Shetland plant plea

- Published: 26 October, 2006

A new abattoir is needed on Shetland to boost the island's growing meat trade and co-ordinate facilities for small businesses.

Norman Leask, chairman of the Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF), says the plant is really vital. "New transport legislation is coming in January next year and will cause a problem even on an island as small as this, because the current cattle facilities for slaughtering are located at one end of the island, and people won't be able to transport animals across to the plant without breaking the law."

He wants to locate all the slaughtering facilities in the middle of the island near the cattle and sheep mart at Lerwick. "It would suit everybody's needs," he said.