Unst Partnership News

October 2010

Unst Partnership recognised the need for the whole Unst community to work together to make the best use of resources and wishes to adopt a more strategic approach to community development, considering this to be particularly important during the current financial climate. The Partnership is committed to building its reputation as a progressive community development company, and has acknowledged that full community involvement in, and ownership of, its activities is crucial in order to effect real change.

Unst Partnership wishes to see a Community Development Plan compiled on Unst, and is currently working with community members, community groups, businesses and stakeholders to gather views, identify priorities and establish potential projects for implementation. The 'Unst Ideas Day' was the first of a number of community events planned as part of the consultation process. This has now been published and is available on the reports page.

If you have ideas on how to improve Unst, what should be done to make Unst an even better place to live/work or if you would like to contribute to the Unst Community Development Plan then follow this link to take part in the online survey.

January 2009

Unst Partnership receives confirmation from the Climate Challenge Fund that they have funding for a two year part-time (20 hours pw) Community Powerdown Officer. This post is for a local person to be involved with the Community in reducing their energy use (carbon footprint). Similar posts have been recently established in Lerwick (Shetland amenity Trust), Northmavine and Fair Isle. 27 different community groups across Scotland are taking part in the Community Powerdown Initiative, in an attempt to show that local groups can reduce the energy use in their communities. The scheme is being co-ordinated through the Community Energy company and "Keep Scotland Beautiful".

The officer should start work in Unst in April. Among the projects to consider are : Community composting; a Recycling Centre on the island; an Energy Saving Service, giving people information on how to cut their power costs; and a further examination of energy saving schemes for public buildings, businesses, housing estates and private houses as a follow up to the Flensburg Report in 2007 and the Energy Balance study by Mark Gazey and Ryan Thomson in 2003.

December 2008

The Saxa Vord  Resort complex was put on the open market in October 2009, with the owners Saxa Vord Properties LLP expressing interest in more Community involvement on the site.

At a meeting with Unst Community Council and Frank Strang (Saxa Vord Properties LLP )  the Unst Partnership was given the green light by the Community Council to seek funding for a Feasibility Study into a Community Buy-In to Saxa Vord. Such a study is estimated to cost in the region of £30,000. The Partnership has approached local funders (Shetland LEADER, the SIC Economic Development Dept)  and the BIG Lottery fund's "Investing in Ideas" programme for assistance in financing this Study. It is hoped the Study can begin in April 2009 and is estimated to take two months.

At that point, the Community Council will organise a community meeting to discuss whether the Community should have further involvement in this venture.