Also in the news 25 September 2026

A HIGHLANDS and Islands aviation summit aimed at improving air services across the region is set to take place in either Edinburgh or Glasgow next week.

Organised by Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad and Green Highlands and Islands MSP Kristopher Leask, the summit will bring together representatives from interested parties including Loganair.

The need for a root and branch review of air services in the region was raised by Goodlad in the wake of Loganair cutting back services to Inverness earlier this summer.

The two politicians have also worked on an aviation option paper, making the case for a fundamental review of lifeline services.

Goodlad described the summit on 29 September “as a critical first step towards transforming lifeline air services to and from Shetland and communities across the Highlands and Islands”.

“We must get transport right for the north. Vast amounts of public money are already being spent supporting regional air services, yet for many islanders the service remains unreliable, unaffordable, and simply not fit for purpose,” she said.

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SHETLAND Islands Council has confirmed that resurfacing work on the A970 north of Lerwick is scheduled to last until the end of October.

The surface of the three-lane carriageway north of Gremista is being planed back and replaced with a bitumen sub-base and new top wearing surface, plus new cat’s eyes reflectors and relining.

At peak hours traffic lights will be manually operated and some delays may be expected, the council said.

Separately, there will be a number of 15-minute long, full three-way road closures at the Ladies Drive junction in the early evening between 6pm and 7pm to allow blasting operations at the Mossy Hill wind farm substation development site nearby.

Warning signals will be given ahead of each blast, the SIC said.

GERMAN space company Rocket Factory Augsburg has received 2.7 million Euros from the UK Space Agency to help the company launch its RFA One rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport.

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The company was due to carry out a first orbital launch from UK soil earlier this summer but cancelled the attempt after an issue with the rocket was discovered.

The company said in a LinkedIn post that it was grateful for the funding which will “support the preparation of enhanced ground segment capability for RFA one’s first test flight and the development of engine and stage test capabilities in the United Kingdom”.

A new date for a first launch from SaxaVord had not yet been set.

ANY type of ladybird is rare sight in Shetland, but one has been recorded for the first time in the isles.

The ladybird spotted by Carolyn McKay.

The ladybird spotted by Carolyn McKay.

Carolyn McKay came across the kidney-spot ladybird on her jumper on Monday morning.

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She wonders if it may have come from an escallonia plant outside her house which she accidentally bumped into.

It has since been confirmed as the first record of that kind of ladybird in Shetland.

The kidney-spot ladybird is a black ladybird with two large red spots which is commonly found in woodlands.