Conclusion 3

Some of Scotland’s islands, particularly the Shetland Islands, have well- developed proposals for fixed links. We have heard a clear consensus, but not necessarily unanimity, amongst those communities in favour of these proposals. However, fixed links can also create additional pressures. While the benefits are clear, they can generate additional demand on local infrastructure, which will require long-term investment across the wider system and entail ongoing maintenance costs to ensure links are sustainable. Concerns that fixed links can also result in a loss of island identity and the potential centralisation of services must not be ignored when weighing the merits of specific proposals. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)