Petition Tag - shetland

The Scottish government ferries contract is up for renegotiation and review. This contract prevents Northlink from having summer sailings to Norway, due to being a life line service. P&O used to run a summer sailing schedule quite successfully.

The review can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/review

This review states “as a general principle, no potential routes will be excluded from the review” and “this will include consideration of new routes and reconfiguration of existing routes” it also seeks to “maximise the opportunities for employment, business, leisure and tourism, and promoting social inclusion”.

Taking advantage of the unique position of the northern isles I think we deserve a reliable Scandinavian ferry link, helping to open business and tourism opportunities again. Any profits made on these sailings could be retained by Northlink to help fund the life line service.

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A petition set up to demonstrate public opposition to the SIC's recent decision to charge for instrumental tuition in Shetland's schools.

On Wednesday 17th February 2010, the Shetland Islands Council voted 9 to 11 in favour of charging for instrumental tuition in schools -

http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/2010/February/news/SIC%20reaches%20turning%20point%20on%20spending.htm

There’s been absolutely no consultation with teachers, parents or students! The first most people will have heard is on radio Shetland tonight.

They plan on charging £160 per child per year, so if you have three kids, that’ll be £480 a year. Who can afford that?

Inevitably there will be a reduction in student numbers, so that’ll mean staff redundancies.

Also, the lack of instrumental teachers will mean classroom teachers will have to take the extra strain.

All in all, it’s not looking good, and there’s rumours of more cuts to follow.

We appreciate the need to make savings, but these charges have not been thought through.

As councillor Rick Nickerson said at today's meeting, the decision effectively amounts to the council imposing "a tax on talent".

Please join this group if you are opposed to the council's decision.

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UPDATE

Following the meeting with Shetland Islands Council on 11th December, we understand that they would prefer not to throw us off the Seafield Equestrian Area. They are currently looking into using the Clickimin Open Riding Club grazing field for allotments but have suggested a replacement site for grazing nearby.

Although it looks like there is not quite so much of a threat, the Seafield Equestrian Area is still on the list of possible allotment sites so we are leaving the petition active. Please keep signing!

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Shetland Islands Council is considering using the Seafield Equestrian Area in Lerwick as a site for new allotments.

The equestrian community has had the use of the ex-hockey pitch at Seafield for the past three years and it has been an enormous benefit. We have been able to organise far more activities because we have known there was a venue to hold them on. Before Seafield we had to beg, borrow or steal a corner of someone's field and try to avoid rabbit holes or risk the wrath of most of the male population of Shetland and sneak onto a football pitch! For the past three years we have had a venue which is central, safe and with appropriate facilities.

The SIC has indicated that they would like to come to a 'compromise' and have suggested that they could level off the field next to Seafield for us to use instead. Access to this field is currently not adequate for this purpose and the council have mentioned nothing about the provision of parking or other amenities. Also, this is the field Clickimin Open Riding Club use for grazing and the council have not mentioned where their ponies could be moved to. This club is an important community group providing riding lessons for dozens of children every summer. Is it fair that they should lose the use of this ground?

We are not against allotments in any way but with well over 200 riders in Shetland and numbers increasing, not to mention driving and the breeders who compete at the Viking Shetland Pony Show every year, Seafield Equestrian Area is a well-used park, essential to the equestrian community and we do not see why we should have to give it up unless the council can provide a replacement with equal or better facilities.

A representative from the Equestrian Association of Shetland will be attending a meeting with Shetland Islands Council on Thursday 11th December, we would very much appreciate your support and feedback to present to them.

More information and updates are available at www.shetlandequestrian.co.uk

YOU MAY ALSO SEE A PAPER VERSION OF THIS PETITION, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN MORE THAN ONCE.

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