News Archive

Senior Highland fire officer's plea to the public to help prevent future fire deaths in the region

Highland's most senior fire officer has said that people will die in fires which could be prevented unless friends, relatives and neighbours help the most vulnerable in our communities get the support they need to stay safe in their homes.   Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) Local Senior Officer for Highland Scott Hay issued the stark warning at today’s local scrutiny committee meeting at Highland Council headquarters in Inverness.  

Social enterprise boosts equality and economy, summit told

Social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands are helping Scotland tackle social issues, promote equality and achieve economic growth, a major summit on the sector heard today (Wednesday 10 June).   Social enterprises trade like any other business, but at their heart they have a social purpose; trading for social, community and environmental benefits and reinvesting their profits to deliver their social purpose.  

Short listing takes place for Caithness Flag Competition

The competition to design a flag for Caithness attracted 327 entries and on Friday (5 June) the judging panel met in Wick Town Hall to draw up a short-list.  The winning flag will be announced after a public vote.  

Consumers unable to name staple home grown foods

One in three people don't know we grow potatoes or apples in Britain Four in ten people don't realise we grow oats Findings come ahead of the agriculture industry's annual open day - Open Farm Sunday (7 June 2015) Despite British farmers producing 60% of the food we eat in this country, many consumers are unsure of what we actually grow in Britain according to a new survey released today, with many unaware we grow staple foods like potatoes, apples and oats.   The survey, commissioned by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) ahead of this weekend's Open Farm Sunday revealed that one in three (33 per cent) people do not know that we grow apples, which have been farmed in this country since Roman times.  

Work on Smart Cities projects to continue while funding application is considered

Following a submission to apply for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support "Scotland's 8th City - the Smart City" Strategic Intervention, members have approved in principle, for the council to continued engagement with the Scottish Cities Alliance and Highland partners to progress a number of projects while the application is being considered.   £1.8million of the £10m applied for has been ring-fenced for Inverness and the Highlands for projects that use data and technology to enhance the delivery of services, promote economic growth, increase sustainability, provide open data and engage more actively with people and communities.  

Out of hours call handling partnership reviewed

The Highland Council has reviewed its current arrangements for out of hours call handling.   An alternative arrangement to the current partnership with Police Scotland has been identified, as the service was to be moved from the Inverness Force Operations Centre to a virtual service centre between Edinburgh and Glasgow, at a higher cost.  

Allocation of additional funding for Highland roads, bridges and flood alleviation schemes

On Wednesday 3 June 2015 Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee members agreed the final allocation of capital funds for road improvements, bridges and flood prevention schemes for the next three years.   The additional funding is over and above that currently allocated for named major projects including the Westlink, Inshes Junction, Stromeferry and the Kinnairdie Link Road in Dingwall.  

Electricity Transmission Caithness To Moray

Next week will see further activity on the A9 - this time just south of Thurso at the site of the new Substation to be built by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission as the latest part of the £1.1 billion Caithness-Moray programme of grid enhancements (a video of what the programmed improvements will look like is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CfMqy_GP20) .   Next Monday (8th June 2015) work will start at Geiselittle to create access junction into the site, and the main A9 will therefore be limited to a single-carriageway for a short distance, with traffic lights controlling movement.  

Council appoints Head Teacher for Keiss primary

The new Head Teacher of Keiss Primary School in Caithness is Kathryn Laidlaw.  She takes up her post in August 2015.  

Consumers claim farming is stuck in the past

* Only 5 percent of people believe a farmer is tech savvy.   * Less than 10 percent of people realise that many farmers are degree educated.