Aith fight intensifies

WEST mainland communities on Shetland are stepping up their campaign to fight the closure of their secondary school.

Around 150 people turned out for a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss how to tackle the council’s plans to scrap Aith junior high as part of its wider school closure programme.

A new campaign group Action for Aith has been set up with representatives from all of the communities in the school’s catchment area.

Parent Jane Haswell said the meeting took the campaign “up a notch”, seeking volunteers to examine costings, travel concerns and other issues ahead of the formal consultation which starts later this year.

“We will continue to research and bring hard evidence with positive engagement with councillors and the education department to see where savings can be made while retaining Aith junior high school,” Haswell said.