Looking Back on the Week – Goodlad lands ministerial role
FOR A third consecutive week, the big story of the past seven days related to new MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad.
Goodlad was pictured waving from the doors of Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday as she met with first minister John Swinney to accept a role in his government.
She has been hand selected to be the minister for public finance, reporting directly to deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth and public service reform minister Ivan McKee.
Already her new role has drawn interest from within the council chamber, where councillor John Fraser suggested that they should lobby her for a greater share of government finances for Shetland.
But speaking to Shetland News on Friday, Goodlad was keen to point out that there would be a distinction between her role as MSP for Shetland and her national ministerial position.
Elsewhere NHS Shetland has purchased the former Kveldsro Hotel in Lerwick to provide 18 staff beds, a move which estates director David Wagstaff called a “no-brainer”.
NHS Shetland buys Kveldsro Hotel to provide staff accommodation
There was also a lot of talk about fixed links at a government inquiry this week, which was attended by council depute leader Gary Robinson.
It heard that fixed links were certainly “deliverable” in Shetland, and that the political will needed to be there. Robinson urged the government to take a longer term view on tunnels.
Meanwhile there was good news in the form of two businesses which have changed hands in recent months.
Da Moors Café in Cunningsburgh will open on Monday morning, replacing the former Mackenzie’s Farm Shop, with new owner Campbell Johnson and manager Helena Johnson showing us around the new venue on Friday.
And Aura Lounge has emerged from the ashes of Sleeping Beauty, with owners Lori-Marie and Simon Hildebrand making the whirlwind decision to take it on while walking around Disneyland late last year.
Drivers have been in the news this week too, with an appeal made for people to pass horses with more caution after a woman was thrown from her horse and had to be taken to hospital last weekend.
A man has since been arrested and charged with careless driving.
And two crofters also appealed for drivers to slow down after a number of incidents involving ewes, lambs and a farm cat in recent months.
Finally the National Trust has been successful in finding a new tenant to move in to Fair Isle, who will move into a croft and four-bedroom house.
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More stories from the week:
• Shetland bucket list released
• Lerwick lifeboat rescues dog and yacht within 24 hours
• UK Government plans for community benefit payments labelled inefficient
• Aim to set up community fridge to tackle food waste
• New survey reveals major differences in mobile download speeds
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