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Dear Councillors

12 February 2010 00:00

We would like to express our disappointment at the decision taken by the infrastructure committee on the 2nd February regarding the transport link to Whalsay.

We, as Community Councillors, have been inundated with phone calls, emails and letters from very aggrieved members of the public. A large number of people in this community desperately want their views put forward to council members. about the way they feel they have been treated throughout this whole consultation process.

The majority of these communications are conveying their dismay because the final consultation session was clearly concluded by Gordon Greenhill stating that the consultation period was over. A decision would now have to be made due to the frailty of existing infrastructure.

At the same meeting it was stated that tunnels were NOT on the agenda and were not to be discussed at the tables in the hall.

Thereafter there was a belief among the general public that a definite decision would be taken on the 2nd February as to where the ferry terminal would be sited.

However, irrespective of what was said at the final consultation meeting in December, it appears that, the lobbying never stopped. A very small group of the community have continued to pursue their goal of not having the terminal sited in the North Voe. Regardless of the overwhelming support for the North Voe option which is the most favoured option of the Infrastructure Service Report by Michael Craigie.

We the Whalsay Community Council, regardless of personal opinion, must represent and back the wishes of the majority on this island. We would be failing in our duty not to do so. The outrage, unhappiness and sense of betrayal felt when the outcome of the meeting, 2nd Feb, was heard cannot be underestimated. Only five councillors stood by the wishes of this community, respecting both the report from infrastructure services and unarguable majority view of the public from both consultations. The decision taken at the Infrastructure Committee meeting has made the consultation process farcical

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At this stage to allow another option to be thrown in for consideration was truly disappointing. It is yet further prevarication on the part of the council.

If there is any sincere desire to resolve this ongoing saga and restore faith in the council members, it is essential we have assurance that when investigations into the viability of the tunnel are completed, a conclusive decision will be made between the North Voe and tunnel option.

We urge you to support the majority views and do not allow further obstructions to hinder progress on this.

Yours sincerely