Also in the news / Traced and charged, more road closures, Rosebank and Labour on lifeline service
POLICE have traced and arrested a man following an anonymous report of a suspected drink driver near Lerwick’s South Road on Monday afternoon.
The driver was charged after providing a reading of 98 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood, when the legal limit is 22.
He will appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court at a later date.
Police thanked the public for their assistance and vigilance.
NORWEGIAN energy company Equinor has re-submitted its application to develop the Rosebank oil field to the west of Shetland.
The project was put on hold two years ago after the Court of Session ordered the company to include the climate impact of burning Rosebank’s oil in its environmental impact assessment.
However, while the licencing process had been put on ice, Equinor was allowed to continue investing in the project.
Representatives from the company have been in Shetland on several occasions since then and confirmed that they remained committed to the project.
Opponents have claimed the development is neither compatible with UK climate targets nor will it lower energy bills.
Uplift executive director Tessa Khan said: “The government must stick to its word and invest in clean energy, which is powering growth, and stop propping up an industry that is now only viable with massive state support.
“It must not allow a declining oil and gas industry, or its cheerleaders in politics, to dictate UK energy policy. This Labour government must do the right thing and reject Rosebank.”
SHETLAND Islands Council says a section of the A970 road at Eala Water, near Ollaberry, will be closed overnight from Monday to Tuesday next week.
The closure has been put in place to allow services to be connected to the new Scottish Water treatment plant.
The SIC said the closure would last for 12 hours from 6pm on Monday 20 October to 6am the following day.
Diversions are in place, and the council apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Meanwhile, the A968 road at Dales Lees will now not open on Friday 24 October as previously announced, but stay closed for at least another week.
Labour candidate for next May’s election to the Scottish Parliament, John Erskine, said he “agreed completely” that islanders deserve a better lifeline ferry service.
But Erskine said he doubted that the SNP would be able to deliver that service.
“I agree completely that islanders deserve a better deal from our lifeline ferry services, and that means scrapping seasonal fares, reserving cabin spaces for local people, and bringing back shared cabins,” he said.
“But after nearly 20 years in power, the SNP’s promises ring hollow. If they had any big ideas to improve lifeline services to the Northern Isles, they’d have done it by now.
“I’ll be submitting a response to the current Northern Isles Ferry Services consultation to make these points, and I’ll also be raising the issue at Scottish Labour’s policy conference next month on behalf of the Shetland Labour Party, to ensure its reflected in our manifesto.”
He added: “Next year’s election is about change. The choice is clear: more failure with John Swinney and his knackered SNP government, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.”
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