Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland COMMUNITY PROFILE West Mainland Shetland Islands Council Community Work Service December 2010 Page 1 of 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland Page 2 of 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West 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 12 Cross Cutting Themes Page 15 Wealthier Highlighting how businesses and people are increasing their wealth, enabling more people to share fairly in that wealth Page 19 Fairer Outlining a fairer society Page 22 Smarter Outlining how the area is expanding opportunities to succeed from nurture through to lifelong learning, ensuring higher and more widely shared achievements Page 25 Safer Helping communities to flourish, becoming stronger, safer places to live, offering improved opportunities and a better quality of life Page 27 Stronger Housing, Transport, Community Assets & Communications Page 33 Healthier Helping people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, ensuring better, local and faster access to health care Page 34 Greener Improving Shetland’s natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it Page 38 Appendices Page 39 Sources of Information Page 3 of 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland Introduction This document presents a range of social, environmental and cultural information focussing on the West Mainland of Shetland and includes the communities of Nesbister, Whiteness, Weisdale, Tresta, Bixter, Walls, Sandness, Gruting, Culswick, Skeld, Gardehouse, Clousta, Aith, and the small Islands of Foula and Papa Stour which represent specific and unique challenges to their respective communities. 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 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West 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 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland The West Mainland of Shetland The West Mainland is a unique area of Shetland rich in heritage & culture, strong in identity and diverse in habitat. The West Mainland supports a large number of communities from Nesbister in the East through to Foula in the far West. 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. Some of the most dramatic coastal scenery can be found in the West Mainland which supports large numbers of breeding birds and other wildlife. Freshwater Lochs and burns also contribute to the rich biodiversity of the West Mainland. A vast number of archaeological sites enhance the West Mainland as does the complex and unique geology, making this area a high priority for visitors and tourists. A high standard of infrastructure supports the large number of communities throughout the West Mainland of Shetland which include; an excellent network of high quality roads; six primary schools and one Junior High school; two swimming pools; a leisure centre; two retained fire stations; three formal marinas; four country shops; two health centres; an innovative community energy scheme; eight community halls; three boating clubs; two ferries and two airstrips; a large number of kirks; six community gardens/community woodlands; three camping böds; a lifeboat station; a coastguard response team; three petrol stations; a 12 bed care centre along with a day care centre; and two community cooperatives. A wide variety of employers base themselves throughout the West Mainland contributing to the social sustainability of the area. The range of employment found in this area includes; a bakery; a knitwear factory; aquaculture facilities; a cheese maker; vehicle repairs; community shops and cooperatives; leisure facilities; schools and lifelong learning providers; jewellery makers; health care providers; transport operators; retained fire fighters; builders, plumbers and electricians; a veterinary practice; three mail sorting and delivery offices; and ferry staff. In addition to this a large number of self employed or lone private business exist. Employment in the West 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 West Mainland. The collective communities of the West 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 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland Population Outlining trends in our population throughout the West Mainland Population retention remains a key priority for Shetland Islands Council in partnership with other agencies and organisations. Since 2001, the population of the West Mainland has risen by 6.9% standing at 2,098 in 20081. The areas of Skeld, Clousta, Gruting and Twatt recorded the largest percentage increase during this period of 14.4%. This was followed by Aith, Bixter, Tresta and East Burrafirth with a 5.0% increase and lastly by Walls, Sandness, West Burrafirth and Papa Stour with a 2.3% increase on 2001 figures2. In 2008, statistics gave reason to believe that the split between males and females within the West Mainland was fairly even. There were 1,040 males and 1,058 females3. The age group of 40-49 year olds was most predominant in the West Mainland followed by (in descending order) 10-19 year olds, 50-59 year olds, 60-69 year olds, 0-9 year olds, 30-39 year olds, 20-29 year olds, 70-79 year olds, 80-89 year olds and 90 years and over4 2,150 2,100 2,050 2,000 1,950 Total Population 1,900 1,850 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Shetland West 1,963 1,983 1,985 2,059 2,101 2,070 2,099 2,098 Year Figure 2. As the above table clearly shows, the population of Shetland West has risen by 6.9% between 2001 and 2008, standing at 2,098. 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 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West Mainland Shetland West 200 150 100 50 Number of Individuals 0 10 - 20 - 30 - 40 - 50 - 60 - 70 - 80 - 90 & 0 - 9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 over MALES 102 164 111 125 166 125 141 76 27 3 FEMALES 127 151 86 135 157 144 119 69 53 17 Figure 3. Gender and Age profile for West Mainland 2008 1,000 Skeld, Clousta, Gruting & Twatt 950 Walls, Sandness, West Burrafith & Papa Stour 900 Aith, Bixter, Tresta & East 850 Burrafirth 800 750 700 Total Population 650 600 550 500 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Year Figure 4. Population changes between 2001 and 2008 Page 8 of 39 Shetland Islands Council Community Profile West 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 Population Population Population Population Population Council at Census at Census at Census at Census at Census Area 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 Sandness & 561 483 573 554 601 Walls Sandsting & 957 873 1,002 891 945 Aithsting Tingwall, 1,603 1,671 1,080 1,431 1,722 Whiteness & Weisdale Table 1. Population at Census Religious Affiliation The 2001 Census gave data specific to religious affiliation.