News Archive
12/2/2014
Taxi fare review in Highland
Review The public is being asked for its views on proposals by The Highland Council to increase the cost of all fares, regardless of the distance travelled by 30p. It is also proposed that the charge applied to compensate for the cost of the outward journey for hires which commence 3 miles or more away from the taxi or taxi base (whichever is the nearer) and where the customer wishes to travel further away be increased from a maximum of ��6.50 to a maximum of ��7.50.12/2/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 12 February 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 12th) sold 1971 sheep of all classes. Lambs (1126) averaged £64.76 and sold to £90 gross for a Cheviot from Heathmount, Tain.12/2/2014
MISUSE OF ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS MUST BE TACKLED
Yesterday the Scottish Affairs Committee met with Scottish Officials of USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, in Falkirk to take evidence on the impact of zero hours contracts. The Scottish Affairs Committee heard that companies are using “zero hours” contracts when there is not a justifiable business need, leading to unnecessary insecurity, lack of opportunity to access finance, mortgages or even rental housing, and loss of important employment rights.10/2/2014
Reactor demolition takes another step forward at Dounreay
A pioneering Dounreay innovation has allowed the team taking apart the Prototype Fast Reactor to complete one of the final phases ready for demolition. The centre guide tube - which once housed the reactor's control and shutoff rods - was successfully raised from the reactor core, demonstrating that internal fixtures can be safely removed.
10/2/2014
Scottish Affairs Committee Meets To Discuss Zero Hours Contracts
COMMITTEE TO MEET USDAW IN FALKIRK TO DISCUSS DAMAGING IMPACT OF ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS. On Monday 10th February the Scottish Affairs Committee will meet with USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, in Falkirk to discuss evidence they have provided about the impact of zero hours contracts.9/2/2014
C-Odyssey at Gills Harbour 
Report - Bill Mowatt The flagship of the largest fleet of 'marine renewables support vessels' in Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters has been on a two-day operational working visit to Gills Harbour in Caithness. The versatile C-Odyssey has been specifically designed to service the fledgling industry and was delivered new to owners/operators Leask Marine Ltd, of Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, from a shipyard in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2011, at a reported cost of over £3 million.
9/2/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 3rd February 2014 Energy & Business Services: Pelamis Wave Power will be undertaking pre-planning application consultation events in the north next month as the company prepares to submit application to build a wave site at Farr Point in North Sutherland. Events will be held in Bettyhill, Strathy, Durness and Thurso from 24th to 26th March.9/2/2014
Minister sees Dounreay decommissioning first hand
Dounreay welcomed Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism to see the world leading decommissioning work taking place at the site. He also met with Andrew Wettern, business development director for Cavendish Nuclear, who was accompanying Hidehiro Segawa of Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy on his knowledge sharing and fact finding visit to the site.
8/2/2014
"A raw deal for supply teachers"
Posted by Scottish Supply Teachers on February 7, 2014 at 4:25 AM A letter written by a Supply Teacher. http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/letters/a-raw-deal-for-supply-teachers.23358733 "A raw deal for supply teachers Thursday 6 February 2014 IF the purpose of the latest offer on pay for Scottish supply teachers is to entice more of them back into the classroom then disappointment may lie ahead ("Pay row teachers to vote on new offer", The Herald, February 4).7/2/2014
Results of Community Council interim elections
Six Highland community councils are able to continue operating following recent interim elections. Nominations were invited from 21 January to 5 February 2014 for persons seeking election to Community Councils serving Caithness West; East Nairnshire; Inverlochy; Raigmore; Sinclairs Bay; and Wick In each case, the number of candidates nominated was less than the number of councillors to be returned, so no elections will take place, and the list of candidates for each community council are now declared to be elected as councillors.7/2/2014
Rent Arrears Rise May Be Due To Bedroom Tax
Housing Regulator publishes research on rent arrears six months into Welfare Reform. The Scottish Housing Regulator today published the findings of the second phase of its research on the early impact of Welfare Reform on social landlords.7/2/2014
Business Oppotunities Event
Strathy North Windfarm - 26th February, Strathy Village Hall. In February SSE are holding an information day for local businesses to find out about the ongoing opportunities around the construction of our £109m Strathy North wind farm in Sutherland.
6/2/2014
Council extends consultation period on amendments to public entertainment licensing
The Highland Licensing Committee has extended until Friday 21 March the period of consultation for proposed amendments and additions to activities requiring a public entertainment licence. The original deadline was Friday 7 February but the Licensing Committee, meeting on Tuesday 4 February, agreed this should be extended following a number of representations received from outdoor activity providers and to allow time to obtain further information on the extent to which such activities are already regulated by other authorities/bodies.6/2/2014
MSP Rhoda Grant Wants Crofters To State Their Views On CAP Changes
Highlands & Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said that the is concerned that the views and opinions of Crofters with regard to the consultation regarding the Common Agricultural Policy funds from 1st January 2015, may not be heard unless they act now. She said, “The Highlands and Islands Agriculture Support Group working with the Scottish Government have tested the modelling of the James Hutton Institute on the payments that would be required to support Crofting.5/2/2014
Wick John OGroats Airport well Placed To Become Energy Gateway
Wick John O'Groats Airport is well placed to capture a greater share of the energy market, says Airport Station Manager William Sutherland. His remarks followed a visit by Alan Simpson, Integrated Planning and Turnaround Manager at Chevron, to mark the end of the company's year-long presence at the airport.
5/2/2014
Kessock Bridge Resurfacing Begins on 10th February For 20 Weeks
The resurfacing of Kessock Bridge, Inverness, is being carried out by Bear Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland (the Scottish Government agency responsible for the maintenance of the A9 and Kessock Bridge). The second phase begins on Monday 10 February 2014 and continues for 20 weeks.
5/2/2014
Population on the up in Skye, Ross and Cromarty
The demographics of Skye, Ross and Cromarty were under the spotlight today (Wednesday 5 February) as Members of the Area Committee took the opportunity to look in some detail at the results from the 2011 census. The population of the Skye, Ross & Cromarty area has grown by 8.6% compared to the Highland average of 11.1%, with an increase in all six Council Wards, and at a local level in 65 out of 85 data zones.5/2/2014
New industrial biotechnology innovation centre to create 1500 jobs
A new innovation centre for industrial biotechnology (IB) is forecast to increase IB related turnover to up to £3 billion by 2030, create 1500 jobs within five years and put Scotland at the forefront of a global transformation. Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and supported by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the new Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) – hosted at the University of Strathclyde – is a key element of the National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology – Towards a Greener, Cleaner 2025.5/2/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 5 February 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 5th) sold 85 weaned calves and store cattle, and 10 OTM cattle. Bullocks (41) sold to 235.6p per kilo for a pen of 382kg Shorthorn crosses from Balnespick, Kincraig, (Williamson) and £1,130 gross for a pair of 642kg Blonde d’Aquitaine crosses from Muirend Croft, Auldearn.5/2/2014
