Transport / Ferry consultation extended due to internet disruption
A PUBLIC consultation into the next Northern Isles ferry contract has been extended after parts of Shetland were left with no access to the internet.
The Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) consultation had been due to end on Monday 13 October, after being opened to the public in July.
However Transport Scotland told Shetland News on Monday afternoon it had decided to keep the consultation open until Monday 20 October.
It comes after MSP Beatrice Wishart had also urged the Scottish Government to extend the deadline because of the ongoing broadband disruption.
Many Shetlanders are still without internet after the SHEFA-2 cable was again damaged on Friday 3 October, with inspections on the cable only due to begin this week.
Vodafone has told customers repairs could then take a further two weeks.
Transport Scotland said the delayed deadline would give people “sufficient time to input their views”.
“The consultation has received a healthy number of responses to date, which is encouraging as we seek stakeholder views to inform the development of these services,” it said.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that the views and perspectives of islanders, stakeholders, businesses and communities in the Northern Isles are considered, reflected upon and help shape the detail within the next NIFS contract.
“In-person public engagement has also taken place with drop-in sessions on Orkney and Shetland to directly engage with communities and gather local views on the development of the contract specification.”
You can respond to the NIFS consultation here.
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