Think about the users (Kenny and Yvonne Groat)

We are both angered and disappointed at Lerwick Community Council and Billy Smith objecting to the new Eric Gray Centre.

The reason is the loss of green open space in town, and a view possibly. How far away is Clickimin from either Nederdale or Sandveien? With three parks and a play area to the north, the Clickimin Loch is handy and you can walk around it.

The Eric Gray Centre as it is today is struggling to cope with the clients (young adults with special needs) and is running out of space fast. The AHS Special Unit, in which the Eric Gray staff currently have a room for the less able, those in wheelchairs, is small and also takes away valuable space from the younger users which attend the school special unit.

The staff of Eric Gray do a marvellous job with what is provided but it has to be so frustrating for them. Everyone has to be transported from the current centre to the AHS Special Unit for certain activities and back which not only takes time but costs money. With a purpose-built building which all clients can use surely everyone could come together on this and get the building started.

We ask the Lerwick Community Council and Billy Smith to reconsider their objections for the good of all users, not only in the Eric Gray Centre but the younger children using the AHS Special Unit.

We would like to thank Gussie Angus for all his help in the past towards the new building. This group of people, young adults and children in our society who very often get forgotten about, deserve better. Please think about them as you read this letter.

Kenneth Groat
Yvonne Groat
Lonabrak,
Ham,
Bressay.