Shetland News

The Shetland News website, which can be found at www.shetnews.co.uk, is managed by Shetland News LLP and run by Hans J Marter from an office located in Vidlin.

National

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#179057

United Kingdom

#8141

News and Media

#429

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Drug driving a ’significant problem’, roadside testing trial results show

2 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

THE INITIAL findings of a six-month pilot in Shetland to detect people driving while impaired through drugs has been described as “positive” and largely in line with expectations. At the end of last year Shetland was chosen by Police Scotland as a testing ground for a new mouth swab drug wipe kit. Shetland officers were the first in Scotland outside of road traffic specialists to receive training in using the kits.
Estimated cost of Cullivoe road project rises by one third

2 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

THE EXPECTED cost of the new Cullivoe road project has risen to £13.3 million. A full business case will go in front of councillors on Tuesday which, if approved, would pave the way for construction to begin. The latest capital cost is now estimated at £13.3 million – up from the previous figure of £9.9 million. This reflects the cost estimated by the preferred bidder for the contract. Around £700,000 of this has already been spent on preparatory works such design and land purchase.
Availability of power the ‘big uncertainty’ for Rosebank electrification plans

3 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

NO decisions have been made yet on plans to electrify Rosebank oil field production via a cable from Shetland – with availability of power a key issue. However, speaking during a visit to Lerwick on Wednesday, officials from developer Equinor said electrifying production from shore power is still a major ambition.
NatureScot lodges objection to salmon farm plans

5 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

SCOTLAND’s natural heritage organisation has submitted an objection to plans for a large salmon farm in Yell Sound. NatureScot said Scottish Sea Farms’ (SSF) Fish Holm development could affect internationally important natural heritage interests. Because of its objection, if Shetland Islands Council intends to grant planning permission against this advice it must notify Scottish ministers. A spokesperson for SSF said the company was unable to comment on a live planning application.
Written off SIC debt rises to nearly £280k

6 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

THE VALUE of ‘bad debt’ from the last financial year being written off by Shetland Islands Council (SIC) has increased to nearly £280,000. However this was only 0.27 per cent of the £101.52 million the SIC invoiced for in 2024/25 in areas such as housing rent, council tax and non-domestic rates. A report presented to councillors on the SIC’s policy and resources committee on Monday highlighted how £170,877 was written off in 2024/25 in sales.
Lerwick college building identified as possible location for new museum store

6 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

PARTS of the UHI campus building in Lerwick – which could be vacated in the coming years – have been earmarked as a possible new home for the local museum store. The museum store is currently located in a building near to the marts on the outskirts of Lerwick, but it has been running out of space. The store has housed many thousands of artefacts and items that are not on display in Shetland since opening in 1998.
Local people express horror at Gaza suffering and demand ceasefire

6 days ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

MORE THAN £30,000 has been raised in Shetland over the last two years towards helping to alleviate the human suffering in Gaza. Calling for peace and justice and for an immediate ceasefire to stop Gaza being erased by Israeli forces, a dozen local people gathered outside the parliamentary office in Lerwick’s Commercial Street for a vigil on Saturday.
Local retailers given advice ahead of ban on sales of single-use vapes

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

THE SALE of disposable single-use vapes is banned from tomorrow (1 June), with local retailers given advice on the change in law. They have been warned that there could be penalties if they continue to stock them. Retailers found in possession of single-use vapes after Sunday may have the products removed by trading standards, and they could face a £200 fine for a first offence.
Average time taken to re-let council homes rises

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

THE NUMBER of council house applications in Shetland has decreased over recent years – but the average length of time to re-let properties has gone up. Figures presented to a meeting of Shetland Islands Council’s development committee on Wednesday showed there were 591 housing applications as of 31 March – although one in five of these were “suspended” due to eligibility reasons. For the previous year the overall figure was 655, and 705 in 2022/23.
Clear plan for SSEN workers’ accommodation needed ‘quickly’, SIC leader says

1 week ago | shetnews.co.uk | Chris Cope

TALKS are ongoing with energy developers about providing their own accommodation for workers on future projects – but concern has been raised at the pace of progress. Shetland Islands Council leader Emma Macdonald said she has a worry that “this isn’t happening quick enough”. Meanwhile development director Neil Grant said things need to progress with more “urgency”. A developer central to the issue is SSEN, which has a number of large projects in Shetland on the horizon.