Chink of light

I agree with everything Lee Goodlad says in his letter Depopulation not an issue (SN, 6/11/14) regarding the proposed closure of Urafirth and North Roe schools.

For me, the main issue was the journey each way to Ollaberry school. Only someone completely hard hearted could vote for little children having to travel for 40 minutes on a bus twice a day.

I doubt if those who voted for the closures fully understood and considered the following:

• Children who suffer from motion sickness. 40 minutes is more than enough time for someone to be sick (I know, as someone who worked with children);
• The cold dark mornings in winter;
• Families having to rise in the mornings 40 minutes earlier than before;
• The added risk of daily bus travel on single track roads;
• The feelings of parents and children faced with this horrible proposal.

For these reasons alone, the two school closures should never have been on the table in the first place.

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Shame on all the officials and councillors who thought it was a good idea.

Also, to say people who voted no to the proposal were “cowardly” and afraid to make the “difficult decisions” is unacceptable after a democratic vote.

Lee Goodlad is right when he talks about SIC being dysfunctional.

However, the decision not to close the schools demonstrates a small chink of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Dorothy O’Brien
Brae