Western Isles SNP council candidates has condemned the Comhairle for deciding to go ahead with its court case against the Scottish Government, in an attempt to close two secondary and two primary schools. Councillors previously decided to set aside £40,000 to pay the legal fees of this action, despite the SNP group voting against the proposal.
SNP Councillor, Gerry MacLeod said:
“It is ridiculous that this court case is being pursued at a time when we are being forced to make savings just to cope with the cuts to our budget coming from Westminster. Care charges are being increased while forty thousand pounds is being wasted on a pointless court case. Street lights are being rationed at a saving of just thirty thousand and this has already led to people being injured, one person having been off work for three months already.
“The case is a complete waste of public money, being forced through irresponsibly by certain councillors. It is particularly concerning that the decision has been made when the moratorium on School closures still has several months to run.
“It seems that the “independent” Labour councillors are determined to make the case their final act in this Comhairle. Their rush to get the case underway would suggest that they don’t expect to still be councillors after the 3rd of May. We can only hope that they are correct.”
Philip McLean, standing in Harris and South Lochs Ward, containing Seilibost School added:
“It beats me why some on the Comhairle are so determined to close these schools that they are prepared to take the Scottish Government to court for keeping them open. People in the four communities affected are saddened that this is the priority of the outgoing Comhairle.”
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