Failing to address issues (Alan Skinner)

I have just read Shetland Partnership’s “Shetland’s Outcome Improvement Plan”, dated March 2016.

I have to confess that I only became aware of Shetland Partnership recently, and had never seen any of its output. I understand its role to be to co-ordinate a vision and strategy for Shetland, and to co-ordinate community planning to achieve that vision.

The Outcome Improvement Plan is in line with Scottish government plans, as one would expect, and has perfectly laudable aims, e.g. to reduce alcohol-related issues in Shetland, improve mental health, reduce obesity, reduce smoking, etc. It also has some special interest aims regarding environment.

However, in my view at least, it fails to address the many problems that Shetland has: high transport costs to get here; threatened school closures in fragile communities; transport issues; housing issues; over-centralisation in Lerwick; tourist accommodation issues; depopulation of islands; loss of North Sea oil activity; fishing issues etc.

I am concerned that, unless Shetland Partnership considers the micro issues, we will never have a sensible vision and strategy, and Shetland will not be well placed to survive/profit from the future.

Alan Skinner
New House,
Cullivoe,
Yell.