters, according to a fishing industry poll.
The poll was commissioned by Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and conducted by Opinion Matters, who surveyed more than 1,000 adults between 1 and 5 April.
It also found 91.3 per cent thought the EU should provide tangible benefits to Scotland’s fishing industry if they want access to UK waters.
Across the country almost nine in 10 Scots believed the UK should have definitive control over its own waters, slightly less than the figure for the Highlands and Islands.
Prime minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to host a UK-EU summit on 19 May in London, with fishing said to be a high priority for the EU.
Support for total UK control of fishing stands at just 71 per cent among 16-24 year olds, rising to an overwhelming 93 per cent among those aged 55 and over.
SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said the figures “send a strong signal to negotiators in Westminster and Brussels”.
“The Scottish public are crystal clear – our fishing industry must not be sold short again,” she said.
“During the last negotiations, access to our waters was given away too freely and we saw precious little in return. That cannot happen again.
“This poll confirms that Scots understand the value of fishing to our economy, our coastal communities and our national food security – and they expect their governments to stand up for those interests.”
A LABYRINTH is set to be opened to the public at Bridge End kirk in Burra this Saturday to mark World Labyrinth Day.
It is set to be based in the kirk’s community garden, with Marjorie Willamson behind the idea to develop the outdoor space around the church.
She said she was inspired by one she saw at Hadrian’s Wall.
“We want to create a community space for all ages to enjoy to reflect in,” she added.
The garden is constructed using recycled materials and has picnic and BBQ areas, with more facilities planned.
All are welcome to walk the labyrinth and enjoy the garden this Saturday with refreshments from 11am. The garden is open for all at any time.
A TWO-day programme celebrating Shetland’s rich archaeological heritage is set to arrive in the isles next month.
Scotland’s Treasure Trove Unit will be hosted by Shetland Museum and Archives on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May.
It will offer the public the opportunity to learn about recent significant finds in Shetland and to attend a drop-in event with their own treasures.
Treasure trove officer Dr George Prew will deliver an evening talk on 16 May entitled ‘What’s new with Shetland finds?’, exploring some of the most significant finds in the isles in recent years.
A day later the museum will host a drop-in session from 10am to 4pm, with members of the community encouraged to bring along any finds they have discovered.
A member of the Treasure Trove Unit will be available to assess finds and advise on next steps, with people recommended to book a 20 minute slot in advance, though walk-ins will also be welcomed throughout the day.
To book a slot with a Treasure Trove expert visit the Treasure Trove website.
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