News Archive
17/5/2014
SHE Transmission - Caithness Moray Transmission Reinforcement
Commenting, SHE Transmission's North Projects Director Dave Mckay said:"The Caithness to Moray project is a major step in delivering a modern electricity network for the north of Scotland, capable of meeting the needs of our growing renewable energy sector. "Subject to regulatory approval, the proposed High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system could be in place by 2018.
17/5/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 12 May 2014 Energy & Business Services: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission held a “meet the buyer/ meet the employer” event in North Highland College’s ETEC this week, and I was delighted to be invited to have a presence at the event with partner staff from HIE, Highland Council, Caithness Chamber and JobCentre Plus. The event allowed SSE and supply-chain companies Balfour Beatty, ABB, Amec and Siemens to outline opportunities from the £1.3Bn programme to invest in the electricity transmission network in the north.17/5/2014
The US Leads the Recovery, but the World's Locomotive Is Fading
After a harsh winter, growth in the US economy seems to be picking up again and activity looks set to accelerate as we head into the summer. In his latest Economic Viewpoint, Keith Wade, Chief Economist at Schroders, shares his views on the US.17/5/2014
Beauly to Denny 400kV overhead Construction Works - Potential Overnight A9 Closures
As part of the project to install a new overhead electricity transmission line between Beauly and Denny, Balfour Beatty, on behalf of Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission, require several short night-time closures, for a maximum of three nights, to allow essential overhead cabling activities across the A9 at Dalnacardoch, 11 miles north of Blair Atholl. John Buchan, Overhead Line Project Manager for SHE Transmission said: “We have planned the Overhead Line works at the A9 very carefully and have made every effort to keep disruption to an absolute minimum for motorists.17/5/2014
Scottish MPs Should Not Negotiate For UK If There Is A "Yes" Vote At Independence Referendum
In the event of a "yes" vote in the Scottish independence referendum, MPs for Scottish constituencies, including ministers, should retain their seats in the House of Commons until the day of independence itself. However, they should not negotiate for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence, scrutinise the UK’s negotiating team nor ratify a resulting agreement, as their first duty would be to their Scottish constituents rather than the interests of the rest of the UK.17/5/2014
E.ON CEO Says: "We Will Put This Right."
Settlement agreed with Ofgem. A penalty payment of £1 and a fuel poverty package amounting to £12million across a group of about 333,000 vulnerable customers including those who received Warm Home Discount payments; In addition, about 465,000 customers to receive notification they may have received incorrect information when choosing their energy tariff; Any concerned customers can call the E.ON Sales Compensation Fund on 0800 056 8497 Following Ofgem's conclusion of its investigation into E.ON's sales, E.ON has today (FRI) apologised to customers and confirmed it is working to ensure the failings of the past cannot be repeated.15/5/2014
Plan that will shape development of Inner Moray Firth for next 20 years
Step forward for Plan that will shape development of Inner Moray Firth for next 20 years. The new Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan took a major step forward yesterday (Wednesday 14 May 2014) when members of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee confirmed the Council’s position on issues raised during consultation.15/5/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14th May 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 14th) sold 329 store cattle and 46 OTM cattle. Bullocks (152) averaged 236.3p and sold to 278.1p per kg for 320kg Limousin crosses from The Dell of Killiehuntly, Kingussie, and £1,300 gross for 618kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from Stonehouse, Brora.15/5/2014
Public consultation on infrastructure and development for Inshes and Raigmore area of Inverness
The Highland Council is to consult on future land use opportunities and local infrastructure improvements at Inshes and Raigmore in a shared consultation with Transport Scotland that will shape the future development of this key area of Inverness. Feedback from the consultation will help to create an Inshes and Raigmore Development Brief that will guide future development and look in detail at the challenges and opportunities in this busy part of the city.15/5/2014
More council houses to be built in Highland
At yesterday’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee members have agreed an amended programme of new build housing in the Highlands which will increase the number of Council houses built from the 392 agreed by the Council in January this year to 512. The amended house building programme agreed yesterday will see the revised number of new council houses added to the 126 within previous programmes, making a total of 664 against a target by 2017 of 688.14/5/2014
Dates set for Council budget consultation
Dates have been set for a series of 13 budget events being held by The Highland Council to consult with the public over spending priorities between 2015-2019 during which time the Council has to find savings of an estimated £63 million. The forums will also include the first stage of public consultation on the Customer Service Review (including Service Points) agreed at the Council meeting in March.14/5/2014
Extending the Living Wage Vital to the Highland Council Area says Rhoda Grant MSP
The living wage should be more actively promoted across the Highlands Council Area, Rhoda Grant MSP has said, after figures showed that 90% of Scots think that companies should pay the living wage. There are around 19,570 people across the Highland Council area who are paid less than the living wage, currently set at £7.65 an hour.14/5/2014
Labour Market Statistics - May 2014
Latest estimates for January to March 2014 show that employment continued to increase, unemployment continued to fall, as did the number of economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64. These changes continue the general direction of movement over the past two years.13/5/2014
PMI Dips in April, but Still Points to Solid Private Sector Growth
* Output levels rise solidly in April, albeit at slowest pace in four months * Faster increases in new business and backlogs of work * Inflationary pressures strengthen slightly. Scotland's private sector economy continued to grow in April, the latest Bank of Scotland PMIreport showed, with output and employment both rising on the month.13/5/2014
Post Office Commits To Community Banking
The Post Office has launched a £20m Community Branch Fund to help secure the long-term future of branches in villages and remote communities, and underpin their crucial economic and social role. As the traditional banking network declines, community branches are critical in enabling local people to maintain access to the majority of high street banks, along with a wide range of other Post Office products and services.13/5/2014
Cumulative landscape and visual assessment of wind energy in Caithness
Members of The Highland Council’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee will be updated on the draft findings of recent research into the cumulative effect of wind energy developments in Caithness at their meeting on Wednesday (14 May 2014). This follows The Highland Council’s successful joint bid with Argyll and Bute Council for Scottish Government funding to undertake such studies in parts of the two council areas.
13/5/2014
27,000 Access Online Business Lending Advice
Along with increasing the number of experienced bank and relationship managers in frontline roles, the bank's digital offering has been developed in order to make things as convenient as possible for customers. In this vein, February saw RBS and NatWest launch a new online business portal providing all the essential information businesses need if they are thinking about applying for a business loan.13/5/2014
Retailers Trump The Big Four In Credit Card Customer Satisfaction
uSwitch.com’s survey of over 7,000 credit card customers shows retail brands Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s stealing the limelight from the Big Four banks, as customers rank them higher in trust, value for money and customer service. - Too big to fail? The Big Four banks fail to win a single award in credit card satisfaction survey.13/5/2014
Motorists Burn £1.9 Billion A Year By 'Auto Renewing' Their Car Insurance
- 8.6 million drivers risk missing out on savings by sticking with their existing insurer when renewing - 2.4 million motorists can't be bothered to shop around for cover - Motorists could save up to £220 a year each by switching UK motorists are wasting £1.9 billion each year by staying loyal to their existing car insurer. Not shopping around for a better deal at renewal time means drivers could be throwing away around £220 a year1, says MoneySuperMarket.com.13/5/2014
