Losing their grip (Douglas Young)

In the late 1970s we drove school buses with over 40 bairns onboard, over single-track roads covered with snow and ice.

We were given support from the SIC and their gritting teams who went beyond the call of duty from before dawn until whenever. They worked in some atrocious conditions where even ploughs got stuck, and would clear roads, including side roads, prior to the schools coming out, since most bairns do not live on the A970.  The SIC had 1,500 employees to serve 23,000 people.

The SIC is now cutting this vital, front-line service, and although the population remains the same the SIC has 4,000 employees on its payroll. It is not just drivers who are losing their grip.

Douglas Young
Scatness,
Sumburgh.

NO COMMENTS

Add Your Comment

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.