Although all four main political parties are putting up candidates next month, the odds must be on the islands council maintaining its tradition of independent control.

However, the LibDems do regard Shetland as their territory. Since the days of Jo Grimond half a century ago, the islands have only ever had Liberal or LibDem parliamentary representation - Jim Wallace, Alistair Carmichael, and now Tavish Scott at Holyrood.

There are seven wards: six will return three councillors and one, Lerwick South, will have four.

One thing candidates are bound to be asked about is the council-led project to establish a £1bn windfarm. The 200-turbine farm would be twice the size of any windfarm project approved in the UK so far and would be the most productive in the world.

But it would also be one of the largest community wind farms in the world, generating around £20m a year for the people of Shetland. However, a recent BBC Radio Shetland programme showed there are profound environmental concerns locally.

Print

Email this