News / In brief for 23 June 2010
Cheaper fuel maybe
BRITAIN’S coalition government pledged to address the high cost of fuel in remote communities like Shetland during the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget speech on Tuesday.
The announcement was welcomed by northern isles MP and Liberal Democrat chief whip Alistair Carmichael who has long campaigned for fuel duty to be reduced in the isles and promised to work on preparing the case for cheaper petrol and diesel.
“While the last government refused even to recognise that this was an issue, the new government understands the problems caused by high fuel costs and are looking at how these can be best addressed,” he said.
He acknowledged the budget was “difficult”, blamed Labour for the state of the public finances being in “a dreadful mess” and that “painful measures” lie ahead.
However he was pleased about linking the state pension to average earnings and raising the income tax threshold to £7,400.
“This is a budget not just for one year, but which sets the course for the whole Parliament. By the end of it, our economy should be fit to face its challenges and borrowing will again be at a manageable level. Many of the announcements today are difficult but they are necessary. We made these decisions because we simply had to.”
Grostane fire
A HOUSE in Lerwick’s Grostane was damaged after a fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon.
Lerwick fire brigade extinguished the blaze but not before extensive damage was caused to the kitchen and sitting room.
Successful flavour
EVENT organisers and participants have heralded this year’s Flavour of Shetland event on Lerwick’s Victoria Pier a great success despite the elements, with more than 35,000 visits recorded by Sunday evening and craft and catering stalls all reporting sales above expectations.
Kevin Moreland, one of the festival’s event organisers, commented: “This year’s event has, once again, exceeded our expectations. We’re delighted with the level of footfall recorded and the obvious interest and support which Flavour of Shetland continues to generate among locals and visitors.
“The packed programme of activities, great food, superb music and high quality craft village is definitely hard to resist. Lerwick has been buzzing over the past four days and has been the place to be to celebrate all that is special about Shetland.”
Bixter hall plans
THE BIXTER hall committee are looking for feedback on their plans to improve the building.
The plans include a new entrance, kitchen, toilets, multi purpose area and bar in the hope of creating a flexible, modern, light and airy building.
However the committee is keen to hear from local people who want to sue the hall and any ideas they may have for it. The plans and contact details can be seen here.
Cold call warning
ISLANDERS in Shetland have been warned not to fall for cold calling salesmen trying to part them from their cash to raise money for children’s cancer charities.
On Tuesday Shetland Islands Council said that their trading standards service had received a call from a local business saying they had received such a call, which turned out to be bogus.
The council is urging business to hang up on cold callers selling advertising for publications they claim support emergency services or charities, sometimes suggesting they have a Shetland connection.
SIC infrastructure committee chairwoman Iris Hawkins said: “Shetland has a well-deserved reputation for generously supporting good causes, such as the recent Relay for Life, and we don’t want to see that generosity being diverted into the wrong hands.”
Trading standards manager David Marsh added: “Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these types of unfair business practice. We advise all businesses to be wary: don’t be pressured or tricked into agreeing to advertising you don’t want or into paying for something you haven’t requested.”
Terminate the rate
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is backing calls from several leading national charities for a cut in charges that add significantly to the cost of calling a mobile phone.
Mr Carmichael is supporting the ‘Terminate the Rate’ campaign, which is asking the communications regulator Ofcom to reduce mobile termination rates (MTRs) to reflect actual costs more accurately.
At present, consumers are forced to pay an MTR of around 4p/minute when they call a mobile from a phone supported by another network, or from their landline.
Mr Carmichael has also added his name to a joint submission to the ongoing public consultation on this issue which argues for rates to be cut immediately.
“More than 100,000 people have told Ofcom that they want to see an end to excessive charging and there is no reason why MTRs should not be reduced sooner rather than later. Mobile phone users in Orkney and Shetland and across the UK deserve better,” he said.
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