Walls road project likely to remain on the backburner
The capital cost is estimated at just over £15m, and there are concerns over the level of borrowing required
AN ELECTED member says the council “cannot continue to pile up projects that we have no funding for” as a proposed £15 million upgrade of the road into Walls looks likely to remain on the backburner.
Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall said “it is simply a fact of life that we have to look at what we can and cannot possibly achieve”.
An outline business case (OBC) on a new A971 road alignment from the West Burrafirth junction to Walls went in front of councillors at the policy and resources committee on Wednesday, with a recommendation to effectively put the project on pause until a “sustainable level of borrowing can be determined”.
The preferred option is the construction of a re-aligned two-lane road in several sections, which would come with an estimated capital cost of £15.2 million, to be funded largely by borrowing.
However, when adding in revenue borrowing costs to the construction and maintenance, the overall price tag raises to £51.5 million over a 60-year lifespan.
The OBC is the step before a full business case, which is when a final investment decision would be taken by councillors.
The meeting heard that it could cost around £200,000 to prepare a full business case.
Shetland West member Liz Peterson said the single track road is in “very poor condition with a lot of things that actually don’t comply with road guidance and legislation at the moment”.
“This is the main road into the west side. It’s supposed to be a main road similar to the road going in and out of Lerwick, the road going in and out of Brae, the road going down to the south end,” she said.
She proposed that the project be paused for only six months to allow for further investigation into financing, including whether the Scottish Government’s new “accelerator” funding model for islands could be an avenue.
Peterson also requested that minor improvements continue to be undertaken within existing budgets.
Lyall, however, pushed for the project to be paused as per the recommendation, adding that minor improvements continue to be undertaken.
She said she empathised with the desire to see the road upgraded, but noted there were other projects on the go.
A new road into Cullivoe in Yell is the SIC’s top major road project priority, with contractors now on site. An upgrade to the road in Levenwick has also been placed next in line.
The matter came down to a vote, with members siding with Lyall 7-4.
However, the final decision rests with the full council on Wednesday, with the policy and resources committee only offering a recommendation.
The OBC said safety concerns have been raised about the single-track road by the Walls and Sandness Community Council, with the Murraster Bend being of particular concern, while Shetland West councillors have also raised the topic in the past.
The report said the width of the road and its verges are below current standards.
The OBC highlights that the road serves a wide range of facilities, from piers, aquaculture and businesses to homes, primary schools, a health centre and a care home.
It said the road was possibly constructed in the 1850s, with the only improvements since then coming through surfacing, localised widening and passing places.
Finance manager Paul Fraser issued a note of caution on the SIC’s spending, saying his mantra was that “we only pick things up if we intend to finish them”.
The accelerator funding was an “interesting option” but it remained unclear how it will work in practice.
Assets, commissioning and procurement Robert Sinclair also said there was nothing to stop upgrades taking place on the road to Walls as smaller projects, rather than the full scheme.
The report to councillors said the existing asset investment plan, for 2026-31, has three approved projects which already require borrowing – the Fair Isle ferry replacement, the Cullivoe road and a landfill extension.
It said this amounts to a borrowing requirement of £32.5 million.
The report added that the borrowing costs for these projects will be funded by ongoing external income from the Crown Estate, and ongoing increases in waste charges for the landfill extension project.
There also stands to be a decision on a possible new Brae High School in January. The capital construction costs would have to be met by the council, with funding paid by to the SIC the government over a 25-year period.
Next week councillors will also pick preferred options for eight ferry routes, with tunnels to Yell and Unst recommended for inclusion in an implementation plan.
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