Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland COMMUNITY PROFILE Central Mainland Shetland Islands Council Community Work Service December 2010 Page 1 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Page 2 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland CONTENTS Page 4 Introduction Placing the West Mainland Community Profile in context Page 6 The West Mainland of Shetland A summary of the facilities, communities and uniqueness of the area Page 7 Population Outlining trends in our population throughout the West Mainland of Shetland Page 11 Cross Cutting Themes Page 14 Wealthier Highlighting how businesses and people are increasing their wealth, enabling more people to share fairly in that wealth Page 18 Fairer Outlining a fairer society Page 20 Smarter Outlining how the area is expanding opportunities to succeed from nurture through to lifelong learning, ensuring higher and more widely shared achievements Page 22 Safer Helping communities to flourish, becoming stronger, safer places to live, offering improved opportunities and a better quality of life Page 23 Stronger Housing, Transport, Community Assets & Communications Page 26 Healthier Helping people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, ensuring better, local and faster access to health care Page 27 Greener Improving Shetland’s natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it Page 30 Appendices Page 31 Sources of Information Page 3 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Introduction This document presents a range of social, environmental and cultural information focussing on the Central Mainalnd of Shetland and includes the communities of Scalloway, Burra, Trondra, Tingwall and Girlsta. This information has been gathered from national and local statistical data, from local research and consultations, and from the views of community members expressed in a range of settings. Effective planning for the future depends largely on a good understanding of what already exists. This profile aims to provide a baseline of information about the Westside of Shetland from which service providers, agencies, voluntary and community organisations in the area can develop a shared understanding of the needs and issues within the area. It is intended as a working document through which to stimulate debate, discussion and through which to support and inform action and developments, which seek to improve the local planning and delivery of services. The profile will be updated as necessary via the Local Service Delivery Group (LSDG) for the area, and will be used to encourage LSDG members and others to work more closely together to deliver locally appropriate solutions to identified needs. The profile will assist in the measuring of strategic outcomes at a local level, and contribute to the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) reporting framework. In 2004 the Community Planning Board agreed on 7 localities for Shetland “to provide the basis for service planning at a local community level and specifically to support the future planning of health and social care services within the Community Health Partnership”. These are North Isles, Whalsay and Skerries, North Mainland, West Mainland, Central, Lerwick and Bressay, and South.The West Mainland therefore represent one of the 7 localities, Page 4 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Shetland Islands Council area Electoral arrangements Ward 2 Shetland North Alastair Cooper Addie Doull Bill Manson Ward 1 North Isles Laura Baisley Robert Henderson Josie Simpson Ward 3 Shetland West Florence Grains Frank Robertson Ward 6 Gary Robinson Lerwick North Sandy Cluness Caroline Miller Ward 4 Allan Wishart Shetland Central Betty Fullerton Iris Hawkins Andrew Hughson Ward 7 Lerwick South Gussie Angus Ward 5 Jonathan Wills Shetland South Cecil Smith Jim Budge Jim Henry Allison Duncan Rick Nickerson Figure 1. Shetland Islands Council electoral arrangements Page 5 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Central Mainland The Central Mainland area of Shetland is an area rich in heritage & culture, strong in identity and diverse in habitat. The Central Mainland supports a large number of communities from Nesbister in the West through to Burra in the East. A strong tradition of crofting and traditional land management methods compliment the need for progress and developing new and sometimes high tech businesses, providing employment and income generation. The area relies heavily (although not exclusively) on marine based industries including fishing, marine supply and service to the merchant shipping community making use of Scalloway Harbour. The Central Mainland is diverse in habitat ranging from the rich Tingwall Valley to the fine coastline of Burra & Trondra. A large number of archaeological sites and Scheduled Monuments enhance the Central Mainland, making this area a high priority for visitors and tourists. A high standard of infrastructure supports the large number of communities throughout the Central Mainland of Shetland which include; an excellent network of high quality roads; three primary schools and one Junior High school; one swimming pool; one retained fire & rescue station; three formal marinas; a range of village shops and other retail outlets; a health centre; five community halls; an airstrip; a large number of kirks; a nationally important marine study centre; a petrol station; a 16 bed care centre along with a day care centre; a youth centre; a Post office; fish shops; and an outdoor centre. A wide variety of employers base themselves throughout the Central Mainland contributing to the social sustainability of the area. The range of employment found in this area includes; aquaculture & marine based facilities; vehicle repairs; hair dressers; leisure facilities; schools; childcare and lifelong learning providers; health care providers; transport operators; retained fire fighters; builders, plumbers and electricians; hotels, restaurants & bars; consultants; and horticulture retailers. In addition to this a large number of self employed or lone private business exist. Employment in the Central Mainland is diverse with a large number of people undertaking a number employment opportunities concurrently. The importance of sustainable communities and active citizenship cannot be underestimated throughout the Central Mainland. The collective communities of the Central Mainland make a major contribution to quality of life through active participation in a wide range of community facilities, clubs and social enterprises. Page 6 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Population Outlining trends in our population throughout Central Mainland Population retention remains a key priority for Shetland Islands Council in partnership with other agencies and organisations. Since 2001, the population of Central Mainland has fallen by 1.0% standing at 3,033 in 20081. Scalloway experienced the largest reduction in population during this period of 7.8%. Burra & Trondra’s population fell by 3.6% while Tingwall & Gott fell by 0.3%. The only data zone to record a rise in population was Wadbister & Girlsta (which is in the same data zone of Whiteness & Weisdale) with +12%. Please note that this 12% rise includes Whiteness & Weisdale.2 In 2008, statistics gave reason to believe that the split between males and females within Central Mainland narrowly favoured males. There were 1,572 males and 1,461 females3. The age group of 50-59 year olds was most predominant in Central Mainland followed by (in descending order) 40-49 year olds, 30-39 year olds, 10-19 year olds, 0-9 year olds, 20-29 year olds, 60-69 year olds, 70-79 year olds, 80-89 year olds and 90 years and over4 3,140 3,120 3,100 3,080 3,060 3,040 Total Population 3,020 3,000 2,980 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Shetland Central 3,065 3,046 3,060 3,121 3,083 3,050 3,045 3,033 Year Figure 1. Population change in Central Mainland between 2001 and 2008. 1 GROS Population Data 2008 2 GROS Data Zone 2008 3 GROS Population Data 2008 4 GROS Data Combined Population by Age & Sex 2008 Page 7 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Shetland Central 300 250 200 150 100 Number of Individuals 50 0 90 & 0 - 9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 - 89 over MALES 177 171 183 254 244 247 175 77 34 10 FEMALES 161 172 154 201 218 242 134 98 69 12 Figure 2. Gender and Age profile for Central Mainland 2008 1,000 950 900 Burra, Trondra & Foula 850 800 Scalloway 750 700 Tingwall & Gott Total Population 650 Whiteness/Weis 600 dale, Wadbister 550 & Girlsta 500 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Year Figure 3. Population changes between 2001 and 2008 Page 8 of 31 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile Central Mainland Population at Census After decades of population decline, which had fallen to 17,000 in the mid 1960s, the population of Shetland has recovered well. This was most dramatic during the 1970s & 1980s as a direct result of oil exploitation. Since the recent high point recorded in the 1981 Census of 22,768, Shetland’s population in the 2001 Census stood at 21,988 which represents a change (comparing with 1991 Census) of – 0.1%. Community Council Area Population at Census 2001 Burra and Trondra 983 Scalloway 1129 Tingwall, Whiteness & Weisdale 1405 Table 1. Population at Census 2001 Religious Affiliation The 2001 Census gave data specific to religious affiliation. Whilst the mainstream Christian based congregations unsurprisingly commanded the most support, other religions were also supported. A large proportion of the population of the West Mainland however was either not aliened to any religious grouping or chose not to respond to this particular question None Nnone Church Roman Other Buddhist Hindu Jewish MuSikhSslim SSikh Another No response of Catholic Christian Religion Scotland Nesting, 546 521 30 148 4 - - 4 - 9 75 Whiteness, Girlsta and Gott Scalloway 544 298 13 205 1 - 1 - - 6 61 Burra 409 337 20 155 1 - - - - 5 Table 2.