Letters / Lack of knowledge on a grand scale
Once again we have outside interference and lack of knowledge on a grand scale, when MSP Jean Urquhart pontificates about the withdrawal of the housing support grant to Shetland. (Urquhart questions rent rises claim, SN, 28 Sep12)
This woman does not live in Shetland and has obviously little understanding of why and how the enormous debt was created at the time of the oil boom in the 70s, and is still affecting the lives of tenants after a previous government has said that it would be written off.
The figure of £8.13 increase per week is low, and will be nearer £10.00 when the total number of tenants is taken into account. A rent increase without any transitional period to soften the blow, as suggested by Tavish Scott, would also put pressure on a struggling economy.
This huge hike in rents (already second highest in Scotland) will have a detrimental effect on household incomes, it will lead to personal difficulties and may result in some folk leaving the islands for cheaper living costs. Another nail in the coffin!
Also the increased rent payments would have to come from tenants either not renting or not alive at the time of the oil, a totally unfair situation. It will also lead to even less money available for further council building.
If the Scottish Government had seriously taken on board representations from housing and tenant groups they should have realised that Shetland isn’t the “fat cow”, and that people need social housing the same as anywhere else.
Ms Urquhart should speak to the folk at the coal face. Then perhaps she may understand the fears local residents are facing. Perhaps in her very comfortable position, now she is an MSP, she doesn’t want to.
Sincerely
Susanne Willshaw
Firth
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