Also in the news / Folk festival live broadcast, reduction in service at Brae surgery, Loganair saves the day and more…

SHETLAND News will be hosting a live broadcast of tonight’s Ringin’ Strings concert at Mareel, part of the Shetland Folk Festival.

Promote Shetland will be broadcasting the concert on Facebook and via its YouTube channel. It will also appear on the frontpage of Shetland News at www.shetnews.co.uk starting at 7.15pm.

THE HEALTH centre in Brae will be dealing with urgent requests only until next Friday (6 May) due to the absence of staff.

NHS Shetland said non-urgent requests from local people would take longer to respond to.

In a message on social media the health board said: “We apologise for this reduction of service, which is unavoidable, and would ask patients for their understanding and patience.

“In order to help us help those patients who are most in need please remember that your local pharmacy can help with minor ailments, and you should seek advice for minor ailments at NHS Inform.”

SHETLAND Islands Council and SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, is warning local people to avoid Pullar’s Loch at the Ness of Sound, in Lerwick, after blue-green algae was discovered.

Notices have been posted next to the loch warning that contact with algal scum should be avoided. Adjoining landowners have been advised of the situation, as has NHS Shetland.

Dogs and livestock should be kept away from these lochs to prevent any potential health effects.

At this stage there is no adverse effect on water supplies, the council said.

Anyone coming across any suspected algal blooms is encouraged to make any reports using the ‘Bloomin Algae’ app, where photographs can also be uploaded.  This is available to download from a link online at https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bloomin-algae

FRENCH Canadian folk band Le Vent Du Nord almost missed the 40th annual Shetland Folk Festival but thanks to a last minute rescue effort from Loganair they arrived ahead of their performance slot. 

Festival programmer Mhari McLeman said: “Loganair really has saved the day and couldn’t have been more accommodating in our eleventh hour call for help.

“The five-piece band and their 13 items of luggage, including large instruments, were stranded on the mainland after a fight delay with another airline and a missed ferry.

“Thankfully Loganair stepped in and arranged transport for all band members and their belongings to reach Shetland in time for a surprise performance on Thursday night ahead of their headline festival slot on Friday. Huge thank you to Loganair.”

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