Council said to be fuming over schools’ reprieve 15/12/10
Communities are delighted at the prospect of a reprieve for four island schools.
They are furious at the move to shut local village schools warning it detracts people
from moving into rural areas.
The council ignored the fledging West Harris Trust’s
plea to stave off closure for a couple of years to give a chance to their ambitious
plans to regenerate the population.
Community activists say Seilebost School numbers
could treble as 24 young couples and families relocated into the area in the coming
two years.
It’s also reckoned seven or so children would move into the new houses
at Bunabhainneadar in January which may be too many for the receiving school at Tarbert.
Neil
Campbell of the West Harris Trust said: “The calling-
“The Trust is
happy to give the Education Minister more detail. We trust he or his officials will
get in touch with us over our proposals, especially as they are now more advanced.”
A
raft of young former Carloway pupils submitted a joint letter pleading for the call-
They warn that, without the school, many of them would
not return to the district to bring up their future families as planned.
The said
it would led to depopulation and economic decline, a new Gaelic playgroup would be
hit and the next school was too far to cycle or walk.
Many opponents highlighted the
survival of community hall which is attached to the school was at risk, affecting
many village events and local clubs.
They said: “People our age will not see it worth
their while to come and live in Carloway. The community spirit would be dead without
the school.”
This is the second time in recent years the Scottish Government has intervene in
closing Lionel and Shawbost secondaries.
Western Isles Council thought it had made
its peace with the Scottish Government over the contentious issue.
Privately authority
chiefs are fuming but are putting on a brave face in public.
Shutting 12 schools in
the current wave of closures would save the council £2.2 million.
It now hopes it
can persuade the Scottish Government that it carried out a satisfactory consultation
which would allow to press ahead all the closures.
Council Leader Angus Campbell said
the authority would proceed with closing the seven allowed in any case.
He added:
“Whilst it is disappointing that the Minister has called in four of the decisions
regarding Shelibost, Carloway, Lionel and Shawbost, we will be happy to supply submissions
on the Comhairle’s consultation process which we believe was rigorous, beyond legislative
requirements and treated all schools in a fair and even–handed manner.”
Education
chair Morag Munro said: “Our aim in trying to implement our school estate strategy
is to provide a sustainable education service into the future for all the children
and young people of the Western Isles.
“Though it is disappointing, it is the right
of the Cabinet Secretary, according to the legislation, to call in school closure
decisions if he judges that the correct procedure has not been followed.
“We have
been very careful to follow the guidelines and we look forward to scrutinising the
Cabinet's Secretary's reasons for the call-