Council / Public meetings to be held about fixed links progress
A NUMBER of public drop-in sessions will be taking place later this month to update islanders on the ongoing work into future connectivity options.
Representatives from Shetland Islands Council’s programme team, as well as consultants Stantec, Mott Macdonald and COWI, will be present to update residents on recent work and answer questions.
It all comes in the lead up to a key decision-making meeting of the full council on 30 June.
Elected members will decide on the preferred options for each of the eight island routes based on the evidence and appraisal set out in the inter-island transport connectivity network strategy outline business case (OBC).
At the moment, tunnels are in the mix for Yell, Unst, Whalsay and Bressay.
The drop-ins will take place at:
- Bressay Hall – Monday 25 May 3.30pm-7.30pm
- Mid Yell Hall – Tuesday 26 May 3.30pm-7.30pm
- Fetlar Hall – Wednesday 27 May 4pm-7pm
- Baltasound Hall – Wednesday 27 May 3.30pm-7.30pm
- Symbister Hall – Thursday 28 May 3.30pm-7.30pm
Sessions are also being arranged for Foula, Papa Stour and Skerries.
Chair of the council’s environment and transport committee Moraig Lyall said: “I’m really looking forward to this report coming to council at the end of June, when we will make key decisions on the next steps for this trailblazing work.
“It’s fair to say that this project is now of great significance nationally, as well as locally.
“Tunnels were on the list of priorities for all the main political parties in the run-up to the Holyrood elections, evidence of the great strides we have made in getting this issue onto the agenda at a national level.
“We continue to engage with both the UK and Scottish governments as we look towards taking forward the recommendations of this in-depth study.
“In the meantime, I encourage folks to get along to the drop-in sessions to see the progress to date.
“Your input will help shape the final form of the report we consider in June.
“Continuing to keep communities updated and involved is essential to successfully moving forward towards better connectivity for our islands.”
In the SNP’s election manifesto the party – which looks set to be in power at the Scottish Parliament again for the next five years – pledged to “support Shetland Islands Council’s exploration of financing models and promote investment opportunities in fixed links projects”.
Other parties supported fixed links in the election too, with the Scottish Liberal Democrats including it as one of its key infrastructure projects.
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