A time for a change and little honesty
The Facts. Services cut, Rural Schools still under threat, Endless centralisation to Lerwick, Literally Millions cut by central Government
TIME TO TAKE CONTROL. HEALTH BOARD £4 MILLION SHORTFALL. COUNCIL GRANT FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT, PROPOSED £8.5 MILLION CUT AND MORE CUTS TO COME!
Since Shetlanders last had a Council election, we have had a deluge of Elections!
Westminster, Holyrood, Independence, Brexit and now USA, “Trump!”
We have truly gone from the sublime to the utterly ridiculous!
It is not my place to comment on the above, but sadly many, many of our political creatures who participated in the above, have shown themselves to be unworthy and dishonest.
Broken pledges, misleading statements and downright lies being the norm.
It is my profound wish to try to be honest and honourable in this forthcoming election, highlighting the disingenuous, however uncomfortable that may be for them!
For far too long our politicians have courted popularity, fearing giving offence to point of being misleading and duplicitous. I will strive never to do that.
It is a matter of public record that I have always fought hard to combat, bigotry, racism, sectarianism, xenophobia, homophobia and discrimination of all types. I have never balked from expressing these views and never will, however much that may offend others. I also have poor sufferance of fools, some regard that as being undiplomatic, I can live easily with that.
If elected I will:
A simple thing first, bring back the skips. West Side is a very long way from the dump!
1/-Seek to find the best care for elderly, vulnerable and needy in our community.
It is paramount for everyone in our rural communities to have good, affordable, transport links; first class Internet provision would help to alleviate instances of loneliness and isolation amongst young and old in remote areas and could enhance their lives dramatically.
2/-Campaign to keep democratic control of Shetland Charitable Trust.
The governance of the SCT is a disgrace, with its continued and wasteful support of the Viking Energy project, failed schemes resulting in financial losses for our charitable funds, and non-support of local charitable schemes which would enhance the lives of our own people.
3/- Keep asking the questions you want answered and shout long and loud until they are answered.
“OUTSPOKEN dentist Ian Tinkler, who is never shy of sharing his views – at times quite aggressively” (30 November 2016 | Written by Shetland News). No apologies here, I will be heard!
4/- Endeavor to reduce our housing waiting list.
Millions of pounds committed to housing centralised to Lerwick, precious little out West. Centralisation yet again!
5/- Encourage more people to live and work in rural areas.
Home working and work from home or rural hubs to be encourage wherever practical. Ultra-high speed broadband (4g and satellite) to be provided and mandated as formal policy.
6/- Maintain and improve roads, public transport and ambulance services.
All are essential for our rural way of life. Good and reliable services air crucial for Foula and Papa Stour.
7/-Seek a fair deal on Energy.
Ten million pounds squandered on Viking Energy! Many small private turbines providing power to those who can afford £30,000 have been installed. Bank loans without security are not available, which excludes most Crofters. There is no reason whatsoever the Charitable Trust could not stand surety on these relatively small loans. Underwriting loans would cost the Trust nothing and that would save all a fortune and be a truly renewable option.
8/- State of the art communications and media, available to all.
Enhanced wireless cover 3G/4G wherever practical. Satellite where not with Council tax reductions to cover rental and installation costs. This should be a mandated right of every residence.
9/-Maintain and encourage rural industry and shopping facilities. (Due to distance and small local populations, huge financial strains are placed on The Village Shops and Post Offices with many forced closures. I would push, for these facilities be zero business rated, if outside centers of population.
10/-I will actively campaign for full autonomy for Shetland. The Council is hamstrung by the bureaucratic dictates of Brussels, Westminster and Holyrood. They often do not function for the benefit of Shetland. I fully support Wir Shetland and that groups aims.
THINKING OUT SIDE THE BOX ***********************************************************************************************************************************Clear positive steps must be made to encourage industry and employment. Simple measures such are Zero business rates for small shops. Larger industries, for example fish factories, fish farms and Shetland Jewelry could have a business rate reduction to reduce the employment costs. A considerable drop in rates, proportional to the employment payroll. A positive financial inducement to employ more people.
Further vital considerations for Shetland.
A/- Local policing and support.
B/- Progressive Drugs Policy, very much open for discussion.
C/-Failure of adequate women's support. Rape Crisis, domestic aggression (Male and female).
D/- No forensic rape facilities on Shetland. That must be remedied. (Victims flown south for testing! They need the support of their loved ones close at hand, not a police facility on the mainland)
E/- Depression and Psychiatric services. Care and help groups. These problems are just to often ignored.
F/- Teenagers!! Lack of amenities, transport, counseling. The West Side offers little to isolated youngsters.
G/- Opening up our wild places for leisure. Strictly with Crofters and Landowners permission. Establishing bridal paths and walking areas for horse riding, rambling and allied pursuits. Volunteer groups establishing and maintaining paths, fences gates and styles.
Stop centralisation to Lerwick
Stop the closure of rural schools
I will fight tooth and claw to stop the threatened closure of our rural schools. During the last election hustings pledges were made to stop the closure of schools. After the election, within weeks, they were threatened with closure again!!!
“Gary Robinson, election manifesto 2012; ““We must recognise and support the achievement of pupils and staff at Aith JHS who gained some of the best exam results in the country. I stand on my track record of supporting schools in the Shetland West ward.”
Gary Robinson, 5th November 2014, Backs closure of most rural schools and bussing of children to Lerwick, including Sandwick and Aith !”
Now we are told this issue will be revisited, “Once the New Anderson High School is Opened”, later this year!!
Funds must be found to maintain are West Side Community Halls. Literally millions can be found for centralized Lerwick amenities. An endless list of prestige vanity projects from Mareel to indoor football stadia. Great as they are, they are not a lot of use to the teenagers of Walls, Sandiness, Bixter or Aith!
A local ballot of all living under the wind farm.
I will push relentlessly to stop Viking Energy progressing without a local ballot
The people most effected by this windfarm, those living within two kilometers of the turbines, should have the final word about Viking Energy. I am not against small-scale renewables, suitable for purpose but absolutely against industrialization of Shetland and her seas.
Shetland loses out yet again! Scottish Government cuts funding by £8.5 million! (2016, 2017).
Autonomy,"Our Islands Our Future."
Our Islands Our Future.
The aims:
17/oct/2013
Scotland’s three Islands Councils – Shetland, Orkney, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar representing the Western Isles, have agreed to work together in a programme of positive engagement to ensure that whatever happens over the next two or three years in relation to the constitution of Scotland the position and needs of island areas are adequately taken into account and the particular nature of Scotland’s three main islands’ areas acknowledged and recognised.
In Brief:
1. Control of Sea Bed.
2. Development of Fishery Management Plans/Schemes of Assistance.
3. Effective development of world-class renewable energy resources.
4. Support to agriculture, …(because of)… remoteness.
5. Mainland/Island ferry services/inter-islands ferry services commissioned, funded, operated and
Desperate Failure:
£8.5 million Scotish Government cuts to Shetland. Not a single aim achieved!
26/02/2016: Gary Robinson can come out singing the praises of this “excellent opportunity to put the islands’ case to ministers over a number of years”, of which he “supposes we are reaching a point where he would like to see some of this feeding into the islands bill and into manifestos for the May.
We now have £8,5 million cuts to Shetland, "Our Islands Our Future" has failed spectacularly, absolutely nothing whatsoever of benefit to us at all!!
"Our Islands Our Future." has been a failure, absolute and total.
The Way Forward, Shetland Autonomy
To achieve Falkland Islands-style British Overseas Territory or similar, status.
To secure the legal rights of Shetland residents, businesses and similar bodies.
To develop trade and cultural links between Shetland and her political and geographic neighbours.
Further Threats from Renewable Projects
Two thousand square miles of offshore floating windfarms! Multiple interconnectors coming ashore to Weisdale, with switching stations the size of football pitches. All this having been discussed in Council with minimal publicity. Our fishing industry threatened, landscape ruined. and wildlife gone!
NORTH ATLANTIC ENERGY NETWORK.
The hidden horror!
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |