News Archive
24/6/2013
Marine consultation launched
The future of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters (PFOW) will be guided by the outcome of a joint consultation launched by Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Heriot-Watt University. Two documents have been produced to support the development of a pilot Marine Spatial Plan that aims to balance the needs of all existing and future users of the PFOW.24/6/2013
Power Grid System Market in Subsea worth $2,365.1 Million By 2018
ASDReports www.asdreports.com This introduction to the report from ASD Reports will perhaps alert more people to the huge increase in subsea work now approaching Caithness and other places in Scotland. Aimed at the industry the full report wil cost you several thousand dollars to buy but may well be worth it if you are investing millions.23/6/2013
Ready Steady Work - Moving Into Employment
DSRL is committed to the socioeconomic development of the Caithness and Sutherland area, and in particular to improving the employment prospects and “job-readiness” of local school leavers. As part of this commitment, we have contributed to the development of an innovative, industry-led event to provide young people with the practical skills and information required to support their success in moving into employment in all sectors.
23/6/2013
Year of progress in nuclear clean-up
Crucial milestones were achieved in the clean-up of the UK's nuclear legacy last year, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has revealed in its annual report and accounts. Progress was generally good across the NDA's 19 licensed sites, with achievements during 2012/13 including:.
23/6/2013
Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025
An initiative to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in Inverness and the Highlands by 2025 is being proposed by The Highland Council’s Leadership. A report to be considered by the Council at its meeting on Thursday (27 June) asks the Council to sign up to a long term commitment to create a Carbon Neutral Inverness in a Low Carbon Highlands; branded as a Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025.23/6/2013
Another Chance For Communities To Buy Land And Property
Additional Funding announced for Communities to buy land and properties to help regenerate their local areas. Community groups across Scotland are being urged to explore the opportunities available through the recently-expanded Scottish Land Fund.23/6/2013
Three Lead Baths Removed At Dounreay
Three lead baths weighing between twenty-one and twenty-eight tonnes each have been hoisted out of the redundant Dounreay Fast Reactor. Stripping out the old lead baths has been a challenging legacy faced by both the DFR project team and Dounreay’s waste directorate as decommissioning the fifty year old plant progresses.
20/6/2013
Highland Council appoints new Chief Executive
The Highland Council has appointed a new Chief Executive. He is Steve Barron, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property.
20/6/2013
Scottish quarry operators join forces in national safety campaign
Every year, young people who venture into quarries unsupervised are killed or seriously injured. Operators know from past experience that the warmer weather and the start of the school holidays herald an increase in these tragic incidents.19/6/2013
Highland Council Announces 10 Year Capital Programme
Council’s new 10-year building programme will boost Highland construction industry. The Leadership of The Highland Council today (Thursday) unveiled ambitious and exciting long term plans that will boost the Highland economy, with spending of almost one billion pounds over the next 10 years.18/6/2013
Huge Increase In Passenger Numbers At Wick John O'Groats Airport
HIAL PASSENGER NUMBERS UP BY 8,000. Wick John O'Groats passenger traffic was up by 123% in May.
18/6/2013
Local businesses encouraged to see benefits of Spittal Hill Windfarm proposals
Businesses in and around Caithness are being encouraged to become more involved in the construction of Spittal Hill Windfarm if approved, located just over 2km north east of the village of Spittal through a series of contractor preview events. The proposals, which outline plans for up to 8 turbines with an installed capacity of up to 24 megawatts (MW) and a height to the tip of up to 100m, would represent a capital investment of around £30 million for the area, and if approved, would present local businesses with a unique economic opportunity.18/6/2013
Placement programme is helping to retain young people in the region
Talented young people are choosing to work in the Highlands and Islands and helping businesses to achieve more as a result of a graduate programme in the region, according to a report commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). More than 40% of graduates taking part in the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme said that without it they would have been less likely to have been working in the Highlands and Islands.
18/6/2013
Highland Council gives its backing to 277-turbine wind farm
See the STV video report. Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited is a joint partnership formed between SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK.
18/6/2013
Impact of ‘bedroom tax’ must be assessed
The UK Government has been asked to clarify how it plans to review the impact of the bedroom tax on Scottish households, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today. Initial data collected by the Scottish Government and COSLA show that in the first two months since the introduction of the bedroom tax, more than 22,000 applications for emergency funding have been made in the form of Discretionary Housing Payments – a four-fold increase compared to the same period last year.18/6/2013
£20 million drive for business innovation and growth
A new £20 million Business Innovation & Growth programme to help drive forward economic recovery has been announced by First Minister Alex Salmond. The programme, deploying £20 million from Scotland’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) allocation, will leverage a further £30 million from public- and third-sector partners to deliver projects supporting economic growth across the country.16/6/2013
Grant Body Awards £118K in Latest Round!
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently held its 6th grant assessment round awarding £118K to seven community and voluntary groups for projects that will benefit people living in the Caithness & North Sutherland area. This latest round of awards brings the Fund’s total funding commitment to over £648K, of which forty seven voluntary and community groups have benefited.
16/6/2013
The Inverness West Link road – Phase 2 of ground condition investigations
The Highland Council is advising the public that the second and final phase of ground condition investigations are under way in relation to the Inverness West Link road. Holequest Ltd, who carried out the bulk of the ground Investigation works for the first phase of the investigations, have returned for the second phase and this involves boreholes being installed in the River Ness at the proposed bridge pier locations.
14/6/2013
Wick Harbour Authority to benefit from Axis 4 European Fisheries Funding
The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has awarded funding of £30,098 to Wick Harbour Authority for the purchase of additional infrastructure to increase the capacity at Wick Marina from 72 to 84 berths. Interpretation panels will also be installed in the area around the harbour to promote the maritime heritage of Wick and provide information regarding the diversification process to create a modern port.
12/6/2013
