An agreement has been reached between Scottish Water Solutions and Ross-shire Engineering to give £100,000 to the Shetlands Island Council to cover the cost damage caused to roads in the Foula area.

The companies were involved in a project to Foula's water treatment works, which involved running aggregates from the isle's quarry, as well as other materials, to the treatment works site at Da Toon o' Ham and to the new service reservoirs at Da Heights. A new pipeline was also laid to take water from the treatment works to the reservoir. The new reservoir replaces both of the old reservoirs, located at the north and south of the island.

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A majority of the roads in Foula have been constructed directly onto peat, with very little foundation, and while the contractor tried to minimise damage, the project impacted on the local roads. It has now been announced that Ross-shire Engineering has agreed to cover the costs of repairing the roads. This work is expected to commence shortly.

Michael Stout, Chair of Shetland Islands Council's Environment and Transport Committee, said: "I'm very pleased that the contractor has agreed to cover these costs. It was essential that Scottish Water's project went ahead, and it was also inevitable that a certain amount of damage would be done. This money will allow us to reinstate the roads to their former condition."

(JP/CD)