Papa Stour Photographs Biggins, Forewick, Hurdiback

Papa Stour Fashion Icon known as Gwyn

Papa Stour Mr Thomas is NOW GONE

Papa Stour Mr Thomas has now LEFT THE ISLAND

Papa Stour Mr Thomas has NOW LEFT THE ISLAND

Mr Thomas has now left the Island

Papa Stour Mr Thomas has now LEFT the Island

Mr Thomas has now left the Island

Letter about Attack on Mental Health Nurse out Rambling

Dear
> James
>
> Thanks for your access report,
> though I'm sorry to hear
> about your upsetting experience. I think this is the first access
> issue on Shetland that I have heard about so it's a shame that you had
> to be the one to have it. I monitor all access issues I hear about,
> so I've made a note of this one, but I strongly advise you to contact
> the local access officer in Shetland to report the problem to the
> local authority in an official way.
> You may also like to contact the local police since this sounds like
> an assault
> - though if you were alone it would be difficult to prove without
> witnesses. However, if this person has a habit of assaulting innocent
> walkers then the police should know about it. They may not do
> anything on one report, but if they get a few they will have to take
> action.
>
> The
> access officer role
> is done as a jobshare in Shetland by
> Emma Georgeson 01595 744839 or
> Sheila Johnson
> on 01595 744847. The email address I have is
> emma.georgeson@sic.shetland.gov.uk
>
>
> My feeling is
> that there is never any
> excuse for violent, aggressive behaviour, but you may like to reassure
> yourself that you were acting in a responsible manner by taking a
> quick look at the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. You can see this on:
> http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/approvedcode050604.pdf
>
> Section 5 gives guidance on
> responsible access in particular situations, and is probably the most
> useful part of the Code - see Beaches and the Foreshore, Houses and
> Gardens, etc.
>
> I hope
> this is of some help but
> if you would like any more information please don't hesitate to get in
> touch.
>
> Best
> wishes
> Helen
>
>
>
> Helen Todd
> Access Campaign
> Officer
> Ramblers Scotland
> Kingfisher House, Auld Mart Business Park, Milnathort, Kinross, KY13
> 9DA
> Tel: 01577 861 222 Fax: 01577 861
> 333
> E-mail: Helen.Todd@ramblers.org.uk
> or scotland@ramblers.org.uk
>
> http://www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland/
>
>
>
> From: Ramblers
> [mailto:automail@onestopcms.co.uk]
> Sent: 11 June 2009
> 15:53
> To: freedom
> Subject: Coastal access and access land
> problem report: {CoastalAccessLandProblems}
>

Mental Health Nurse attacked on Papa Stour

My friend James came up for the week for a holiday on Papa Stour, he is a keen protographer and enjoys walking and bird watching. He was taking a walk using the quickest route to and from the beach along a public footpath and fields when a local Mr Alan Thomas of Hurdiback Backpackers. Shetland.stormed out of his house and began shouting and swearing. He was so loud and balshy that he frightened off his own sheep and lambs, not to mention the concern my friend had at his behaviour! Unfortunately when my friend James asserted his right to roam and reminded the man that this is a public footpath, Mr Thomas pushed my friend repeatedly until he fell to the ground and as a consequence James is now suffering fear of coming back to Papa Stour. Being a non confrontational gentleman himself, James attempted to use his skills as a mental health nurse to diffuse the situation, however this was to no avail. Another lady guest was also staying at the time was taking pictures of James walking when Mr Thomas of Hurdiback Papa Stour stormed out and caused a disturbance and breach of the peace(legal terms). The sequence of photos attatched to this blog help show that James was minding his own business on a piece of land that the public should be able to use at their leisure. Furthermore, the Ordnance survey map number 467 clearly shows that a public footpath runs past Mr Thomas's houseHurdiback Backpackers. Shetland. Hurdiback Backpackers and visitors can view the characteristic red telephone box using this route. I would urge everyone who enjoys the countryside to join me in condemning this behaviour. My friend has enjoyed walking and hiking on all the islands in the Shetlands and has never encountered such hostility except on Papa Stour. I hope Mr Thomas of Hurdiback Papa Stour and any others like him will mend their ways so that visitors can continue to enjoy Papa Stour in peace. Most of Papa Stour residents do not condone Mr Thomas behaviour. This to my knowledge is the sixth confrontational event form Mr Thomas.