School campaigners gutted over closure

Campaigners fighting to save Lionel S2 school in Ness have described their sadness and anger that axe has fallen on the community secondary school.

Hopes of a last minute reprieve were dashed after the Scottish Government opted not to intervene in the Comhairle’s decision to close it.

There is much anger that councillor-elect, Alastair Maclennan was barred from voting as his term of office had not officially started - while another council member, convenor Norman Macdonald, was granted two votes.

The fate of the school was sealed with Mr Macdonald’s second, casting vote, following an earlier split decision.

A spokesperson for the Save Lionel School campaign said: “We are very disappointed that our council didn't have the imagination or foresight to turn Lionel Secondary School into a fagship rural school that we all could have been proud of.”

They added: “Fifteen of our councillors voted to close Lionel Secondary School, one of them voting twice - we hope that they are all very proud of the legacy that they leave behind them.

“It is ironic that CNES claim to be working together for the good of the Western Isles.

“In our case they seem to have been working very much against us, this is a sad refection. It will only be a matter of time until they come to close our rural primaries.”

One campaigner slammed the council and the Scottish Government for making “one of the most repugnant decision I can remember.”

Another said: “They got what they wanted and they won't stop until they've ruined the district. Slowly decaying away the uniqueness we have here. Sad day for the present and future kids.”

A saddened Ness mother said she was “absolutely gutted and disheartened” at the outcome.

She pointed out the school “would be open now if Cllr MacLennan had been allowed to vote. The council have done things so wrong from the very beginning.”

Western Isles education chairperson, Catriona Stewart, said: “Discontinuing education provision is never an easy process and so it proved in the proposals for Lionel.

“However, this was always about providing the best possible education for pupils and whilst I recognise there were concerns amongst parents and pupils it is now important that we move on and provide that education for the benefit of the pupils.”

School campaigners “gutted” over closure

8 April 2015