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Oh my word!! There is a lot of 'assuming and maybes'. I did not say that someone was not doing their job. I also didn't say we should not be talking to the SIC. I was simply asking if all the North Isles Community Councils get together and discuss important issues that affect all three isles? If there was a meeting held by all three islands and then they, as a group, not as individual islands talk to the SIC (when required) it would be a better, a more united front. Apparently, I am now dividing people!! Geez, what a waste of time... I shall be writing to the councils, that was always my plan. Well, folks, now there really is nothing left to say on my behalf.

It's true. He doesn't! Can I just say that I get very disillusioned very quickly on this forum, with some folk it seems that there is a real 'nastiness' under the surface... I'm very glad I'm not standing face to face with them!! Scary people... Maybe that's why I run off! And it can be frustrating at times when people don't read! It beggers belief that with such a small popuation we have such a proliferation of different parts of a council but nonetheless I take it on board that it is the current situation. As long as the Development Company is not at logger heads wiith the council then that is a start. So my question - Is there a central committee for all the North Isles councils where they get together and talk about the coming problems in energy, ferries and schools? Or is it a just a case of every island speaks for itself in these matters? If there isn't then can I suggest that there should be? ( you'd better answer quick before I run off! )

You see this as a problem ? Maybe you were not around before the Development Company existed and there were less than 70 people ? A Community Council and Councilor that got you Broadband installed ? A Community Council and Development Company that worked together to get you a new pier ? I suggest you do a bit more research and fact gathering before you go much further down this path here. Both these projects were the result of decisions made before the current development company structure was in existence. Do your research. But... 'so long and thanks for all the fish'

I can see I'm just wasting my time here on this forum. No point in arguing anymore, the bigger picture is just not being seen. Thankyou.

Yell has three parts to the council - why is it not only one? North South and MiD Wards... Fetlar has a a community council AND a development company for 70 people! I'm asking these questions as to how unified we are, we have serious problems ahead and should be working together. Much of this is fact finding too, and folk have been helpful.

Yell has three parts to the council - why is it not only one? North South and MiD Wards... Fetlar has a a community council AND a development company for 70 people! I'm asking these questions as to how unified we are, we have serious problems ahead and should be working together. Much of this is fact finding too, and folk have been helpful.

Quote What examples do you have to suggest that the North Isles are 'divided' just now? As far as I can see, those who speak publicly about issues such as school closures or cuts to ferries (including all three of the north isles councillors and community councils) are very much coming from the same page across all of the North Isles. End Quote @Shetlander By Yell having 4 separate councils for a start! I don't know it's current population total but if I were to say about 1000 - that's 4 councils for a thousand people!! then that's an example of even ONE North Isle being divided!! Let alone Unst. And two on Fetlar!

@Ebob This is true, the whole of the Shetland Islands should all be working together - but Fetlar, Unst and Yell are divided. With so few people on these islands it is a crying shame that they don't work together. I can't talk about the Outer Skerries etc as I'm not sure of their situation in detail but I know for certain about Fetlar, Unst and Yell are not of one mind. I've had some good input from folk so far. Before we talk as the whole of Shetland we need, in the Northern Isles a representative of the Northern Isles to speak for the Northern Isles when dealing with SIC on these latest issues such as energy, school closures, ferries etc. I'm putting it to all the councils in the Northern Isles to start a group that involves all three islands to come together and discuss the recent issues that will affect those living in the Northern Isles. It can either be one counciller from each island that gets together and speaks for his/her island or a counciller representing each part of their island to come together as a group, so for example, in the case of Yell, it is split into four, so either four or one will represent Yell. It's a start. Will it happen? No idea! We'll see...

Thanks Hairyian Yes I am aware of my own community council. I also wanted to gauge other folks opinions in this area, Shetlink is not te BEST place to start but there we are. Cheers

Not too sure, although some initiatives such as the Telecroft in Unst continue. I was surprised to discover that it "lasted" until last year, but as stated in the notice, no accounts filed since 2000. However, there are other groups in the isles, The Unst Partnership, The North Yell Development Council, Initiative at the edge (Now Bluemull Development Company), Fetlar Developments etc - these groups are more focused on individual communities and maybe that is sensible? Hi crofter Thanks for the info Is the Initiative at the Edge North Isles still running? And can it be used to discuss the serious coming problems for the the three islands? There seems to be a proliferation of differentt groups (quangos)within each island, who has the authoratative voice om each island, the parish/community council? Once again, thanks for your help crofter, have a great day!

Hello Hairyian Community is lots of things and fortunately or unfortunately social media is here and you are using it yourself. Facebook isn't my greatest love but it must be an inexpensive and useful way for some folk living on Shetland to keep in touch with relatives and friends. I do understand that Shetlink is not liked but it was the only 'central' stepping stone to START with. I do intend to get off my donkey and that will start in my own community on Fetlar (Especially as I don't own a car) We'll see what happens.

This is true. Thankyou. It's a start but not an end. There is nowhere else central to take this, I've posted on Facebook and I hope to do other things. It's worth a try. Thanks for your input lonewolf.

Then how and why on earth do you expect (Or perhaps you don't?) constructive debate and ideas re pulling together/isles surviving, etc., if your story was just fictional? If all the commuter ferries are going then yes, people might lose their jobs (Unless they stay overnight on Shetland/wherever they work). If they aren't going, then why scaremonger? @unlinkedstudent We have some challenges ahead that are better faced united than not. The story was get the imagination going not to scaremonger, it was to show that we have, in reality, serious problems that need to be thought about and eventually debated and the outcome should be spoken with one united voice. Please, for starters, let's try and see who is interested in this notion, pass on the link, encourage others to vote, encourage others to voice their opinions.

Not at all, I'm not throwing the towel in, I just want to see where folk are, do they really care etc...you came back at me which is good. It will be R.I.P. Shetland if we don't work together but I've only just started with this first post. I have some ideas but need more info first. There are 90 days for this poll, I'm hoping more will vote, let's see what happens in the next few days etc. Let's get talking, pass this post around, send the link to others, it's a start...

Hello unlinkedstudent, Yes, cuts are happening all over the world, Peak Oil is an unsurmountable problem but at the moment I live on the Shetland Islands. I don't want Shetland to die out, it would be nice to at least stick together and see what we can accomplish and if we go out, we go out with a bang not a whimper... Surely, there's more we can achieve together than not together? As crofter said, there used be a community effort on the North Isles to do with agricultural feed and supplies, what happened? I'm not answering your question about the ferries because my story was fiction and I said as much earlier about not knowing exactely what cuts were coming.