Information Bulletin
Council Slams HIE
Council Convener Sandy Cluness has condemned Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for threatening the viability of the Sumburgh Runway Extension Project. HIE have refused to sanction a proposed contribution of £200,000 from Shetland Enterprise (SE), despite there being a long standing commitment to provide this funding.
The extension of the short runway at Sumburgh has been under discussion for many years and it has been the priority of the Sumburgh Airport Strategic Partnership since November 2002. The Partnership was set up at the suggestion of the then Transport Minister when he rejected the proposal from Shetland Islands Council to take over the airport. Shetland Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, Shetland Enterprise and the Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee are the members of the Partnership.
"We have worked very hard over a long period of time to ensure the success of this vital project" the Convener said "and Shetland Enterprise's proposed contribution of £200,000, along with £800,000 committed by the Council, was initially critical in achieving the necessary funding package. The recent announcement by the Transport Minister that he would provide the necessary finance is a tribute to all our hard work. This eleventh hour rejection by HIE simply demonstrates their basic lack of understanding of what is important to our islands."
"This is just the latest example of a Quango making inappropriate decisions in our particular case." said the Convener "In direct opposition to the wishes of the local Enterprise Board, they have spurned the chance to assist a project that will provide more reliability for people traveling on business and enhance most local development. I'm sure that locally based enterprise companies would do a far better job if the extra layer of regional bureaucracy was taken out of the system."
The Council's Infrastructure Committee Chair, Councillor Jim Irvine, backed up the criticism from the Convener and saw a direct link between HIE's lack of commitment to the Sumburgh extension and their potential role in the proposed new regional transport partnership. The proposals for non local authority representation on the regional body would see HIE given full voting rights without responsibility to provide financial input.
"Sumburgh was recognised by the existing Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) as the top strategic transport project related to air services in the Highlands and Islands" said Councillor Irvine. "HITRANS were well aware of the funding arrangements, including the SE contribution, and HIE are part of the HITRANS set up. We can have little confidence in a new partnership where HIE would have full voting rights and direct influence on where Shetland's cash contribution would be spent, where HIE are incapable of supporting the most strategic project in Shetland that is ever likely to come on to the HITRANS agenda. If they are not willing to support this project, it is extremely unlikely that they would ever support anything in Shetland."
Despite the funding problem, the Sumburgh runway project is still proceeding. "The Partnership is determined that the project will go ahead" said Convener Cluness. "Despite the decisions of HIE we shall ensure that the community is provided with the runway facilities so essential to our future economic development."
Ends....