In the UK, The Scotsman newspaper reports that plans to connect the Orkney mainland to some of its outlying islands by tunnel progressed when the Orkney council approved a US$35,000 study into the feasibility of such fixed links on 6 September. Hopes have been raised that this may encourage plans for a tunnel beneath the Pentland Firth to the mainland. The convener of the council said he thought there was general support for the fixed links and a tunnel between the islands and Caithness would also win backing.
