Also in the news / Flag at half mast, access panel and more…
LERWICK Town Hall is flying the council flag at half-mast to mark the passing of former councillor Geoff Feather whose funeral is taking place today (Monday).
He was elected to represent the ward of Lerwick Upper Sound, Gulberwick and Quarff in May 2003 when he narrowly beat prominent councillor Peter Malcolmson.
During his time at the council he served on a number of committees including the newly formed scrutiny committee which monitored how council decisions were being implemented.
Geoff Feather lost his seat four years later when many sitting councillors lost their mandate to new members.
He unsuccessfully stood again in the 2008 by-election for the Lerwick South ward.
THE CONVENERS of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance are calling on people to sign the rewilding national charter in an attempt to commit the Scottish Government to do to restore the natural environment.
Steve Micklewright, the chief executive of Trees for Life, and Karen Blackport, who heads up Bright Green Nature, pointed out that Scotland is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.
The want the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first rewilding nation with a commitment to nature recovery across 30 per cent of its land and seas.
“We can achieve this by restoring habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, while maintaining and benefitting productive farmland,” they said.
Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, benefitting jobs, health, sustainable food, clean air and water, and thriving communities.
The charter will be presented to the Scottish Government on 3 December.
A PANEL looking to revolutionise accessibility across Shetland will launch this week.
The Shetland Access Panel, which is a collaborative effort between Ability Shetland and Disability Equality Shetland, will be launched at Islesburgh in Lerwick on Friday.
A ticketed main event will take place from 11am to 1pm, before a drop-in session from 1pm-3pm will give people the chance to discuss the panel’s work and what they can do to help.
Ability Shetland’s Stephanie Bain will give a talk at the launch event, with MSP Beatrice Wishart also expected to speak.
The joint venture between Disability Equality Scotland and Ability Shetland underscores a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive society. The access panel aims to empower individuals of all abilities by championing universal accessibility across Shetland.
People can book a free ticket for the main event between 11am and 1pm here.
MP ALISTAIR Carmichael has urged the UK Government to act on rising energy bills and to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments.
It comes after Ofgem today (Monday) announced the energy price cap would rise again in January, up to £1,738 a year.
The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to cancel this rise in energy bills so that households do not face even higher energy costs in the new year.
Carmichael said: “People in the Northern Isles should not have to face the prospect of once again having to fork out even more for their energy bills this winter, particularly as we face the farce of yet more constraint payments for energy producers not to generate power locally.
“I have heard already from countless people in the isles who are concerned about the cost of energy as we head into winter.
“For many pensioners here too, this price rise coincides with the cut to Winter Fuel Payments – bill rises and less support will leave many struggling to keep warm this winter.
“The government pledged to bring down energy bills. It is time for them to live up to their word and protect families and pensioners here in the isles this winter.”
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