Council / Outdoor access concern over Lerwick fence plans
SHETLAND Islands Council’s outdoor access officer has raised concern over plans to fence off a builders’ merchant site in Lerwick.
The officer has objected to Huws Gray’s proposal, as it stands, to re-route a core path which currently runs through the site.
The company recently lodged plans to tackle what it said is a health and safety issue at its base in Lerwick with pedestrians walking through its site.
It is seeking to erect a 2.4 metre security fencing at the site, and also realign part of the core path there to alongside the quayside.
The plans have already drawn an objection from Lerwick Community Council over a loss of access and the design of fence.
That objection, if unresolved, is likely to mean the council’s planning committee will need to have the final say on whether the plans are approved.
The current core public path runs through the Huws Gray site via the north end of Freefield Road before going past the museum.
Huws Gray is also seeking the ‘stopping up’ of Freefield Road, which connects the site to Commercial Road.
Shetland Amenity Trust – which runs the nearby museum – also expressed concern it would lose access to the building through Freefield Road, which it said is important for maintenance purposes as well as for transporting large items like boats.
However Huws Gray has now changed its plans to include an access gate on the side of the fence nearest of the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Responding to the application, Shetland Islands Council’s outdoor access officer said they had no concerns over diverting the core path in terms of the physical quality of the route.
“However, losing the current core path will restrict the options of access takers, especially during bad weather and potential flooding which could pose a significant risk,” they added.
“There will also be the dangers of moving along a working quayside – the application makes no mention of mitigating these risks.”
The access officer also noted the proposed restricted access from the south end of Freefield Road.
They said although the link from Commercial Road to the museum via Freefield Road is not on public right of way databases, there is a “high chance that it would fulfil the criteria to be one”.
An agent on behalf of Huws Gray highlighted how the lack of security fencing at the busy yard is creating a health and safety issue due to the number of pedestrians walking through the site.
They added: “In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of cruise ships coming into Lerwick and as a result Huws Gray Ltd has seen a significant increase in pedestrians walking through the operational site.
“The increase in cruise ships has been a significant change in local circumstances and has resulted in an increased health and safety risk at the site.
“Huws Gray Ltd, as a responsible business operator, have assessed the risk and are taking proactive action through the submission of this application to install necessary site security measures.”
They added the proposed fencing is of standard design and “appropriate for this business and industrial location”.
The letter confirmed access gates will be open during hours of operation for Huws Gray, and locked in the evenings and on Sundays.
It continued: “Pedestrian access through the site will be visibly managed when the gates are open and the builders merchant is trading.
“This will be managed through signage clearly identifying that Freefield Road is a private road and access is for business purposes associated with Huws Gray’s operations only. Access will also be managed by on-site personnel.”
The letter added Freefield Road is in “private ownership and should not currently be used as a thoroughfare for local businesses and organisations”.
However, it said Huws Gray would be willing to support the use through the site by Shetland Amenity Trust “on the occasion that access is required on a temporary/occasional basis to transport boats and materials through the site or for one off events”.
“Such access through the site should be agreed and arranged in advance with Huws Gray Ltd,” the letter added.
The agent said Huws Gray is not aware of any requests or usage by the amenity trust in the past to bring materials and boats through the site via Freefield Road.
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