Emergency services / Three coastguard stations needing improvements, meeting hears
THREE coastguard stations in Shetland have been identified as needing improvements, a meeting has heard.
The stations are Sumburgh, Walls and Mid Yell.
The issue came up for discussion at the latest meeting of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board on Wednesday.
Local HM Coastguard area commander Dave Sweeney said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had undertaken a condition survey of all of its buildings in the UK.
He said this amounted to more than 400 properties.
Locally Sumburgh, Walls and Mid Yell were identified as priorities, he said.
“We’re at a very early stage at this point in time to be able to give an indication of where we’re going,” Sweeney added.
Board chairman councillor Allison Duncan questioned whether sharing facilities with other agencies – such as the fire service – could be an option.
He referred to the Westside, where the Walls fire station has caused concern over its condition and facilities.
Duncan, who noted that the other Shetland coastguard stations were good facilities, suggested sharing buildings could also cut costs.
Sweeney replied: “I think all options are on the table and certainly as our partners work exceptionally well together in Shetland we’ve had discussions and we will continue to have discussions.”
In Lerwick the fire and ambulance services share a station, located behind the Tesco supermarket.
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