5 July, 2006

BT are demolishing ten redundant aerials which have dominated the skyline on Shetland’s south mainland for many years.

Glasgow based firm R.M. Easdale & Co started work this week on taking eight tropospheric scatter radio dishes down from Scousburgh Hill and a further two from nearby Mossy Hill.

The contract is worth in excess of £100,000 and will involve removing masts, dishes and fencing, as well as tidying up. The contractors expect to complete the job by October.

The two sites were used for radio communications to the North Sea oil rigs and platforms prior to the introduction of satellite technology.

Dunrossness Community Council, which has been campaigning for the removal of the redundant radars for the past two years, were “pleasantly surprised” by the move by BT, according to chairman Donald Robertson.

“Obviously we are delighted they are going to do this,” Mr Robertson said. “We certainly didn’t expect it. All they seemed to be able to do was some tidying up around the fence, which was the minimum we had hoped for. This is a lot better than that.”