Also in the news / HVDC link, Pigstock, cycle fundraiser and more…
A RECENT lack of movement at the Viking wind farm has been blamed on the Shetland HVDC cable link being taken out of service.
SSEN said the cable, which links Shetland to the mainland energy network, was “temporarily” taken offline between Monday 27 April and Saturday 3 May.
It said this was to enable “inspection and minor maintenance works”.
“While infrequent, our scheduled pre-planned outages are an essential part of inspection and maintenance activities, that are necessary to ensure the continued reliable transportation of clean energy,” SSEN added.
People on social media commented that the turbines had not been seen moving for days, which led to speculation about the disruption.
A similar outage in October last year was also blamed by SSEN on a “pre-planned outage” with the HVDC cable.
AN ALL-DAY, all ages gig is taking place this weekend in Burra to raise funds for the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Pigstock will be held at the Bridge End Hall tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am to 9pm.
On the bill with be a range of acts spanning numerous genres, from Peter Wood, Chloe Robertson and DJs to Scaldin Bragg, The Fiction, Isaac Webb Trio and Bitumen River.
There will also be the customary Pigstock eating competition as well as face painting, games and a raffle – as well as visits from burger and ice cream vans.
Entry is free, but donations for Muscular Dystrophy UK are encouraged.
ORKNEY and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael welcomed news that a challenge to UK bans on commercial fishing for sandeels in the North Sea has been dismissed in court.
Judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) based in The Hague ruled that there is no legal obligation to reverse the order, after EU claims that the ban was “discriminatory and disproportionate”.
Sandeels are a major source of food for marine life including seabirds such as puffins.
Two bans for English and Scottish waters were put in place in early 2024, following concerns that sandeel stocks were becoming too low.
Carmichael said: “This will be welcome news to fishing organisations which have been arguing and campaigning for the sandeel ban for many years, to protect the wider marine ecosystem.
“The sandeel ban shows that the interests of fishermen and conservationists can absolutely be in harmony when a collaborative approach is taken – that is the model that our governments ought to take forward in future.”
FORMER NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts has begun his mammoth cycling challenge across Scotland in Unst.
He is set to cycle around 1,200 miles across the country to raise funds for the charitable arms of NHS Shetland and NHS Borders, and Scottish Action for Mental Health.
Roberts will be visiting the most northerly, westerly, easterly and southerly health centres in Scotland, as well as the headquarters of all the country’s health boards.
His challenge kicked off today (Friday) in Unst, where he met staff at the local health centre.
People can donate to the fundraiser online.
Former NHS chief to take on 1,200 mile cycling challenge for charity
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