9 March 2010

I hope everybody can take time to look at the option of a tunnel from both sides of the debate because this will affect Whalsay forever and we have to be careful what we wish upon our future generations.

It is a huge gamble to say a tunnel would improve Whalsay. We have done very well without one up to now and we have a lot to lose if it doesn't work as some predict.

I for one will lose my job if the tunnel option goes ahead along with 35 to 45 of my work colleagues who also work on the local ferries. And there is every chance of shops, schools, doctors, nurses, ambulance service, fire engine, tradesmen, post office and other jobs also being at risk.

People must realise that if there is cuts to be made by the council after a tunnel we will definitely start to lose some of these services, which means more unemployment. This won't happen straight away, but as most people are saying, we have to think about the future of our isle, the bairns at the school and the ones after them. So try and think about the jobs that will be lost locally and the possibility of other jobs.

There is good and bad points for the tunnel in my opinion but I dread to think what will happen to all our excellent services we have locally when the council decides Whalsay no longer needs certain services due to easy access to the mainland.

I would like to remind everyone what was said at the infrastructure meeting when the tunnel was first mentioned. It was said at that meeting if there was to be a tunnel to Whalsay they could save money in the future by not having to maintain or upgrade the Symbister harbour because of easy access to the mainland piers for the boats and their crews.

In her letter (‘Get it right for future generations’; SN 22/2/10) Ruby (Anderson) states that ferry crews have been very lucky over the years having spent many hours at the Scalloway college attending various courses to gain qualifications in their work. There is a big world out there if you have qualifications and experience. I would like to point out that nearly all the tickets gained, except a few of the original ferrymen, are all restricted to Shetland waters only, so I'm afraid the world isn't too big for us.

In his letter (‘Childs play’; SN 4/3/10), Robert (Williamson) states that a primary school child can work it out. Well ask the primary child to add these figures to their sums and see what their answers are. 63% government funding + 10% revenue = 73% is the figure that they have to take off their total running costs for the ferries. Then they have the right answer as to the amount the ferries cost the council annually. Also the plans for the Laxo upgrade now stands nearer £1.5 million, not the £5 million he suggests.

If the decision goes in favour of the tunnel I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and look to improve my ticket and hopefully find other employment. But I also hope that the ones who are trying their hardest to do away with local employment for future generations can hold their hands up and apologise to the families most affected by their selfish efforts.

Because we all know what stress was caused locally when the decommissioning looked like it would destroy the local fishing community. It destroyed jobs that we will never get back.

Kevin T Robertson
11 Norrandal
Whalsay