News Archive
17/10/2015
LMO payments begin
Farmers and other land managers will begin to receive their share of £6.7 million of rural development payments from next week. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed the Scottish Government's Rural Payment and Inspectorate Division (RPID) has begun processing more than 5,000 Land Managers Option (LMO) payments for the 2014 scheme year.17/10/2015
Cereal harvest ‘better than expected'
Scotland's highest cereal harvest yield for 20 years has been welcomed by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead. According to the first estimates for the 2015 Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest, published today, Scottish farms are thought to have produced 3.3 million tonnes of cereals this year.17/10/2015
Tourism visitor numbers increases again
Seven per cent increase. Overseas and domestic tourism visitors to Scotland have both increased by seven per cent in the last year to the end of June 2015 according to figures published this morning.17/10/2015
Contract awarded to deliver rail upgrade
BAM appointed principal contractor for the £170m upgrade of the Aberdeen-Inverness line. The Scottish Government-funded enhancement will transform journeys on the route introducing a half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie and additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin.16/10/2015
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy & Business Services: This week has seen preparations taking place for the visit later this month of a potential inward investor to the area. A series of relevant visits have been arranged to highlight the business infrastructure in the area, and to promote existing business capabilities.15/10/2015
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 15 October 2015
STORNOWAY, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 15th) sold 1,701 sheep. Store lambs (630) sold to £52 gross for Suffolk crosses from 13 Cross Skigersta Road, Ness.15/10/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14 October 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 14th) sold 1630 weaned calves at their second annual district ballot show and sale. The judge, Mr G.15/10/2015
Work on new link road for Dingwall starts next week
Work on the first stage of the Kinnairdie Link Road Scheme in Dingwall will begin on Monday when contractor, Pat Munro (Alness) Ltd will be on site to carry out improvements to the junction of the A862 Newton Road and the A834 Burn Place near to the Council Offices. The A862 will be widened to provide additional stacking length on the approach to the junction from the South.15/10/2015
Scottish Minister launches HITRANS rural airports project
HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, is spearheading a significant European-funded project to assist and develop rural and remote airports with use of new technologies. SPARA 2020, which stands for Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports, is a three-year €2.4 million Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme area project.14/10/2015
One thousand drums crushed by supercompactor
Dounreay has reached a significant milestone following commissioning of the new supercompactor at the Waste Receipt Assay Characterisation and Supercompaction facility (WRACS). The facility has now crushed its 1000th drum of low level waste since the plant's re-start in July.
14/10/2015
£520,000 RESURFACING IMPROVEMENTS - A9 Badacreamh Southbound and A9 South of Slochd
Works start Friday 16 October 2015. Two locations on the A9 near Inverness are soon to be upgraded following an investment of £520,000 from Transport Scotland.13/10/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 13 October 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 13th) sold 47 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (9) averaged 216.7p (-2.1p) and sold to 228p per kg and £1,459.35 gross.12/10/2015
Have your say on Highland Council transport services
The Highland Council is seeking public opinion on the future provision of school, public and dial-a-bus transport services across the region. A series of consultation meetings will be held across the Highlands to discuss with communities their required needs and views on future Council transport services.12/10/2015
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 12 October 2015
PORTREE, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 12th) sold 103 weaned calves and store cattle, 6 breeding cattle and 38 OTM cattle. Bullocks (52) averaged 218.5p and sold to 250.0p per kg for a pair of 180kg Charolais crosses from 5 Borreraig, Dunvegan, and £800 gross for a 420kg Limousin cross from 4 Treaslane, Skeabost Bridge.12/10/2015
Results of Highland Council housing Radon home testing
In 2014 The Highland Council's Community Services commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to test around 1,150 Council houses in Highland at the highest risk from radon gas. Highland is one of 16 local authorities in Scotland which has areas with a presence of radon exceeding recommended levels.12/10/2015
Renewables debate moves to London
Scottish Government to host renewables roundtable & meet UK Energy Secretary. The Scottish Government will today take its campaign on the future of renewable energy to London as it renewed calls for the UK Government to change course on its cuts in support for renewable energy.12/10/2015
Fairer approach to social security
Respect and dignity at heart of new Scottish system. Scotland's new social security powers will make it fairer and simpler for people to access benefits, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has said.12/10/2015
Record increase for renewable heat
Amount generated from renewables rises by over a third. The amount of heat generated by renewable sources in Scotland grew by 36 per cent during 2014.12/10/2015
A different path from austerity
Scottish Government plan would release £150bn more for public services. The First Minister has set out an alternative option for a UK wide fiscal mandate that would ensure sustainable UK public finances while releasing additional investment in public services and infrastructure compared to the UK Government's planned cuts.12/10/2015
