Information Bulletin
25 October 2006
North Mainland 2039, Friday 3rd of November
North Mainland 2039, on the 3rd of November at the Brae Hall and Youth Centre, is being held to bring people together to celebrate the North Mainland and provide an opportunity to discuss its future. At the beginning of the oil era, in 1973, a series of events were held in the North Mainland to inform the community about the impacts of oil. Although primarily a communication exercise, it did provide the community with an opportunity to consider their future. This is being repeated, capitalising on the strengths of the area and encouraging and enabling the community to identify possible opportunities for the future and consider how the area could look in another 33 years time.
The councillors of the area will open the event at 12pm. This will be followed by soup and bannocks made from local ingredients by the Mid Brae Inn, with all donations to the CAT Scan appeal. Young People from local schools will be involved in the early afternoon, including displays of clay and lego models they’ve made depicting the North Mainland in 33 years time. The 6th form at Brae will be showcasing their enterprise project. Local craft producers will be demonstrating their trade and have items for sale. Taster session massage will also be available all day. A food demonstration will begin at 5pm, courtesy of the Brae Hotel, followed by local burgers. There will also be a talk by Tor Justad, a former resident of Northmavine, who is currently the Co-Operative Affairs Officer for the Scottish Co-op as well as a board member of The Highlands & Islands Community Energy Company. The evening will rounded off with entertainment from local bands.
The day will also provide an opportunity to have your say on the future for the North Mainland of Shetland. There will be workshops discussing many of the relevant topics in Shetland today. Transport and crèche facilities will be available, which can be booked by phoning the community work office on 01806 522417. For those unable to make it postcards inviting people to draw plans they would like to see developed are being distributed throughout the area and people are being encouraged to send these back.
After the event a focus group will be formed to use the information to draw up priorities and actions.
Councillor Drew Ratter said;
“The material produced in the 70’s was fascinating, particularly when it is laid on top of what actually happened. A great deal of what was planned and agreed then is what is actually on the ground now, be it in Brae, Mossbank, Voe or Northmavine.
We should mirror the process that went on in the North of Shetland before oil came. Only now long range planning would be for after oil as opposed to the arrival of oil.
The Brae hall will be open from 12pm and throughout the evening on the 3rd of November, so anyone with an interest in the North of Shetland should write that date in the calendar, and try to make it along for a look and to get their tuppence worth in.”
For any further information please phone 01595 744537.
Press Notes
Drew Ratter can be contacted on 07768 551952
David Watson of Shetland Enterprise can be contacted on 01595 746815
John Smith of Shetland Islands Council can be contacted on 01595 744513
Ends.