Braer anniversary

THIS weekend marks the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s worst oil spill, when the Braer oil tanker ran aground on Shetland.

And environmental group WWF Scotland want a permanent solution to emergency towing vessel cover around Scotland’s coastline and a ban on companies with a poor pollution record from operating in the North Sea.

They say the increased risk posed by deep-water drilling, combined with cuts in emergency towing vessels, means that Scotland is never far away from a major pollution incident.

WWF Scotland spokesman, Lang Banks, said: “The UK Government’s short-sighted decision to press ahead with a reduction in emergency tug cover means we have been left with a sticking plaster solution, and even that is temporary.”