Shetland Islands Council

Townhall, Hillhead
Lerwick, ZE1 0HB
UK

Transport

Topic Goal

To deliver an integrated transport system that meets the needs of Shetland people and seeks to minimise impact on the environment.

12.1 The development of an efficient and integrated transport system is essential to meet the long term social and economic needs of Shetland.

12.2 Shetland's transport system relies heavily on the private car for the movement of people. Commerce and industry are also dependent on the transportation of goods by road. In addition, settlement structure is characterised by numerous scattered communities. This makes access to key services such as education, health care and employment difficult to achieve locally. Although car ownership is relatively high in the rural areas many people struggle to run a car on a low income and some place themselves in poverty by doing so. For some residents, particularly the old, young and unemployed owning a car is not an option they can consider and they can only gain access to services by public transport.

12.3 In July 1998 the Government published a White Paper "Travel choices for Scotland" indicating the new approach to integrated transport. This was followed in August 1998 by a draft National Planning Policy Guideline on Transport and Planning and in early 2000 by proposals for an Integrated Transport Bill. These documents represent a new direction for transport policy based on integration within and between different modes, with the proper attention to the environment, land-use planning and policies on such aspects as education, health and wealth creation. In this new framework, the transport strategy needs to take a balanced approach, must be integrated with other strategies and support sustainable development.

12.4 As part of the White Paper, the Government has identified Local Transport Strategies as the foundation on which future local authority transport policy will be based. The Integrated Transport Strategy for Shetland will be developed in partnership with relevant outside bodies and will set out in detail the Council's plans and priorities for future development. The new transport policies in the Shetland Structure Plan represent the basis on which the local transport strategy for Shetland can be taken forward.

Policy TP SP1

Shetland Islands Council, in partnership with relevant outside agencies, will prepare a Local Transport Strategy for Shetland that seeks to integrate different modes of transport and links transport to social and economic policy, land use planning and the environment. Accordingly, the Council will seek to:

sustain the economy of Shetland through maintaining an appropriate level of accessibility by road, sea and air;
ensure satisfactory transport arrangements exist within and between all inhabited islands;
reduce the need to travel through decentralisation of development opportunities, thereby reducing commuting;
promote awareness of travel options in order to limit traffic growth;
develop public transport corridors and promote innovative/flexible public transport usage;
develop facilities for walking and cycling as an alternative means of transport;
improve the human environment by promoting traffic calming measures that increase the safety of all road users;
undertake selected road improvement , bridge or tunnel building or reconstruction projects where these can be justified by gains in terms of economy, safety, environment, accessibility and integration;
improve and enhance access to Lerwick town centre and other existing settlements by all forms of transport and provide for appropriate levels of car parking;
improve facilities for access by disabled people

Public Transport

12.5 If a balanced transport strategy is to be pursued, it is necessary to develop an efficient and integrated public transport system. This should meet the economic, social and environmental needs of the community.

12.6 Measures to support development in existing settlements will contribute significantly towards a future land use pattern that makes public transport more accessible. Policies in the Local Plan should promote further improvement to the existing public transport infrastructure.

Policy TP SP2

The Council will continue to support the provision and improvement of public transport services across Shetland that are consistent with the locational policies in the Development Plan. Operators will be required to develop integrated timetables and pick up/set down locations that meet local demand, where practicable, to participate in integrated initiatives

Ports, harbours, ferry terminals and bridges

12.7 Ports, harbours, ferry terminals and bridges fulfil a vital role in the economy and daily life of Shetland. Their integration into the strategic transport network is therefore of prime importance. Modern ports and harbours offer opportunities for further growth, and should be safeguarded against inappropriate development. Similarly, port-related development should not be constrained by the inappropriate use of land immediately adjacent to port areas and the Local Plan should safeguard that land. Ferry terminals and potential bridging points also need to be safeguarded from inappropriate development to enable essential services to be retained or enhanced.

Policy TP SP3

The Local Plan will incorporate policies for the safeguarding of Shetland's ports, harbours, ferry terminals and bridging points from inappropriate development which would limit their potential.

Internal Air Links

12.8 Inter island air services, particularly to and from the outer islands such as Fair isle, Foula and Out Skerries, provide a vital transport link and proposals to improve or safeguard airstrips and their support buildings should be included in the Local Plan.

Policy TP SP4

The Council will seek to safeguard Shetland's inter- island airstrips from inappropriate or damaging development. The Shetland Local Plan will contain policies to achieve this.

External Air Links

12.9 Air Services to and from Shetland are centred on Sumburgh. These provide vital links with business centres, major medical facilities and for tourism. Freight flights are also vital for perishable goods. Currently, the high cost of flights is a severely limiting factor on business growth and denies opportunities on the UK Mainland for people with low incomes. The Council will continue to press for external air services that meet Shetland's business and social needs and are safe, reliable, economical and of good quality.

12.10 The Council also recognises the importance of Scatsta Airport in supporting offshore oil development and in providing a bad weather diversion from Sumburgh. The two airports fulfil complementary roles.

Policy TP SP5

The Council will support measures to improve the range and quality of air services at Sumburgh airport and will safeguard Scatsta airport's operational capability.

The Strategic Road Network

12.11 The efficient movement of goods and services is a vital component of a healthy economy. Shetland's Strategic Road Network can therefore be regarded as vital to the future success of the Shetland economy and the Council has consequently invested heavily, over the last three decades, by upgrading much of the strategic road network to a double-lane standard. This has resulted in a spinal network of double track standard roads, with many of the larger existing settlements now connected. The Council intends to continue to upgrade identified spine roads to a double lane standard and will also continue to seek improvements to Shetland's local road network, as and when, resources permit. The continued planned improvement to Shetland's local road network in particular, will allow road safety to be improved and enable the possibility of increased economic activity in some of Shetland's remoter areas.

Policy TP SP6

The Council will seek to maintain and enhance both the Strategic and Local Road network in order to aid economic development and improve road safety.

Car Parking

12.12The Council in its Local Transport Strategy will consider ways of reducing the need for car parking through improved public transport and encouraging the development of "Travel Plans" However, it is recognised that car use will remain a necessity for the majority of Shetland residents. The Council has therefore adopted car parking standards that seek to attain a balance between road safety, car parking needs, the capacity of the road system and environmental quality. The standards are intended to be positive and act as an encouragement to development.

Policy TP SP7

The Council will implement, through the development control process, its general car parking standards

Pipelines

12.13 With the expansion of the oil fields to the west of Shetland the Council will continue to seek the laying of a pipeline to avoid the need for shuttle tankers and thereby reduce the risk to Shetland's environment.

Policy TP SP8

The Council will continue to promote the construction of a pipeline to service the oil fields to the west of Shetland. To ensure public safety and protection of the natural environment a full hazard and risk evaluation will be required for the pipeline itself and any development proposals in the vicinity of the pipeline.

Sumburgh Airport, linking Shetland to the rest of the world. (Photograph: SIC)

Partners

SIC Resources Committee	Internal and External Transport Forums
Transport Operators (inc. SIC)	Shetland Amenity Trust
Scottish Executive	HIAL
Highlands and Islands Integ.Transport Forum	Scottish Natural Heritage

Strategies

SIC Capital Programme	Local Transport Strategy
North Sea Cycle Route	Paths for All

Plan Performance Indicators

Level of Air and Sea links to the UK mainland.
Proportion of households within 250 m of a bus route.
Rate of growth or decline of bus passenger numbers.

Shetland Islands Council, Town Hall, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0HB, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 1595 693535 Fax: +44 (0) 1595 695590
E-Mail:sic@sic.shetland.gov.uk