People will move away

I live in Unst; I’m not a member of the Unst action group or CURE. I don’t even have school-aged children. I foolishly thought that the school closures had nothing to do with me.

How wrong was I! It has everything to do with me. I’m seeing my friends distressed at the thought that they may have to move.

I am distressed at the thought that my community is being torn apart.

If the schools are closed in the isles and the children are forced to board in the hostel, families will move away. If people move away then other services will be cut. Where will it end?

The health board is struggling to recruit remote and rural GPs and nurses. The police have had no applicants for their vacancies.

School closures are not a good advertisement.

Unst is a beautiful place to live. I am really lucky and proud to be part of such a wonderful community.

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I’m not ashamed to say that I cried when I watched the YouTube video (Campaigners’ protest song against school cuts; SN, 07/10/14).

What I am ashamed of is a council that is putting money before people.

Money is tight; I appreciate that cuts have to be made, but surely savings can be made elsewhere.

Money has been poured into many projects that only benefit a few, so why are we not investing in our islands’ future?

And I mean all of our islands, and not just the part called Lerwick. Unst, the island above all others. It certainly is in my book.

Mandy Nesfield
Unst