News Archive
15/7/2019
Decommissioning In Shetland Expands With The Arrival Of More North Sea Structures
The Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland is one step closer to becoming a centre of excellence for recycling offshore structures from the North Sea with the arrival of two new installations for decommissioning by strategic partners Veolia and Peterson. The structures from Spirit Energy's ST-1 arrived in the dedicated port facility on 15 July 2019.
15/7/2019
Scotland's Wind Could Power Every Home Across Scotland And North Of England
Scotland's wind turbines produced enough electricity to power almost double the number of homes in Scotland between January and June 2019. Wind power output at record high during first 6 months of year.
15/7/2019
Building A Fairer Immigration System
Migration Minister Ben Macpherson has urged the Home Office to work with the Scottish Government and stakeholders on an immigration policy that addresses the particular problems experienced by remote communities - and proposed that Scotland pilot a different approach. In a letter to the Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes ahead of the next four-nations meeting on migration issues, Mr Macpherson has proposed working with the UK Government to take forward recommendations made in the Migration Advisory Committee's recent report on skills shortages.13/7/2019
Sutherland: Hospital X ray department officially reopened after upgrade
The refurbished X Ray Department at NHS Highland's Lawson Memorial Hospital was officially reopened this week (Tuesday 9th July 2019) following a significant upgrade to equipment. The ceremony marks the installation of state-of-the-art direct digital equipment that replaces technology which is more than 25 years old.
[Builders]
12/7/2019Building Your Own Home Is Easier Than You May Think
Today we begin a series of articles written by Peter Body of Thermohaus Ltd , a Caithness based timber frame kit home company. Why Self-Build? For decades the British have bought new homes as standard speculatively built products from national and regional house builders.
12/7/2019
Rural solicitor heads home for Caithness Show
Elisa Miller, a Caithness-born solicitor is set to return to her home county next weekend to offer legal advice and guidance to visitors at the 2019 Caithness Show in Wick. Elisa Miller, who was born and raised on a farm in Caithness, works in the Inverness branch of law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM), and will be on-hand over the weekend to advise show-goers on agricultural and rural legal affairs.
12/7/2019
Meygen Project Stuck In The Planning Process
At present, electricity generated from the four existing sub-sea tidal stream turbines at its MeyGen site, in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound between 1 mile and 1.5 miles off Gills Harbour, is not fed directly into the UK National Grid network. It is sent instead by a specially-built underground cable from the MeyGen onshore site at Ness o' Quoys, Canisbay, to the small electricity sub-station at Hastigrow, Bower, from where it is distributed to local households, farms and other NE Caithness business users via SSE's 'Local Distribution Network'This has a limited capacity..12/7/2019
Public advised to avoid eating Shellfish from Loch Glencoul, Kylesku area
Highland Council's Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring algal toxins following routine monitoring in coastal waters at Loch Glencoul, Kylesku area. Eating shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these algal toxins.12/7/2019
Elgin's Award-winning New Neighbourhood Receives Planning Consent
BARRATT SECURES LAND TO CREATE THE FIRST PHASE. The first planning application for over 500 homes in the new masterplanned neighbourhood of Findrassie has received consent from Moray Council, enabling the sale of its first phase to Barratt Homes to complete this week.
12/7/2019
Over 15,000 households helped by Scottish Government's flagship energy efficiency scheme
Caithness homeowners are being encouraged to contact Home Energy Scotland this summer to see if they could qualify for free heating systems and insulation through the Scottish Government's flagship energy efficiency scheme. Since its launch nearly four years ago the Scottish Government's Warmer Homes Scotland scheme has helped 15,000 qualifying householders.
12/7/2019
Help Cash-strapped Local Authorities Save Lives Says Road Safety Charity
The Road Safety Foundation is calling for the formation of a Highway Standards and Safety Board - in line with that already in place for rail - to provide expertise and guidance on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) to local authorities, sub-national transport bodies and Highways England. This is one of a series of recommendations in a report* out today from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
12/7/2019
Stop Bitching Start Switching Your Bank Acount
Some banks are sending out letters reducing interest rates on accounts so is it time you gave more serious thought to switching accounts. Plenty advice online and it is much easier than it was years ago.
12/7/2019
Strengthening Fire Safety And Building Standards
Improvements in fire safety and better facilities for people with disabilities. Fire safety is to be strengthened in new high rise buildings and facilities for people with disabilities improved in larger new buildings.12/7/2019
New Buyer Interest Rises In Scotland For First Time Since January 2019
A more stable trend is now emerging in the Scottish housing market, according to the latest results for the Royal Instituteof chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Residential Market Survey. Although anecdotal commentary from respondents remains mixed, contributors reported a rise in buyer demand whilst newly agreed sales also gained a little momentum.12/7/2019
Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment
The Scottish Government has today (12 July 2019) published an impact assessment for Non Domestic Rates sometimes known as business rates in respect of the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill introduced into Parliament on 25 March 2019. The paper sets out a series of possible options.12/7/2019
Scottish Government Publishes Draft Vision For Housing To 2040
The Scottish Government has set out its vision for housing in Scotland leading up to 2040. The draft vision sets out how housing system should look and feel in 2040.
12/7/2019
Building Standards Technical Handbook 2019: Domestic Buildings
Updated version of the technical handbook (domestic) which applies from 1 October 2019. This version of the technical handbook (domestic) applies to a building warrant submitted on or after 1 October 2019 and to building work which does not require a warrant commenced from that date.11/7/2019
Bank of England - Financial Stability Report, July 2019 - Live at 11.00am
The latest financial stability report for the UK will be broadcast live on Youtube at 11.00am today 11 July 2019 or can be watched later. See it HERE Read the report at https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financial-stability-report/2019/july-2019 Notes FPC mentioned a few times in the speech is - The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is an official committee of the Bank of England, modelled on the already well established Monetary Policy Committee.
11/7/2019
£65 Million Investment In Moray Economy
The Moray Growth Deal will see £65 million invested in creating high-value jobs, strengthening local communities and safeguarding the future of the local economy. The Scottish Government will invest up to £32.5 million in Moray over 10 to 15 years to drive inclusive economic growth across the region, with the UK Government matching the funding over a 15 year period.
11/7/2019
