Also in the news / RTS debate, Belmont fund, sexual health clinic and more …
MP ALISTAIR Carmichael has said the “clock is ticking” on government preparations for the controversial radio teleswitch service (RTS) switch-off later this year.
Shetland’s MP led a debate on the subject in Parliament today (Tuesday), saying beforehand it “could not be more urgent”.
There is less than three months to go until the planned switch-off of RTS, with thousands of energy meters in the Northern Isles relying on RTS.
These will need to be replaced ahead of the signal shutdown on 30 June, though Ofgem has said no household will lose electricity supply as a result.
Carmichael said people in Shetland were “increasingly concerned” about the move.
“The answers we have been getting from ministers, energy companies and Ofgem simply have not been good enough, whether that is on signal issues, fair tariff replacements or any number of other issues.
“At the current rate of replacement there will still be tens of thousands of RTS meters across the country when the switch off happens in June, and a disproportionate number of these are likely to be in the isles.”
MSP Beatrice Wishart also put forward an emergency motion at the Liberal Democrats spring conference at the weekend for the party to call for urgent action on the RTS switch-off.
“It is not clear exactly what will happen when the signal is turned off especially where RTS meters have not been replaced,” she said.
“Storage heaters and the systems that heat water may remain off, leaving households in the cold.
“We need to avoid RTS chaos. We cannot allow anyone to be left without basic hot water and heating.”
THE ROUNDABOUT at Veensgarth is set to be closed for three days for “essential resurfacing work” from next Monday.
Shetland Islands Council said there would be no through road during that time, with essential access only too.
“Residents from Vallafield and south of the roundabout will be required to divert through the Tingwall valley,” the council added.
ALISTAIR Carmichael has also welcomed final confirmation that the Sumburgh coastguard helicopter response times will not be changed.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said in January that the move to a 60 minute readiness time – instead of 15 mins through the day – had been scrapped, as reported by Shetland News.
The hugely unpopular change had been proposed by the MCA before being put on hold by the former Conservative government in late 2023.
Writing to Carmichael this week, MCA chief executive Virginia McVea confirmed what it had said in January – that the change would no longer be pursued.
“I can confirm that the current response times – of 15 minutes during the day and 45 minutes at night – will remain in place at Stornoway and Sumburgh ,” she said.
Carmichael paid tribute to the islanders “who identified the danger and raised their concerns” about the move.
“The actions of whistleblowers and local journalists to bring these plans to light as early as they did was absolutely critical to securing a U-turn from the MCA,” he said.
“These services cannot be taken for granted – but we have shown that we can and will defend them.”
MONEY from the sale of the historic Belmont House in Unst could be used to help save and renovate more old buildings in Shetland – particularly in the North Isles.
The Belmont Trust gifted the proceeds of the sale of the A-listed Georgian mansion to Shetland Charitable Trust, which helped save and restore the derelict building, with the hope they would support similar architectural restorations.
The charitable trust said the Belmont Built Heritage Grant Scheme had funds of around £200,000, which would offer up to 90 per cent of the capital cost of improving assets.
The scheme is open to charities, trusts and not-for-profit community and voluntary groups but not community councils or private companies and organisations.
The emphasis will be on assisting examples of built heritage which are in poorcondition or at risk of loss or decline.
The scheme is open to bids until 27 June with any awards paid out after October.
Full details and application forms are available on the Shetland Charitable Trust website, by email from mail@shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk or telephone on 01595 744 994.
AN ONLINE booking system has been set up for NHS Shetland’s Monday night sexual health clinic “due to high demand”.
People can access contraception, STI testing, no talk testing and pregnancy testing at the free service in the outpatient department of the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
There is also the option now for the health board to offer postal STI kits, which can be done at home and handed in at patient’s local health centre or the hospital.
The NHS said this was a “confidential, non-judgemental service for people of all genders, orientations and ages”.
For more information about the Monday night clinic, and for making an online request for self-test kits for STIs, people should follow this link or email shet.sexualhealth@nhs.scot
A NETWORK-wide system issue across Loganair has required passengers to check in manually today (Tuesday) and affected the ability to make bookings.
The airline said it was aware of the issue on Tuesday morning, which also impacted passengers trying to check-in for their flights.
People were asked to proceed to the airport as normal, allowing extra time to check-in and drop off their bags.
It said it was working hard to resolve the issue, and asked anyone trying to book flights to keep changing back for more updates.
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