Goodlad to chair ‘much-needed discussion’ about Scalloway Pool future
SHETLAND’S MSP says she wants all parties to be able to talk “openly and frankly” about the future of Scalloway Pool at an upcoming meeting.
Members of the Save Scalloway Pool group are set to sit down with Scalloway Pool owners Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT), as well as Shetland Islands Council (SIC) and Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) in early November.
Hannah Mary Goodlad, the MSP for Shetland, will chair the meeting.
It comes after the SRT announced it was seeking proposals for the future use of the pool building, which drew criticism from Yvonne Clark of the campaign group.
She claimed that “once again the opportunity for partnership working is being completely undermined”.
Goodlad has been a vocal supporter of the Save Scalloway Pool campaign throughout the year, and participated in a protest against the pool’s closure by tying a yellow ribbon on the fence outside the building earlier this year.
The Save Scalloway Pool group said in September that Goodlad would ensure a “neutral and strategic approach” to the meeting as chair.
Asked by Shetland News if she would be able to be considered an impartial chair, given her vocal opposition to the pool’s closure, Goodlad said her role at the meeting would be to “bring the various groups together to facilitate discussion on next steps”.
“Since being elected, I’ve met directly with the SRT, SCT and SIC, and have been able to hear more from them about their perspectives on the decision taken regarding the Scalloway Pool.
“What hasn’t been able to happen, until now, is this much-needed roundtable discussion with all the relevant stakeholders, where people can speak openly and frankly with one another on the next steps for this facility, which has been so important to the local community in Scalloway.
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“I’m looking forward to bringing folk together on this.”
Goodlad was also asked if there was a potential conflict of interest for her in chairing the meeting.
Her family owns a 25 per cent stake in North Fish (Shetland) Ltd, which supplies pellets to Shetland Recreational Trust for its biomass heating systems. Goodlad has declared the interest through the MSP register of interests.
Goodlad said she had voluntarily disclosed her family members’ various ownership stakes in local companies in the interest of “maximum transparency”.
“I take my role as MSP, and the need for impartiality even in matters where I may have family connections, extremely seriously,” Goodlad added.
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