Bus fare pilot, marine funding and more…

SHETLAND will feature in a bus fare cap pilot across the Highlands and Islands, it has been confirmed.

The Scottish Government intends to work jointly with regional transport partnerships HiTrans and ZetTrans on the project, which is said comes with £10 million of investment.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said the pilot would make bus travel “more affordable, improve access for low-income communities, and support sustainable travel for people across those regions”.

BUSINESSES and research organisations operating in the Highlands and Islands marine economy are being asked for ambitious project ideas to help secure £20 million for the region.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is leading the region’s bid to the UK Government’s Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF).

If successful, the funding will cover a five-year period to support large-scale, collaborative projects that drive commercialisation of research and innovative new technologies.

More information can be found here.

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NORTHERN Isles MSPs Beatrice Wishart has said energy companies are “still stuck in slow lane” as figures show that tens of thousands of RTS meters are still to be replaced in Scotland.

Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters receive radio signals to switch between different electricity rates or turn certain appliances on or off at specific times.

The radio signal created by this technology, however, is outdated, so these meters are now being phased out.

Shetland MSP Wishart said that “energy companies urgently need to get a handle on this and ramp up the pace at which they are replacing meters”.

MORE than 500 older people in Shetland have received financial support from a new disability payment.

The Pension Age Disability Payment replaces the Attendance Allowance in Scotland and is for people of state pension age with care needs because of a disability, long-term health condition or terminal illness.

It is worth between £295 and £441 a month depending on the needs of the person who gets it.

Shetland was one of the first pilot areas to receive Pension Age Disability Payment when it launched in October last year. The payment became available across Scotland in April next year.