News Archive
22/3/2011
HIE funding boost for Community Land Scotland
An organisation set up last year to promote sustainable communities through land ownership across Scotland has received a funding boost from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Community Land Scotland was formed last September to provide a shared voice for the increasing number of communities which now own land assets.22/3/2011
Wind Energy Potential
The Scottish Government has published a Plan for Offshore Wind development in Scotland's seas. Blue Seas, Green Energy confirms that offshore renewable developments are viable in at least six sites, with a potential to deliver almost five Gigawatts of electricity generating capacity by 2020.22/3/2011
North Is Growing A New Generation Of Engineers
A new £110,000 project investing in the future of young people and helping to broaden their understanding of the opportunities available locally has been launched in Caithness and North Sutherland. The two year project is funded by Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Highland Council.22/3/2011
£14.3 million European funding injection
Around £14.3 million of European funding is to be invested to support Scotland's tourism sector, sustainable public transport, develop SMEs, build links between research and business and provide training opportunities. It includes cash from the European Regional Development Fund for VisitScotland to provide extra support to local tourism businesses and promote attractions, an award to East Ayrshire Council to complete 2,100sq m of small industrial units and cash to assist with the introduction of real time passenger information on bus services.21/3/2011
Opportunity to bid for £80 million worth of Highland transport contracts
The Highland Council is inviting tenders for the provision of public bus services and home to school transport services across the whole of the Council area, with a potential value of up to £80 million over the 5 year life of the contracts. The Council are looking to encourage as many suppliers as possible to take advantage of this opportunity which gives local suppliers the chance to bid for services in their community.21/3/2011
Focusing On Fuel
Members of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee have agreed a number of measures to help sustain rural petrol stations and address the current high fuel charges affecting people across the Highlands. Top of the list of actions is for the council to continue to monitor fuel prices and their impacts and lobby the UK Government for the extension of any fuel price derogation to mainland Highland communities.20/3/2011
Regeneration Partnership Update 14 March 2011
Week commencing 14th March: Energy: Following discussions at the CNSRP Executive Board about the value of pursuing additional mechanisms to encourage inward investment into the area, CNSRP Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver has this week written to Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to ask for support in making Caithness and North Sutherland one of the 10 Enterprise Zones announced by the coalition UK Government. Copies of the letter have also been sent to Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and Michael Moore MP (Secretary of State for Scotland).20/3/2011
Primary Teachers Receive Renewable Energy Resources for Schools
Primary school teachers from across the Highlands and Islands will participate in specially devised workshops this month. Funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the teachers will receive valuable classroom resources to help them explain renewable energy to Primary Six and Seven pupils.
19/3/2011
Local People Invited To SNH Reception In Wick
Local people are being invited along to an informal evening reception by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) at Mackays Hotel, Wick, Caithness, from 7 pm until 9pm on Wednesday 30 March. SNH is the Scottish Government's advisor on the management, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of Scotland's wildlife, natural habitats and landscape.
19/3/2011
Awards For Council Pre_Application Planning Service
Two Awards in One Day - National Recognition of Highland Council's Pre-Application Advice Service The Pre-Application Advice Service for Major Developments, a cross Highland Council and other public agency project led by the Planning and Development Service, received a commendation in the Development Management category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning and a Silver Award in the Service Innovation and Improvement category at the COSLA Awards on March 11th 2011. The Service helps to make the planning process more efficient by encouraging early and effective discussion with developers to better inform their subsequent planning applications.19/3/2011
Council Convener Warns Of Euro Millions Lottery Scam
Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park is warning people in the Highlands not to be duped by unsolicited letters informing them that they are winners of the Euro millions Lottery. Concerned, Councillor Park recently received a letter claiming to be from Michael Maxwell, Vice President of Euro millions Commonwealth of Nations Online Lottery's Head Office in Pall Mall, London advising him that he had won £400,000.19/3/2011
Book now for Highland Biodiversity Forum 2011 
The next meeting of the Highland Biodiversity Forum will take place at Highland Council Chambers, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, at 10.00am on Saturday 2nd April 2011 (tea & coffee will be available from 10am). The purpose of the day is to provide an opportunity for all those involved and interested in Highland's biodiversity to find out more about what is happening locally and at a Highland-wide level.
19/3/2011
HIE invests Over £1m in Diabetes Testing And Treatment Projects
Projects aiming to improve treatment for people with diabetes are to receive almost £1.2 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The funding will support LifeScan Scotland's cutting edge research and development work in Inverness.18/3/2011
Unique Greenwood Training Comes To The North
Traditional Woodsman's Coppice and Greenwood Skills Course The first ever course to be held in Scotland that carries a nationally recognised qualification in traditional woodland skills (OCN level 2/SVQ2) will be held this April/May in a woodland setting at Helmsdale, Sutherland. This should be a 5day course, with date to be agreed with participants, depending on demand.
17/3/2011
UHI Contributes £191m To Scottish Economy
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) contributes £191m every year to the Scottish economy and supports 3,300 full time jobs, according to a new independent economic impact assessment. Scotland's newest university also helps to sustain a further contribution of £202m every year and 2,700 jobs through the further education provision of the 13 academic partners and research institutions in the partnership.16/3/2011
Seven Candidates Contest Wick Ward By-election
Seven candidates will contest the forthcoming by-election to elect one councillor to serve The Highland Council's Ward 3 - Wick. The candidates are: Laurel Bush, Animaland, 16 Kennedy Terrace, Wick.16/3/2011
New Kerbside Recycling Calendars Available Online
This year a new search function will be launched on the Council's website which allows householders with access to the internet to find their 2011 e-recycling collection calendar. The Highland Council's Waste Management Unit will not be delivering kerbside recycling collection calendars in 2011, unless they are making changes to a service.15/3/2011
Pension Funds Encouraged To Invest In Housing
Investment sought to build more affordable homes Two prominent pension funds are in talks with the Scottish Government about investment in affordable housing in Scotland, it emerged today. Strathclyde Pension Fund and Calmac Pension Fund are amongst the investors with whom the Government is having early discussions about future investment options.14/3/2011
Regeneration Partnership Report 7 March 2011
Week commencing 7th March Programme activities: Energy: Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP was asked by John Thurso MP during Scottish Questions at Westminster this week to support his calls for Caithness to become one of the UK's first Marine Energy Parks. The coalition Government announced this idea recently, and there is a desire in the area to take the idea forward as a means of further emphasising the Pentland Firth's role as the UK hub of marine energy development.14/3/2011
