Ryan Nicolson

Scotland

Reporter at The Shetland Times

I just wanted to be one of The Strokes

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‘It’s the Wild West now’ - former undercover police officer calls for drug reform

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

CHARITIES like Dogs Against Drugs “should be stopped” because they are causing more harm than good, according to a major activist on drug reform. Neil Woods spent 14 years as an undercover police officer, infiltrating some of Britain’s most dangerous drug-dealing gangs, before leaving the force and pivoting to become one of the UK’s biggest advocates for the controlled sale of drugs like cannabis.
Aith ASN plans put on pause until after summer holidays as education director apologises

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

EDUCATION chief Samantha Flaws has apologised “unreservedly” for the council’s lack of communication on its additional support needs (ASN) plans at Aith Junior High School. The council had come in for heavy criticism last week from parents of ASN pupils, who said they had not been consulted on the £1.3 million enhanced provision project.
Hoax call led to lengthy coastguard search effort

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

POLICE believe a hoax call lead to a four hour search and rescue effort involving Lerwick lifeboat, Sumburgh coastguard helicopter and three rescue teams today (Wednesday). The search and rescue helicopter was called to a report of a possibly sinking small boat off the west coast of Shetland at around 2.15pm this afternoon, with the Lerwick lifeboat following shortly after. Coastguard rescue crews from Lerwick, Sumburgh and Hillswick also attended the scene.
Wrestlers ‘buzzing’ to bring the smackdown to UnstFest

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

FOR A generation of children, teenagers and even adults, wrestling was everything – with WWE dominating TV sets, school playgrounds and bedrooms. And despite the repeated warnings about not trying the moves out at home, many a big brother tested out their ability to become a wrestler on their younger siblings. Now people attending next month’s UnstFest are going to be given the chance to get in the ring for themselves and try everything they have grown up dreaming of.
Parents ‘disgusted’ by plans to use Aith school cupboards for ASN pupils

2 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

STORAGE cupboards could be turned into rooms for children with additional support needs (ASN) at Aith Junior High School in plans that have been slammed by parents. Emily Jamieson says she feels like Shetland Islands Council (SIC) is trying to force her son Hunter out of the school so he can be cared for at home instead. It comes amid fury from Aith parents this week about the SIC’s plans for a £1.3 million “enhanced provision” hub in the West Mainland.
RTS meter switch-off will now be phased, Ofgem confirms

2 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

ENERGY regulator Ofgem has confirmed for the first time that radio teleswitch service (RTS) meters will be switched off in a phased move from the end of June. It comes as customers in Shetland are being offered smart meter upgrades past the 30 June deadline. RTS meters provide heating and electricity to thousands of addresses in Shetland, with the radio signal to the meters due to be switched off at the end of June.
Battery park construction set to get underway in ‘next few weeks’

3 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

CONSTRUCTION of a battery energy storage system in Lerwick is set to get underway in the coming weeks. A total of 240 battery units will be delivered to the Gremista site, located behind the Ocean Kinetics building, as part of the project. Contractor Zenobē is carrying out the work on behalf of SSEN, with the development set to “keep the lights on” in Shetland if there is an outage on the power network.
Sponsorship boost for Dim Riv

3 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

THE HISTORIC Viking longship Dim Riv has returned to the water after a significant new sponsorship deal with Jewson’s local branch. The three-year deal has seen Jewson provide both funding and wood to restore the boat, which was originally built in 1980 by local boatbuilder Alan Moncrieff. Maintained by the Dim Riv Association, the 40-foot Viking replica has become a popular fixture with tourists and locals for day trips and photographs.
Police Scotland step up campaign to recruit more local people

3 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

A STARTING salary of £31,000, the opportunity to train entirely in Shetland and the chance to serve and protect the community. Police Scotland’s head of recruitment Alan Mulholland believes policing is a hugely attractive role for young Shetlanders, and he wants them to give serious thought to considering it as a career path. A drop-in event is set to be held at the Clickimin on Sunday 15 June, with Police Scotland targeting people in the isles first and foremost to join the force.
Appeal over Bigton bothy refusal thrown out by planning committee

3 weeks ago | shetnews.co.uk | Ryan Nicolson

PLANS for a small bothy style building between Bigton and Rerwick have been refused by councillors following an appeal. The bothy was proposed to be built next to a former Scottish Water pump house at Geosetter, which would have been turned into a shed with an extension housing a composting toilet. The council’s planning department refused the application in November, saying it went against as many as seven national planning policies.