Imagine this: You live on a beautiful Scottish island, but your daily commute is a torturous journey of ferries and unpredictable weather. For Alec Priest, an instrument technician on Shetland, this is a harsh reality. But what if there was a better way? A way that could transform island life as we know it?
Currently, Alec's commute involves two aging ferries that navigate waters known for their strong currents. This adds significant time, stress, and cost to his already demanding job. A drive that should be 34 miles turns into a 3.5-hour round trip. He works 12-hour shifts, making the ferry delays even more frustrating.
"It’s a colossal waste of time," Alec says, highlighting the impact of potential ferry cancellations due to winter storms. This uncertainty forces him to stay in staff hostels, away from his family for weeks. But what if there was a solution?
The answer, according to many islanders, is simple: tunnels. Cutting tunnels between Yell and Unst, and connecting to Shetland's Mainland, could reduce travel times to a mere 40 minutes each way. This has sparked a passionate campaign led by islanders on Yell and Unst, who are actively promoting the benefits of these underground passages.
They've commissioned geological surveys and consulted with Scandinavian tunnel engineering experts to prove the economic, social, and financial advantages. They argue that the lack of tunnels is causing depopulation and isolation, with families leaving the islands due to the unreliability of ferry travel.
But here's where it gets controversial... The islanders point to the Faroe Islands, where road tunnels connect numerous islands, including the unique underground roundabout in the Eysturoyartunnilin. They also look to Norway, where island connections to the mainland have existed for decades. This campaign, supported by their Liberal Democrat MP, Alistair Carmichael, has successfully pushed tunnels and bridges onto the political agenda.
Scottish ministers have included fixed links in their strategic transport plan, allocating £10 million to Shetland to investigate connectivity options, including ferry replacement, flights, and, of course, tunnelling. The government hints at further commitments in the updated infrastructure strategy.
Officials in the Western Isles are also advocating for a continuous “spinal link” with bridges or tunnels connecting south Harris with north Uist, and south Uist with Barra. However, there are debates about whether tunnels or bridges are the best solution.
Torcuil Crichton, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), views tunnels or new bridges as a costly “fantasy solution” that would take too long to deliver. He believes the islands urgently need new ferries and more investment in social and health services.
Carmichael believes that the concept will be immensely appealing. He points out that the islands in Shetland connected to the Mainland by causeways have not experienced depopulation. "I have always said the most difficult tunnel to be built would be the first one. Once you’ve proven the concept, you won’t have to make the case [for others]. Communities will be banging on your door.”
Alice Mathewson, the development manager for North Yell Development council, whose home is on Unst, emphasizes that tunnels would greatly increase the islands’ resilience. She and Alec estimate that the two tunnels could cost between £115 million and £135 million to build. Replacing Shetland’s ferries would cost an additional £100 million, on top of the £7 million annual subsidies.
Tunnels could also protect vital internet and electricity connections and ensure Shetland’s salmon farms can get their products to market. Islanders are open to paying tolls to fund the tunnels and embrace public-private financing.
"The ferry service has served our islands very well but that’s a 20th-century form of transport," Alice states. "In the 21st century the answer is: dig a hole. Scotland has to drag itself into the 21st century.”
And this is the part most people miss... The potential for tunnels goes beyond just faster commutes. They represent a significant investment in the future of these islands, potentially boosting the economy, improving quality of life, and ensuring essential services are more reliable.
What do you think? Are tunnels the right solution for Scotland's islands? Do you agree with the islanders' vision, or do you see other priorities? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
