News Archive
17/8/2016
Rural Secretary asks for extension to cover £360 million of European money. Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy Fergus Ewing has called for the EU funding guarantee to be extended to cover the outstanding £360 million that is vital to the Rural Economy.
17/8/2016
Views sought on electrofishing methods. A consultation on proposals to amend legislation so that specified forms of electrofishing would be permitted for catching razor clams has been launched today.
17/8/2016
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP and Scottish Labour's Rural Economy and Connectivity Spokesperson, Rhoda Grant, has said Audit Scotland's ‘Superfast broadband for Scotland’ progress update report published this week (18.08.16) highlights ‘no surprises in the north’. The report highlights that while the £146m Highlands and Islands contract and the £266 million Rest of Scotland contract are currently on track to provide access to 95% of premises by December 2017, the remainder of the roll-out will be more challenging.
16/8/2016
New times have been issued for the turbine movements. Wednesday 17/08 - x 3 components @ 1830 Thursday 18/08 - x 3 Components @ 1830 Friday 19/08 - x 3 components @1830 Saturday 20/08- x 3 components @ 1030 Sunday 21/08 – no escorts Monday 22/08 – x 3 components @1830 Tuesday 23/08 – x 3 components @1830 Wednesday 24/08 - x 3 components @1830 Thursday 25/08 - x 3 components @1830.
One hundred and thirty probationer teachers were recently welcomed to the Highlands (on Friday 12 August), at an induction course held in the Highland Council Chamber. Councillor Drew Millar, chair of Education, Children and Adult Services said: "I am very pleased to see so many people keen to start a career in education.
Week commencing 8th August 2016 Energy and Business Services: Atlantis Resources Ltd has completed a deal with Belgian company DEME, who will be providing support (via its subsidiary Geosea) to the installation of the foundation structures for Phase 1a of the MeyGen project. DEME held an event in Caithness last November in association with CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), at which DEME Group representatives outlined the company's experience and capabilities in offshore logistics.
13/8/2016
The turbines for the Lochend Wind Farm currently located at Wick Harbour will begin to be moved on 15th August 2016. There will be possible long delays as the turbine parts make their way around the long route.
12/8/2016
Demographic information about Scotland's population National Records of Scotland (NRS) today publishes ‘Scotland's Population 2015 - the Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends’. Tim Ellis, the Registrar General of Scotland, said: "The figures produced by National Records of Scotland paint a picture of our nation in 2015.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 10th) sold 13,702 store lambs at their annual district sale to average £54.06 (+ £3.75 on the year). Cheviot wedder lambs (5,873) averaged £51.07 (+£2.74) and sold to £69.00 gross from 250 Rearquhar, Dornoch.
North Highland College UHI's evening classes and short courses are a great way for you to learn a new skill, turn a hobby into a money earner or even take the first step on the road to achieving a new qualification. With ILA funding available, you might be able to learn a whole new skill without it costing you a penny! From Digital Photography to Working With Wood, there's something for everyone.
Ten new graduates started their careers at Dounreay this week as the company's graduate development programme entered its second year. Applications to the scheme soared after the success of last year's first ever graduate intake, with more than 200 applications received.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 9th) sold 17 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (2) averaged 215.5p (+5.0p) and sold to 216p per kg and £1,311.50 gross.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (August, 9th) sold 2,374 store lambs at its second annual on farm sale of store lambs at Fearn Farm, Tain, on behalf of Messrs J Scott & Partners. Fearn - sold to £56.50 for a pen 156 Texel x, Beltex, & Aberfield x lambs.
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson is supporting calls for the reintroduction of an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) for waters around the west of Scotland and the Western Isles. Cllr Davidson said: "I strongly support the calls from our colleagues in the Western Isles who have to deal with the serious consequences of having an oil rig threaten their coastline.
From 5th September householders who wish to take their waste to Wick Recycling Centre in a van, pickup truck, sign written vehicle and/or a trailer will be required to complete a Household Waste Declaration form before visiting the site or face being turned away. The move, approved by the Community Services Committee, aims to improve the operation of Recycling Centres by eliminating illegal practice from commercial operators, increasing recycling and improving skip availability at peak times for householders.
The destruction of one of the highest hazards remaining in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) estate has been completed at Dounreay. Around 68 tonnes of highly radioactive liquid metal coolant was removed from the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) and safely destroyed over a ten year period.
Week Commencing 1st August 2016 Energy and Business Services: Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd held consultation events in both Helmsdale and Wick this week. The company, which received consent to develop the eastern part of its offshore wind field in the Moray Firth in 2014, is now consulting on plans to develop the western section of its area.
5/8/2016
The €11m FORESEA programme opened its first call for support package applications today. Successful applicants will receive free access to test ocean energy technologies in real sea conditions at the project's network of open sea test centres.
A new report published today says proper maintenance of the roads network is vital for economic prosperity and for people to get around safely. However, roads authorities, locally and nationally, urgently need to be more innovative, develop robust ways to compare relative efficiency, and engage better with road users.
4/8/2016
The Bank of England has delivered "another painful bloody nose" to pensioners and savers on Super Thursday, affirms the chief executive of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations. Nigel Green, CEO and founder of deVere Group, is speaking out after the Bank’s Governor, Mark Carney, today unveiled a raft of measures aimed at preventing a recession following the Brexit vote.