Jacqueline Harper with school children in typhoon-struck Cebu City.

An aid worker has hailed the powers of Facebook after friends helped her raise more than £4,000 in a matter of days to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Jacqueline Harper, was due to visit family in the Philippines, and arrived in Manila on Sunday, 10th November.

But after seeing the devastation of the storm firsthand, she scrapped her family holiday and spent most of her two weeks in Cebu City – preparing aid packs containing food and water for victims.

The 30-year-old former Anderson High School pupil took to the social networking site asking her friends to donate money so she could buy supplies for those in need.

Six days later she had more than £4,000.

“Everywhere I looked there were aid relief tents and things to help people. That motivated me to do something myself,” she said.

“I donated some money to a local organisation there and that night I went home and asked my friends on Facebook if they wanted to donate something.”

And Ms Harper was completely overwhelmed by the response.

“It just goes to show the power of Facebook. It wasn’t just my best friends it was people that I’ve met on my travels – people I’ve met in Austra­lia, Hungary and lots of other different places.”

Family also chipped in – with her sister, who works on the neonatal unit at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, offering funds along with her brother who lives in Germany.

Realising she could not tackle the challenge alone, Ms Harper got in touch with her aunty who works for the department of education in the Philippines.

She was able to provide vehicles and offer extra help to distribute the food parcels.

Ms Harper bought rice, noodles, tinned meat and biscuits and also travelled to a primary school in Bogo, which lies in the Cebu province.

Children there had not been reached by aid efforts, she said and were in desperate need of food.

“Being able to work with a team of people there and actually distribute parcels was quite touching.

“Just being there made everything so real.”

But she could not be everywhere at once, and one day spent a whole day in a supermarket buying food while others packed up the much-needed parcels.

It was enough to last them a couple of days

and extra money went on soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

All the money was spent in the way it should have been spent, said Ms Harper.

In the wake of one of the strongest storms on record, she saw whole families coming to Cebu City.

Lots of survivors were in search of a new life and lots were seeking shelter, she said.

“Even people who had nothing were giving something.

“Really poor people were giving noodles which cost peanuts.”

Teachers were given a roof over their heads by the department of education, she said.

But because records had been lost, they had no money and could not access their salaries.

Ms Harper said Cebu City has become a main point for distributing aid to victims – due to its port and airport.

On Wednesday, 13th November the first UK aid flight arrived at Cebu Airport, carrying almost 9,000 emergency shelter kits.

Strong winds had caused a huge tree to topple and crush two buildings in the city, but that was only damage, the rest was barely noticeable, said Ms Harper.

On Sunday, she returned home – now living in Edinburgh after leaving Shetland.

And despite her amazing efforts she remains surprisingly modest.

“I didn’t give too much thought to it to be honest. It just came naturally. It definitely felt good to be able to do something.”

More in tomorrow’s Shetland Times.

Just passed MoT and serviced, 6 months tax, two new front tyres.

This timber clad bungalow has a detached garage and off road parking. The accommodation is well proportioned and includes a lounge with dining area and 3 double bedrooms. It is in move-into condition, has double glazed windows and electric storage and panel heaters. Set in a quiet residential area within a private housing scheme approximately 5 miles from Lerwick.

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To view:  Telephone 07990 558988

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The Shetland Islands Council provides general needs, temporary, supported and sheltered accommodation. The service is also responsible for the future strategic direction of housing in Shetland.

To be considered for council housing in Shetland, you need to fill in a housing application form. The joint form used by the SIC and Hjaltland Housing Association can be picked up from either offi ce or you can download one online at www.shetland.gov.uk/housing/Housingapplicationpack.asp

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, please contact us as soon as possible for advice and information on your housing options. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to temporary accommodation and support. We offer confi dential housing advice and you can make an office or home appointment to see a Housing Officer to discuss your housing options. If translation services are required, these can be arranged.

Information on the various housing options available in Shetland is online at www.shetland.gov.uk/housing/housing_options_guide.asp. If you do not have a computer and would like to view housing information online, you can use the public access computer at our office.

For further information please contact us at the address above or: During Office Hours – Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, including lunchtimes.

Enquiries (excluding Repairs) 01595 744360
Repairs 01595 744399
Freephone 0800 212 829
Fax 01595 744395

Email: housing@shetland.gov.uk
Website: www.shetland.gov.uk/housing

Outwith Office Hours:
Council House Repairs: 01595 693972
Homelessness: 01595 695611

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The late Willie Hunter will be inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Aberdeen.

The late Willie Hunter will be inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Aberdeen.

His addition to the list of greats will take place at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards ceremony in the city’s Music Hall on Saturday, 7th December. The ceremony and its accompanying concert will be televised live on BBC Alba.

Hunter will be one of 11 new members added to the hall of fame for his contribution to the fiddle tradition.

To mark the occasion, in what would have been Willie’s 80th year, Shetland Musical Heritage Trust (SMHT) is bringing out a new book of Willie’s tunes, The Music of Willie Hunter, which will be launched in Lerwick on Friday, 13th December.

It contains all 31 of Willie’s compositions plus three by his father, Willie Hunter Senior.

Fiddler Bryan Gear and accompanist Violet Tulloch have been invited to Aberdeen to perform in the induction concert.

Violet is chairwoman of SMHT and Bryan one of its nine trustees.

Willie Hunter will be the fifth Shetland member of the hall of fame, following Tom Anderson, Peerie Willie Johnson, Aly Bain and Jim Halcrow.

As well as Hunter’s hall of fame induction there is a strong Shetland contingent among the nominees for this year’s Scots Trad Music Awards.

There are three nominees across the 16 categories. Christ Stout, now based in Glasgow, is in the running for instrumentalist of the year, Margaret Scollay is nominated in the music tutor of the year category and Mareel is forward for venue of the year.

Gas plant workers sent home following this week’s debacle over a strike ballot will be first in the queue to receive their jobs back once demand for their labour picks up.

Petrofac insists a decision to put 47 pipe-fitters employed by Balfour Beatty on stand-by is because of a fluctuation in demand for workers at the £800 million Sullom Voe development, which is being built by Petrofac for French oil giant Total.

Union leaders had insisted this week’s dismissals came immediately after management were notified of possible industrial action.

A ballot will be held on Wednesday following concerns about shared accommodation on barges and in an accommodation block.

The dispute also focuses on calls for travel allowances to be paid, after workers’ concerns about bus journeys taking up to one hour each way to and from work.

However Petrofac says the workers are on stand-by and will be brought back to the plant in the near future.
A statement released by the firm yesterday said they would be given “priority consideration for re-engagement”.

“The size of our workforce on any project routinely fluctuates to meet needs. This is common practice across our industry. We can confirm that a small number of employees from one of our sub-contractors have today been given notice that their services are not currently required. However we have stated our commitment to priority consideration for re-engagement when an opening arises aligned with their skill-sets.”

John Taylor, of the Unite Union, said the incident had been badly dealt with. But he said the matter had been resolved.

“The guys are going off the island on stand-by and, when the work picks up, they’ve got an agreement from Petrofac that these guys will be given first priority of any jobs back in the island.”
However the GMB’s national officer for engineering construction, Phil Whitehurst, said he was not satisfied with the explanation.

“With the ballot – that’s over the accommodation and travel – it’s a totally different issue. But whenever there’s a downturn in manning, it’s planned. Consultation takes place between the trade unions and there is a procedure they have to go through.

“The very day the GMB issued a notification that there was going to be an industrial ballot, 47 of their workforce got lumped. That’s not a coincidence. That doesn’t just happen in 24 hours.”

Work on the Walls pier is to finally be completed by early 2014, the council’s harbour board has been told.

Contractor Frank L Johnston (Shetland) Ltd started work on the site in April 2012, with an agreed completion date at the end of June this year.

But progress on piling was slower than first thought and the completion date could not be achieved, members were told.

A new date was set for the end of August, but this was too optimistic to complete all the work following the completion of the piling.

A number of elements have been finished, members were told – including the ferry pontoon and walkway and the construction of the pilling and capping beam.

The work will remain on budget as well.

But Amanda Westlake raised concerns about how long the project had taken to complete and said delays were “unacceptable”.

Director of infrastructure Maggie Sandison admitted there had been various delays but this had not meant any increase in costs.

Robert Henderson said under the current contractor, the council was getting “a very good job” and they should not be “getting hung up” on timescales.

He added work had been carried out by a previous contractor but Frank L Johnston was appointed to complete the work.

Ms Westlake said “time is of the essence” and it was important to stick to timescales.

She asked if any fines would be incurred by the contractors for the delay and Mrs Sandison said she would make enquiries.

Ms Westlake admitted after the meeting while Frank L Johnston was a good contractor, she was “a stickler on contracts” and there was a clear procurement process the council has to follow.

Contractors should abide by the timescale agreed, she said.
The first contractor on the project Airport Civil Engineering, left after six months.

The original pier is more than 100 years old and was built to accommodate the Orkney and Shetland steam navigation steamers, but is now used largely for fishing vessels.

Aquaculture has been the main activity in the last ten years – the value of salmon and mussels landed across the pier was more than £2 million last year.

The idea of a new pier and breakwater began with pier users in 2002 – as the existing pier is extremely exposed and boats cannot be left in the easterly winds.

Regular meetings of the pier users’ group – made up of boat owners and the aquaculture industry were held until 2009 to get to the “project” stage with designs prepared.

Work began in 2011.
The initial price for the pier was above £3 million but under the new contractors it has been brought below £3 million.

Vessels would still be berthed there, he said and the pier would be used for “lighter activities”.

Leaders of the three island councils and the Secretary of State for Scotland have agreed to work towards a Concordat to take forward the ‘Our Islands Our Future’ initiative.

Discussions covering issues such as the development and management of island resources including renewable energy, oil and gas, fisheries and the Crown Estate, have been underway.

The move was agreed during the latest talks which seek greater powers for island areas.

It was also confirmed that the Scotland Office would host an islands’ desk, a dedicated resource for working with the island groups.

Councils in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles are in ongoing discussions with both the Scottish and UK governments.

They believe that the constitutional debate offers an pportunity for islands to seek additional powers and improve lives for their communities, irrespective of referendum’s outcome.

A new attempt will be made by councillors to discuss the possible closure of the Skerries secondary department at a reconvened town hall meeting on Tuesday.

The SIC’s education and families committee was to debate the future of the island’s secondary unit last month.

But three days before the 10th October meeting was due to take place it emerged a technical glitch meant some responses to the consultation were not included in a final report.

The item was rapidly drawn from the meeting to allow further consultation to take place.

Submissions were invited to be received by 12th November. Eighteen further responses were subsequently received by education officials. They have now been incorporated into the consultation report. All of the 18 disagreed with the proposal to close.

If approved, the plans would mean secondary lessons in Skerries coming to an end in July, with pupils transferring to the Anderson High School in Lerwick from August.

The council believes bringing an end to secondary lessons there will save £73,473 – down from £76,336 once the cost of providing an escort on the ferry is factored in.

However, it also says moving children to the Anderson High will provide them with a better quality of education.

Children’s Services maintains learning opportunities are limited in the Skerries department.

Residents in Skerries are far from convinced. Figures released before the extended consultation showed 62 per cent were against the plans. A total of 57 responses were received, once the added consultation period was factored in.

Parents said children would develop better with their families, and in their own community.

Familiar sights around Lerwick will turn red tonight to mark the 25th anniversary of World Aids Day.

Mareel, Shetland Museum and Archives, the town hall and Clickimin Broch will turn their outside lights red to show their support for the day.

The move comes as a reminder about the risks of HIV and Aids. The Scottish World Aids Day action group – a coalition of Scottish government, charities, health boards and others – say the key to keeping new infections down and making life for those with HIV as healthy as possible is to make sure everyone knows the facts.

New HIV infections have dropped significantly since the first World Aids Day in 1988. But it is estimated that 5,900 people across the country are living with HIV and 349 new people in Scotland are said to have been diagnosed with the disease in 2012 alone – close to one each day.

NHS Shetland’s public health specialist Wendy Hatrick said the illumination of the buildings was a “great message to the people of Shetland.”

“Last year work around Word Aids Day with Mareel and Klub Revolution was successful and it is hoped that this year local participation in the national campaign Light Up Scotland will catch people’s eye and raise awareness with some of our own beautiful local buildings lighting up red.”

She said there were a small number of people in Shetland diagnosed with HIV but it was not known how many are infected but have not been tested. She urged anyone who may be at risk to get a test as soon as possible.

“There is evidence that individuals are being diagnosed at a late or very late stage of infection when treatment may be less effective on a weakened immune system. This highlights the importance of HIV testing and getting people into treatment as early as possible. If HIV infection is diagnosed then there are effective drugs which mean many people live with HIV for many years, rather than dying young as we saw in the 1980s.”

Chief executive of HIV Scotland George Valiotis said: “It’s fantastic to see Shetland getting involved and showing support for World Aids Day. Simple things like turning the lights of key buildings red for World Aids Day can help remind everyone that HIV and Aids haven’t disappeared.

“This year we’re asking everyone to do one thing too: learn a fact about HIV and tell a friend. Scotland’s come a long way since the very first World AIDS Day back in 1988, with huge improvements in treatment and life-expectancy for people with HIV.

“But we still need Scots to know more about basics, to keep new infections down and to make sure people who have HIV can live free of discrimination and misconceptions.

“The facts aren’t complicated: keep yourself free of HIV by using condoms and not sharing needles; know that you can’t catch HIV from normal day-to-day contact like shaking hands or kissing, or even from a toilet seat; and while there’s no cure, when people with HIV get on effective treatment they can live long, active lives.

“One simple way to learn the basics about HIV and AIDS is to take and share the #HIVbasics quiz: www.hivscotland.com/quiz.”

The recent windy weather may have prevented most of us venturing out but not outdoor enthusiast Ryan Leith from Lerwick. On this latest video he takes us along the coastline of Eshaness to Da Grind o da Navir.

A banned driver accused of speeding away from a chasing police car while allegedly unfit to drive through drink or drugs has been remanded in custody.

Peter Henderson, 32, of Kalliness, Weisdale, is charged with dangerous driving on various roads on Friday.

He spent the weekend in the cells after he allegedly drove away from police officers, ignoring their emergency lights and sirens as they gave chase.

Henderson is accused of driving uninsured on the wrong side of the road and repeatedly mounting pavements before eventually crashing into a barrier.

He is charged with then hiding himself in hillside vegetation to evade police capture.

Henderson is also accused of failing to give information to the police once at the station, where he was also allegedly found with heroin.

His case before honorary sheriff Eric Peterson was today continued without plea until 9th December.

But an application for bail by defence agent Tommy Allan was refused.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Henderson would pose a risk to public safety if at large.

“If he is released on bail the Crown’s position is he will offend again in a manner which will be a real and substantial risk of injury to a member of the public.”

Mr Allan argued Henderson hoped to soon start a new job on a fishing boat, and was waiting on documentation coming from the Maritime Coastgoard Agency before taking up the opportunity.

He said Henderson feared losing out on that chance if he was remanded.

Mr Allan added that Henderson helped out on his 80-year-old grandmother’s croft.

“It’s his position there is no way he will drive again,” he told the court.

Honary sheriff Eric Peterson told Henderson: “I’ve listened carefully to what has been said both by the procurator fiscal and your defence agent, and I am prepared to grant the application for a continuation without plea, but in view of the nature of the offence I am not prepared to grant bail and you will be remanded in custody.”

More than half of people with underlying health conditions are still to get protected from flu, according to new figures released by Scotland’s most senior medical officer.

The figures for Shetland prompted chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns to remind people of the importance of the flu vaccine.

According to the NHS the number yet to be vaccinated includes:

• 56 per cent of people under-65 with underlying health problems such as asthma and diabetes;

• 64 per cent of pregnant women;

• 48 per cent of two and three-year-olds.

These groups can be hit harder with flu and can suffer more serious complications, even if they previously felt fit and healthy.

Sir Harry said: “Flu strikes suddenly and it’s important to be prepared. If you have a long-term medical condition, the best way to protect yourself is to get the vaccine. It is not too late for those who have not received their flu vaccine to do so.

“The flu vaccine only takes a few minutes, but will offer protection for around 12 months.

“It is equally as important to ensure that if your child is invited to get vaccinated against flu, you take up the offer as children are unlikely to have built up immunity from previous infections. In fact, youngsters are two to three times as likely to be ill with flu than adults.

Dr Susan Laidlaw, flu immunisation co-ordinator at NHS Shetland, said: “Flu survives better in a cold environment and flu viruses will circulate across Scotland as we move deeper into winter. People need to be aware that flu is much worse than a bad cold and can make adults and children very unwell.

“If you are in an eligible group then it’s very important to get vaccinated to help protect you from the virus as you can suffer from serious complications if you do catch flu. I would like to urge all remaining local people who are eligible for the flu vaccine to speak with their GP practice to arrange to get their free vaccination.”

Enviroglass factory manager Chriss Massie with the firm’s new precast equipment.

A Shetland project to recycle waste glass into building materials has been hailed as a beacon of excellence by the Scottish government.

Cunningsburgh-based firm Enviroglass was praised at the Scottish Parliament last week, when delegates at a cross party group on architecture and the built environment heard how the small company uses waste glass to produce high quality products.

The special session was scheduled to show how using locally sourced building materials is not only good for the environment, but can create skilled jobs and support regeneration – particularly in rural and economically deprived areas.

Environmental improvement officer Sita Goudie of Shetland Amenity Trust, which manages Enviroglass, told the politicians how Shetland has developed a unique way to deal with its waste glass to create a range of products with between 80 to 100 per cent recycled content.

The company, founded in 2003, started with an initial production of a basic aggregate substitute. It then developed a range of products including paving slabs and and garden ornaments, and is now crafting bespoke fireplaces. Not only does this create jobs – Enviroglass has two full-time employees – and use the contents of all Shetland’s bottle banks, it also solves the problem of disposing of glass. This cannot go to Shetland’s energy recovery plant and would be too expensive, and environmentally unsound, to ship south.

The old precast equipment, used by Chris Massie, was not so high tech.

The meeting also heard from members of Glasgow Caledonian University’s Natural Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (NEES) Project; Richard Atkins of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS); and John Easton of SUSTaim, a carbon footprinting consultancy specialising in the built environment.

Ms Goudie said: “This was a great opportunity to show how communities such as Shetland can take an innovative approach to overcome a local waste issue and in the process produce an environmentally sound building product. We have just installed new equipment at Enviroglass, which will enable us to increase our pre-cast production by up to 500 per cent.

“We hope by raising the profile of our social enterprise at national level we can attract new customers and increase our sales nationally.”

This could also create new jobs, she added.

The meeting was sponsored by Mike MacKenzie, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, and chaired by fellow Highlands and Islands MSP, Jean Urquhart. It was supported by Glasgow Caledonian University, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS).

Mr MacKenzie said: “I was delighted to help facilitate this meeting not least because there is considerable scope in Scotland for increasing the sustainability of our building practice, better utilising locally sourced and sustainable materials, which will in turn help support local economies and help maintain the reservoir of local skills associated with the use of these materials. We have an opportunity to forge a new vernacular with regional distinctiveness which builds on the best practice of the past, deals with the challenges and opportunities of the present day and also looks to the future, embracing our current technology and capability.”

Ms Urquhart described the event as: “Extraordinarily good and interesting”, and promised to help the group take forward the unanimous message that the Scottish government could unlock significant environmental, economic and social benefits by enabling producers and users of sustainable building materials to compete more equally with more modern mass-produced products.

Using locally-sourced natural and recycled materials, as opposed to higher tech solutions made from plastics and other unsustainable materials, is much more in keeping with Scotland’s architectural and cultural heritage, she said.

Ms Urquhart added that she was very impressed with what was happening in Shetland, and is hoping to get to the isles in the new year to visit Enviroglass.

Ms Goudie said: “By recycling Shetland’s waste glass in the islands, Enviroglass helps make Shetland a more self-sufficient society and is key in supporting the delivery of local waste plans and meeting national recycling targets. Recycling the glass within the isles also adds value to the local economy, providing jobs and utilising other local suppliers and services. Also, as we are a social enterprise, any profits generated are reinvested to benefit Shetland’s environment.

There will be no new council houses built in Shetland for 25 years unless the UK and Scottish governments help the SIC pay off the long-standing housing debt run up to enable the oil industry in the 1970s.

That was the grim message delivered at a council executive committee today, which also heard that council house rents are due to rise five per cent in each of the next two years, such was the state of finances in a “painful” housing and revenue budget.

Debt negotiations with Westminster and Edinburgh over the 40-year-old housing debt are effectively stalled, the committee heard. And the UK government has dug its heels in over settling its third of the debt, which would also allow the council to make use of a further £10 million promised by the Scottish government.

James Gray’s report stated that writing off £10 million of debt will cost £575,000 in lost investment income.

A report by director of finance James Gray, which was passed by the committee, said that the price for keeping rent increases at five per cent, instead of a threatened 35 per cent, was that the SIC will have to write £10 million off its outstanding debt. This means a £575,000 drop in annual income for the council which the £10 million would otherwise have been earning as part of an investment portfolio.

The Scottish government could still pay its promised £10 million, but effectively it will be of little use without Westminster closing the remaining gap.

SIC political leader Gary Robinson said it was “a disgrace” that the council alone was having to shoulder the burden and that it was time for the governments to stump up.

“Both the Scottish government and Westminster are well aware that anything from the Scottish government is useless without a Westminster contribution.”

Vice-chairman of environment and transport Michael Stout expressed his “anger and resentment” at the grossly unfair situation where Shetland was bearing the burden for providing a national asset. “We have Westminster in particular standing there with folded arms and refusing to help,” he said.

Mr Gray said that even if the council wrote off its £10 million share of the debt, that did not mean the matter was closed. But according to some of the committee members, the debt issue is “right down to the wire”.

Education and families vice-chairman George Smith said: “This is an extremely difficult report because we have in some sense revealed our hand . . . saying we are going to right off £10 million.”

Executive manager for housing Anita Jamieson told councillors that while the feared 35 per cent rise was off the table, tenants were still concerned about the affordability of the proposals because rents were high and associated costs going up. “Not everyone is able to afford this,” Ms Jamieson said.

Their fears had been outlined at a drop-in tenants’ meeting in Islesburgh Community Centre on Saturday.

Lerwick South councillor Jonathan Wills, whose constituency contains Shetland’s biggest council housing estates, said: “These are still quite substantial rent rises when many people are on benefits. They are going to suffer because of the actions of this Liberal Tory government.”

The SIC issued a statement following the meeting in which it made clear its frustration with governments over the debt issue.

The statement read: “For well over a year now, councillors and officers have been in discussions with the UK and Scottish governments in an attempt to address the authority’s historic housing debt.

“Negotiations are underway with the Scottish government to play its part in addressing the issue, and a proposal was also put before the UK government to cover £10 million, to be matched by SIC. Together, these measures would have allowed the council to maintain its rents at an affordable level.

“However, with no confirmation from the UK government on its participation in the arrangement, and in order to set next year’s rents, SIC has had to act to prevent massive increases.”

SIC tenants are being surveyed on the proposed rent increase. That survey closes on 4th December, with the results due to be put before members on 11th December.

Gary Robinson says the SIC has done everything it can to find a solution to the housing debt problem.

Mr Robinson said: “We have done everything we can over the past year to try to resolve this situation. However, without confirmation that the UK government is willing to play its part, we’ve had to make sure we put forward an affordable solution for tenants. If we hadn’t, we’d now be looking at huge increases in council house rents.

“We still see this as a three-way discussion; we’ve done our bit, and the door’s still open for the UK and Scottish governments to make a commitment which would mean we could give our tenants more certainty for the future.”

This year’s Shetland Times “Drop the Debt” campaign and petition was supported by more than 2,250 people before it was presented to Scotland’s local government minister Derek Mackay in July. At the time he said: “Westminster absolutely has to be held to account for the commitments they have made.”

The executive committee decision taken today will be considered by the full council on 11th December.

Local tenants’ forum worker Joann Johnson (left) presents local government minister Derek Mackay with evidence of islanders’ desire to see the SIC housing debt dealt with during his visit in July. Former Shetland Times reporter Neil Riddell looks on. Photo: Stephen Gordon

Missing crofter Colin Arnot may have been seen in Lerwick last week, police have said.

Officers have renewed their appeal to trace North Roe man Mr Arnot who has been missing for more than a week.

But in a new statement police say: “There are indications of a positive sighting on Tuesday, 26th November, in Lerwick and it is requested that anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Colin Arnot please contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Mr Arnot has access to a green Mitsubishi Shogun registered number X699 VYA. He may also have access to a small dark car, although no further description of this vehicle was available.

Police have also urged Mr Arnot to get in touch by contacting the local police station in Lerwick, or on 101, so that it can be confirmed that he is safe and well.

The Eric Gray Centre. Photo: Dave Donaldson

A group campaigning for special needs adults has been re-formed amid the uncertainty over the future of the Eric Gray Centre and additional support needs department at the Anderson High School.

Shetland Special Needs Action Group (SSNAG – formerly known as SNAG) is calling on the council to reverse its decision to remove the proposed new Eric Gray Centre from the capital programme and press on with its building without any more delay.

A statement from SSNAG says: “The removal of an Eric Gray Resources Centre new build from capital projects whilst failing to consult with and inform families of the event is a matter of grave concern.

“The corresponding news that the families of young adults with severe/profound physical and learning disabilities have been informed their loved ones must vacate the Anderson High School ASN department, with no identified building to relocate to, has also caused alarm and outrage.”

SSNAG is seeking to publicise the plight of the young adults, some of whom are in their late twenties and have the most complex and disabling conditions. They have been forced to remain at the Anderson High School’s ASN department because the current Eric Gray centre is unsuitable and unable to accommodate them.

Some of the group were forced to remain at primary school until their late teens and early twenties waiting for the Anderson High School ASN department to be built.

“Had the council not delayed, a new Eric Gray building could have been built by now and they would have had a safe, suitable environment to move on to,” SSNAG adds.

SSNAG describes itslef as a group of parents, carers and friends of individuals with ASN that is concerned with the welfare and wellbeing of individuals of all age groups with additional support needs.

Last week the chairman and vice-chairman of the council’s social work committee apologised for the lack of communication which saw Eric Gray users, parents and staff learn of plans for a caravan and camp site at Seafield through The Shetland Times, while the replacement care centre was “put on the back burner.”

They were also told by executive manager of adult services Clare Scott that the ASN department at the Anderson High School was to close to Eric Gray clients in March, though director of children’s services Helen Budge said later that was still subject to negotiation.

The future of the Seafield site is still being discussed with interested parties, the council has also said.