Information Bulletin
12 April 2005
Transport Bill
Shetland Islands Council has hit out at the Scottish Executive’s current proposals in relation to regional transport. The council believes there is simply no case on transport grounds to force a partnership between Shetland and the Highlands of Scotland.
Sandy Cluness, Convener of Shetland Islands Council, said yesterday that the council had consistently opposed this totally inappropriate integration. “Shetland does not have a single direct transport connection with the Highlands, or any significant business, health or cultural links – what legislative linkages which do exist have been artificially created and should be reviewed in future local government legislation. Even the map which is annexed to the Draft Order would be a source of amusement if the situation was not so serious – this time we are not in our usual box in the Moray Firth but in another somewhere to the northwest of the Western Isles whilst Fair Isle is left with Orkney.”
The Council feels that the proposed amalgamation is all the more incomprehensible set against the special consideration that has been given to Dumfries and Galloway. Shetland applauds the stance they have taken on this issue, but considers it indefensible to allow special arrangements for an authority that is joined by land to their proposed partnership area while ignoring the case for Shetland, which is two hundred miles from its only mainland landfall at Aberdeen.
All passenger and freight transport passes through Aberdeen, with the important exception of our direct year round connections with Scandinavia. Only one aircraft passes through Inverness via Orkney on a daily basis. In contrast,
Shetland has five direct flights daily to Aberdeen, two to Edinburgh and one to Glasgow. In summer there are air links with Norway, and next year Atlantic Airways from Faroe will land at Sumburgh en route direct to London. There is no prospect whatsoever of any shipping link with Highland Region.
Shetland Island Council is calling on the Scottish Executive to reverse its current proposals. “We will take whatever steps are necessary to get our case across “said Mr Cluness.” It is impossible to over emphasise the anger and frustration which will be felt in the community if central government fails to recognize the islands’ wholly distinct transport requirements.”
ENDS