Also in the news / 3G pitch construction, Scottish Water updates, Sumburgh wage increases and more …
CONSTRUCTION on the long-awaited 3G football and rugby pitch in Lerwick is set to now start in February.
Work had been expected to begin this month, but the council’s sports and leisure manager Neil Watt said groundwork was now likely to get under way slightly later.
Watt said an introductory meeting is set to be held with the contractors next week, where the programme of works would be discussed.
“I am not anticipating that any works will commence on site until the middle of February, when the weather is starting to improve and Up Helly Aa has passed,” Watt said.
“This should still allow enough time to get the project completed by the end of June 2025.”
The £1.46 million project was finally given the go-ahead in December, with Shetland Islands Council putting £690,000 in towards the costs.
The Scottish Football Association has pledged £500,000, with sportscotland committing £200,000.
Scottish Rugby has added £50,000, with both Shetland Rugby and Shetland Football Association putting £10,000 in.
However the pitch needs to be in place by 30 June 2025 to ensure it receives the full £500,000 funding from the Scottish Football Association.
TANKER drivers and airport refuelling workers at Sumburgh Airport are among those set to receive a pay rise.
Unite said it secured a new pay deal for North Air workers at Scottish airports which will see them get a 4.5 per cent basic wage increase.
A 10 per cent increase to the shift allowance will also be applied along with a boost to the company’s driver training and training champion bonus schemes.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said they had “delivered good wage deals for North Air tanker drivers across all Scottish airports.
“The pay and recognition deals will help to drive up the jobs, pay and conditions not just at North Air but also across the aviation industry.
“The message to all airport workers is clear, if you want better jobs, pay and conditions – join Unite.”
As part of the successful pay negotiations, Unite has further secured an extension of its existing recognition agreements with North Air at Aberdeen and Inverness airports to now include workers based at Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Stornoway.
SCOTTISH Water is urging more people to sign up to its free text alert service, allowing them to stay up to date with any potential disruption.
More than 60,000 customers have already signed up to the service, it said, which is designed to keep people abreast of any bursts or water supply issues.
Customers receive timely messages directly to their mobile phones on Scottish Water’s progress to resolve the issue and restore normal service as quickly as possible.
They can also sign-up with multiple postcodes, making it easy to keep an eye out for friends, family and neighbours and keep them informed too.
The company’s head of campaigns and marketing, Clare Smith, said: “We want to keep customers informed as much as possible and the best way to do this is to send essential information directly to people’s mobile phones.”
You can sign up here. https://customer.scottishwater.co.uk/alerts/
AQUACULTURE companies and those in the supply chain are being encouraged to get involved in a major global networking opportunity.
Aqua Nor, which is held in Trondheim in Norway, is the premier event for the aquaculture sector and is a focal point for new investors interested in Scotland.
It is held every two years and will take place from 19 to 21 August.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is returning to exhibit at the pavilion, and is inviting supply chain companies to get involved.
Elaine Jamieson, HIE’s head of blue economy, said: “It would be very hard to overstate the importance of Aqua Nor to Scotland’s aquaculture supply chain.
“It offers fantastic opportunities for companies to showcase their products and services to a global audience and make new business connections.”
Companies interested in finding out more about taking part are invited to contact HIE through the Aqua Nor page on the events and training section of its website.
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