Is anyone listening?
When it was announced on the 16th January by the Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) that the Scalloway pool was going to be closed on 31st March, it sent shockwaves throughout the village of Scalloway and the surrounding communities.
There was no consultation whatsoever with the community, that our much loved facility was going to close. This was devastating for all the children, families and adults who used the pool, which catered for all ages, levels and abilities. The health and well-being benefits the pool provided were immense and valued by all.
The Save Scalloway Pool Action Group was quickly formed and since January we have launched two petitions. The first one reaching almost 5,000 signatures and the second, to enable a deputation to the Shetland Islands Council to take place reached 500 signatures in just three days. It asked for the SIC, SRT and the SCT ‘to work together to find a sustainable solution to keep the Scalloway pool open.’ The question is have these petitions influenced any decisions, it remains to be seen?
We have also undertaken a community impact survey, which was completed in thirteen days. The answers received from the survey provided very important information on how the community has been negatively impacted by the closure of the pool. But is there anyone actually listening?
The petitions, the survey and the large group gathering of over 200 people at the closing of the pool, gave the people of Shetland an opportunity to demonstrate their frustration, annoyance and in some way it give them a voice, or so you would like to think.
A glimmer of hope was given on the 26th March when a motion presented by Councillor Davie Sandison was passed by the members of the SIC asking for the chief executive to:
‘…seek such information from the Trusts to enable her to report back to Members on options for a sustainable long-term plan to maintain the operation of the SRT and the Scalloway Pool into the future.’
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So it is with bated breaths we wait for the results of the meetings between the SIC, SRT and the SCT.
Can we dare hope that the three organisations which are meant to be serving the people of Shetland can indeed work in partnership and engage with the community to find a sustainable solution to get our pool re-opened as soon as possible?
Yvonne Clark
On behalf of the Save Scalloway Pool Action Group
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