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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-in is absolutely fantastic. Our point from day one was the consultation was flawed and that the council failed to consider a viable alternative presented by the West Harris Trust.

“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-in to the Scottish Government.

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-ins.“