School closure meeting delayed again

A decision over the future of the Skerries secondary department has been delayed at least until December.

Parents have asked for more time to resubmit responses to statutory consultation on the department’s proposed closure.

Councillors should have decided the fate of the department at an education and families meeting earlier this month.

However the item was pulled from the agenda after it emerged some electronic submissions to the consultation process may have been lost.

As a result director of children’s services Helen Budge wrote to those who may have been affected by the issue and explained how they could now resubmit their response.

Anyone who believed that their response had not been considered was asked to contact Mrs Budge by 31st October. The hope was all consultation responses would be ready in time for 13th November’s education and families meeting.

However the children’s services department has agreed to extend the deadline for responses to 12th November – too late for next month’s meeting.

The extension will allow parents who may have been on holiday during the October break time to make their feelings clear.

Education and families chairwoman Vaila Wishart said: “This means further delay and continued uncertainty for the community of Skerries but it is important that these respondents resubmit their comments.”

Anyone wishing to submit a response should contact Mrs Budge on 01595 744064 or by e-mail: helen.budge@shetland.gov.uk.