St Mary?s harbour is to get a revamp after the council secured ?200,000 of investment.

The work will be carried out by the Route Partnership to improve Scilly?s sea transport links with the mainland.

“This is a significant step for the Route Partnership”, explained Councillor Dudley Mumford to Scilly News.

“It was just one year ago that the Partnership was established to look at how we could improve our transport links with the mainland. A year later we?ve signed a contract with the consultancy firm Scott Wilson to carry out our Stage 1 Technical Investigations and Appraisals. This work links the Penwith District Council?s project at the other end of the Route for improving Penzance harbour.”

The consultant?s first job is to work with the local community to understand the issues and then come up with outline options for St Mary?s Quay and how this would effect a replacement vessel. Initial discussions have been held with members of the Route Partnership and quay users.

The public will have their opportunity to comment over the coming months. The first public exhibition takes place on St Mary?s in the Town Hall at the end of the week. Displays will present the background and issues, together with preliminary ideas.

Scott Wilson will also be there to meet islanders and hear from them. The exhibition will be open to the public on Thursday 1st April from 10am-6pm and on Friday 2nd April from 9am-1pm.

Free transport has been arranged for off-islanders wishing to come along. Copies of the displays can also be viewed at community halls on each of the off-islands.

Calm seas and bright sunshine made the first sailing of the year an enjoyable one.

The first sailing from Penzance to Scilly was made on Monday morning a sign that spring is well and truly on its way.

This comes as the sea links to Scilly are debated in a display at the end of the week.

St Mary?s beat the off islands hockey team 2-1 yesterday.

Dave Metcalf from St Martins scored the only goal for the loosing team in the match played on Tresco.

The next match will take place on St Martins on 25th April.

The Church of England and Methodist ministers came together on Bryher in a new service.

A joint service was given in the Church allowing both sectors to take communion.

Church Warden Kris Taylor told Scilly News: “It was a really anjoyable service.”

It was the first of its kind on Scilly.

Picture: Richard Pearce

A car was broken into this week on St Mary?s. A stereo and a CD player were stolen from the vehicle on Jerusalem Terrace near Tregarthen?s.

Although no other incidents have been reported to the police various cars are rumoured to have been broken in to over the last couple of months.

If you have any information on this crime please contact the police on 01720 422444.

Local Police have reported that yet another paddock was tampered with on Friday.

An electric fence up near the heliport was deliberately fiddled with although no horses escaped.

The police have been called to two incidents over the last month where horses have been deliberately let out of fields.

PC Hardy from St Mary?s police station told Scilly News that the incidents were “very unusual.”

If you have information on this crime please call 01720 422444.

Picture: Francis Hoskin

An ex England player will be helping to off island hockey team on Sunday when they play St Mary?s.

The match is taking place on Tresco.

Scilly News will bring you the score as it happens.

The islands have been mourning over the sad loss of Mary Nicholls from St Mary?s.

The hotelier died recently after a long illness.

As well as owning Star Castle and the St Mary?s Hall Hotel she also ran various businesses over the years from a hairdressers to a restaurant.

Hundreds of people turned up to the memorial service on St Mary?s last week.

She was married to John Nicholls the Secretary of the St Mary?s lifeboat and the island?s pilot.

After much deliberation one island man has proved that slow worms are living on Bryher.

Although locals have always insisted that slow worms do exist on the islands many nature experts have dismissed it as speculation.

But Chris Hopkins has spotted one and has the photo to prove it!

Photo: Chris Hopkins

The Woolpack Wanderers have come top of the league after last Sunday?s final match.

The score was 7:1 after Matt Thompson scored a hat trick.

Andrew Hicks scored the most goals this year(22).

The league will resume again in November although the Woolpack Wanderers and the Garrison Gunners, the only two teams in the league, will be playing visiting mainland teams in April.

Picture: Francis Hoskin