Library vans

Sirs,

In these confusing days where some, hopefully not too many, people tend to believe what they read (‘fake news’) without researching the facts; I would hope that anyone reading Bureaucratic Rhetoric (10th August) from your correspondent Archie Harper, would have taken the time to read my original submission, Councillors frustrated over library van stalemate of 8th August.

I don’t “appear to suggest” bureaucracy is at the centre of the problem over the future status of the mobile library services”- I state it loudly and clearly.

Neither do I ‘blame others’- rather I accept, fully, the responsibility placed on my shoulders, and those of others, to ensure we deliver a modern, bespoke, fit for purpose, library van service.

Finlay, Alasdair and I, along with many other similarly passionate, elected members, (Cllr John Mitchell, Fresh hope for Western Isles Library Service? August 10th), have vowed to continue to apply pressure to bring this long overdue matter, finally, to a close.

Archie seems to believe we are bound to have an ‘ongoing’, an ‘amended’ or an ‘axed’ service, all within the same breath.

As for it being ‘the normal way’ for anyone to ‘shout from the rooftops’: this may be the case in the circles he moves in, but in my experience anyone with a predilection for such activity goes unheard, possibly gets sectioned, and ends up badly bruised after the inevitable fall.

When all this is over, a press release and congratulations to the folk who will actually ensure the delivery of this vital service, the hard-working council officials and officers, would be much more appropriate.

I can certainly deal with his distortion/interpretation of my version of the ‘facts’, and I fully understand where Archie is coming from by leaping into this ‘debate’; but what I hate are blatant inaccuracies, especially geographical ones.

“Probably, being the largest geographic local authority in the UK”, he attests.

We are the seventh largest in just Scotland. Highland is eight times our size and three others are twice as big.

England has four larger authorities and Wales, one. I am nothing, if not a pedant, when it comes to an atlas.

But his point is taken.

This is a vital service and we are all well aware of its importance to this fragile community.

Together we will ensure it continues to survive, thrive, and deliver.

To suggest otherwise is simply disingenuous nonsense. Political rhetoric. Let’s see what happens after the full options appraisal.

Cllr Norrie MacDonald

Sgìre An Rubha

Letter: Bureaucracy at centre of library vans’ issue

13 August 2018