The new Oversund roundabout, Shetland, at the junction of the A970 South Road and Oversund Road is now virtually complete and will come into full use very soon. The Council is urging drivers to approach it with extra care until everyone gets used to it.

The new roundabout was required to cope with the additional traffic resulting from increased development in the area, the most significant of which is some 120 new homes developed by the Hjatland Housing Association at Quoys. Had the existing junction been retained, the additional traffic would have resulted in ever increasing delays at peak times for traffic trying to join the main road. The new roundabout now in use will minimise delays and generally help traffic flow.

As well as a new roundabout, additional traffic calming and an extended 20 mph speed limit is included, as well as increased parking at the school and landscaping of rough ground adjacent to Nederdale. All three projects were tendered as one contract in order to carry out the works as efficiently as possible and to keep down overall costs.

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To minimise future maintenance, it was decided that the central circle of the roundabout should be made into a feature using hard landscaping rather than grass that needs to be cut regularly. The feature chosen incorporates a compass rose pointing to magnetic north, made of recycled materials, and designed to be long lasting. Design of the compass was by James Mackenzie of the Shetland Amenity Trust, with the pavers and beads supplied by Enviroglass from locally sourced recycled glass.

Landscaping of the adjacent area between the roundabout, the Fish Box and Nederdale will provide an alternative to regularly mown grass. A requirement by SEPA to install a settlement pond to mitigate pollution from road surface run off has given an opportunity to use aquatic and marginal plants such as reeds, sedges and irises. Meadow plantings with a mix of bulbs and wild flowers will require a once or twice yearly cutting, and with a mix of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will provide greater biodiversity than grass alone. Paths and dry-stone raised beds will add to the amenity and aesthetic appeal of the area

Local Councillor and Environment spokesperson Jim Henry said: "This is an excellent example of how joint working with a number of Council departments and external bodies came together to reduce costs, improve the local amenity and environment of the area and it is hoped that this will provide a long lasting and worthwhile asset to the local community. In addition, traffic calming measures included in the project should improve road safety near the busy Sound Primary School."

(GK/JM)