Inter-island transport events to get underway this week

DROP-IN events giving people the chance to learn more about future inter‑island connectivity in Shetland are beginning this week.

The first event, hosted by Shetland Islands Council (SIC), will take place at the Bressay Hall later today (Monday) from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

Other drop-in events will be held in Yell, Fetlar, Baltasound and Whalsay, with other sessions being arranged for Foula, Papa Stour and Skerries.

It comes ahead of a key decision-making meeting at the end of June.

At this meeting, slated for 30 June, councillors will decide on the preferred transport options for each of the eight island routes based on the “evidence and appraisal” set out in an inter-island connectivity network strategy outline business case (OBC).

Tunnels are in the mix for Yell, Unst, Whalsay and Bressay, with ferry replacements also part of the wider equation too.

Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee heard last week that tunnels in Shetland were “deliverable”, but the political will was needed to take them forward.

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Cost estimates for a possible tunnel from the Shetland mainland to Yell were recently given to the SIC, but these are not yet public.

These have come via the SIC’s fixed link model project, which has used Yell Sound as a test case.

Work first got underway on the inter-island transport connectivity programme back in 2024, with the project led by consultants Stantec.

The other drop-in events this week are as follows:

• 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