News Archive
22/12/2014
Financial close for Wick Campus puts project full steam ahead
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that 'financial close' of the Wick Campus project was achieved, Friday 19 December 2014. With financial close, the Design, Build, Finance and Maintain (DBFM) contract has now been signed off for the £48.5m project which is due to complete in September 2016.
22/12/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Poultry Sale - 22 December 2014
Dingwall, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 22nd) sold 167 lots of Christmas poultry. Oven ready turkey (121) averaged 204.7p per lb and sold to 300p per lb for a 14lb bird from Balnakyle Farm, Aberlour, and £45 gross for a 17.5lb bird from No.22/12/2014
ATLANTIS AWARDED FEED-IN TARIFF FOR 4.5MW OF TIDAL GENERATION IN CANADA
Atlantis Resources Limited's Canadian subsidiary has been awarded a Feed-in Tariff for up to 4.5 megawatts of tidal generation to be deployed at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Developmental Feed-In-Tariff award of C$530 (£292) per megawatt hour (MWh) provides revenue support for Atlantis to deploy and operate up to three state-of-the art AR-1500 turbines at FORCE.
21/12/2014
Business Disability Forum supports findings of Access to Work inquiry
Business Disability Forum (BDF) welcomes the findings of the Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into the Access to Work scheme, which were published today in a report entitled 'Improving Access to Work for disabled people'. BDF provided evidence as a witness at the inquiry session on 15 October, which focussed on rules surrounding the provision of support workers, supporting people with mental health issues and cost-sharing arrangements with employers.20/12/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 15th December 2014 Energy & Business services: Friday's John O' Groat Journal carries news that Caledonia Green Innovations (CGI) is re-opening the engineering facility at Bower, Caithness, creating up to 35 jobs. CGI is one of a number of Aberdeen-based companies that have been involved in the ongoing programme of engagements that have been led by CNSRP partner HIE, with seconded support from partners DSRL and Highland Council.
20/12/2014
Atlantis Resources Makes First MeyGen Facility Drawdown
Atlantis, majority owner of the world's largest planned tidal stream energy project, MeyGen, announces that its flagship project has achieved another significant funding milestone, successfully completing all conditions required to initiate its first drawdown from its senior project finance providers, The Crown Estate and Scottish Enterprise through the Renewable Energy Investment Fund. The major construction and supply contractors to this iconic project have commenced design, engineering and procurement works in readiness for commencement of onshore construction at the project site in Caithness in January 2015.20/12/2014
Capacity market winners and losers - First UK Electricity Capacity Market Auction
The UK government is to subsidise 49.26GW of mostly existing electricity generators that have emerged victorious from the country's first capacity market auction. For the full story see at reNEWS - http://renews.biz/81311/uk-heralds-capacity-subsidies/.20/12/2014
Scotland's outdoor habits revealed
The number of people visiting the outdoors for recreation has gone up, with the estimated number of visits at its highest in recent years, according to a report published today (19 December) by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). In the first year of Scotland's People and Nature Survey, carried out between March 2013 and February 2014, 12,000 adults were asked how they use and enjoy the natural environment.19/12/2014
Highland Council Budget Agreed
The budget for 2015/16 and the indicative budget for the following 3 years has been agreed following a meeting today of Highland Council. A package of savings totally £42.8 million was agreed.17/12/2014
Serco NorthLink Ferries to Start New Year with New Offers
Serco NorthLink Ferries has announced two new special offers to launch early in 2015. From January 2, the ‘Kids Go Free' promotion will see children travel for free on direct Lerwick to Aberdeen and Aberdeen to Lerwick routes.16/12/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd. -Sale 16 december 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 16th) sold 80 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (30) averaged 213p (-8.6p) and sold to 230p per kg and £1,565.60 gross.15/12/2014
New changes to agricultural and forestry tracks permitted development rights
Today (Monday 15 December 2014) marks the introduction of revised planning permitted development rights for agricultural and forestry tracks. All proposed new, or alterations to existing, roads, tracks or footpaths (known collectively as ‘private ways') on agricultural or forestry land must now go through a prior notification process with the Planning Authority before any development can commence.15/12/2014
Out with the old, in with the new ....but Remember to Recycle!
‘Out with the old, in with the new' is an expression frequently heard over the Festive Season and this year The Highland Council's Waste Awareness Team are urging us all to make sure we don't just throw away the old but remember to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. Remember to use your blue bin for all paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, food tins and drink cans (no glass or plastic bags - everything should be loose, dry and clean).14/12/2014
Free Meeting Room For Community Groups At Tesco Wick
Tesco in Wick are now offering a meeting room free of charge for one off or regular weekly meetings. Part of their relaunch involves offering facilities to the community.
12/12/2014
Thurso recycling point at Lidl closed
People in Thurso are being advised by The Highland Council that the recycling banks at Thurso Lidl have been removed until February 2015 due to lack of space in the car park during the store's renovations. At this time of year householders have a lot of extra recycling, including glass in particular, and the Council is urging them to use other banks in the town.12/12/2014
£2.3m boost for new creative industries strategy
Four contractors have been appointed to deliver the Highlands and Islands Creative Industries Network Programme over the next three years. The appointments follow the launch last night (11 December 2014) of a new five-year Creative Industries Strategy by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at Eden Court in Inverness.12/12/2014
Scottish Beef Scheme Deadline
Farmers encouraged to submit payment applications immediately. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead is reminding farmers that the 2014 Scottish Beef Scheme (SBS) closes for applications on 31 December 2014.12/12/2014
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill published
Traffickers to face life imprisonment under new proposals. The Scottish Government has today introduced a Bill which will introduce a specific law to combat human trafficking and exploitation for the very first time in Scotland.11/12/2014
Highland Council Distance Learning Course to Become a Primary School Teacher
Part-time distance learning primary teaching course. Building on an existing successful partnership between The Highland Council and the University of Aberdeen, the next Distance Learning Initial Teacher Education Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (DLITE PGDE) (Primary) begins on 7 February 2015.10/12/2014
