Scottish ministers must now move heaven and earth to deliver Shetland tunnels

Speaking after Shetland Islands Council backed plans to connect islands with £1.5bn undersea tunnels, Orkney & Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael said:

"The development of tunnels in the Faroe Islands has brought about transformational change, reversed population decline and slashed travel times. Tunnels for Shetland will boost regional development and help rejuvenate our economy.

"When Beatrice Wishart and I first started the Tunnel Vision community events to build a consensus around tunnels for the isles, days like this seemed a long way off.

"Now after five years of campaigning the consensus for tunnels between our islands is stronger than ever.

"I want to thank the council for their work pushing ahead with feasibility studies and for their vote today.

"Now Scottish ministers need to move heaven and earth to deliver tunnels for Shetland. We can no longer afford to be at the back of the queue where infrastructure is concerned."