News Archive
20/9/2012
Caithness District Partnership Meeting
The new Caithness District Partnership will meet in full for the second time on Friday 28 September, as part of the new arrangements under the Planning for Integration (P4i) partnership between the NHS and The Highland Council. Partners will consider a report from the NHS steering group, who are recommending a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.20/9/2012
Closure of Sheriff Courts a mistake claims Highlands & Islands MSP
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has hit out after the Scottish Court Service today launched their consultation on court closures. The move means that 11 of Scotland's 49 Sheriff Courts and 5 Justice of the Peace Courts are threatened with closure.20/9/2012
Street Lighting Trials To Continue
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has noted the progress being made with trials to achieve energy and carbon savings in street lighting. Members were told that the introduction of new technology energy efficient white lights with associated 25% dimming between midnight and 6 am has generated annual savings of £60,000.20/9/2012
A Scottish Budget For Jobs and Growth
The Draft Budget for 2013-14 and the actions the Scottish Government will take this Autumn will provide further investment in construction, skills and the green economy John Swinney said today. Setting out the budget to Parliament, Finance Secretary John Swinney pledged £180 million over two years for construction, skills and employment and a green economic stimulus.20/9/2012
War Memorial Refurbishment Programme 
The Highland Council is to embark on a programme of repair works to war memorials in the Highlands ahead of the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 in 2014. The majority of the Council's 165 memorials have been inspected to assess the level of work required to bring them up to a good standard.
19/9/2012
Family activity day at Dunnet's Seadrift Visitor Centre
Science O3, the organising charity behind the annual Caithness International Science Festival, will be collaborating with The Highland Council Countryside Rangers to present a fun-filled family activity day at Dunnet's Seadrift Visitor Centre on Saturday, 29th September 2012. The day of workshops, talks and walks, led by the Highland Council's Countryside Rangers, will highlight the biodiversity of Caithness and allow people of all ages to learn more about the wonderful world of birds, bush craft, whales, bats and basket making.
19/9/2012
Opening of Thurso Toilets
New public toilets in Thurso are now open for use by visitors and locals. On Monday (17 September 2012) Jannetta Sutherland, Visitor Services Advisor with VisitScotland, whose office is opposite the new toilet block, was invited to cut the ribbon to mark the completion of the project.
19/9/2012
New Town Tornagrain Gets Go Ahead From Highland Councillors
A proposal to build a new town to accommodate up tp 10,000 residents in over 4000 new homes to be built over a 30 - 40 year period finally got the go ahead today The proposals relate to the creation of a new community on 259 hectares of land on the A96(T) just to the north east of Tornagrain and south of Inverness Airport. It is envisaged that the town will have a population of around 10,000 when built out over an estimated 30-40 year period.19/9/2012
Conon Bridge Station To Be Reopened Ahead of Kessock Bridge Works 
Transport Minister Keith Brown today announced that Conon Bridge Train Station will be reopened in time for the resurfacing works being carried out on the Kessock Bridge next year. The station has been closed since 1960 but a new £600,000 station will be built on the site, set to re-open by February 2013.
19/9/2012
Planning For Sustainable Economic Growth
Planning Minister Derek Mackay yesterday updated parliament on progress towards planning reform, and outlined a major review of Scottish Planning Policy and the programme for delivery of Scotland's third National Planning Framework. In a statement to Parliament, Mr Mackay stressed the importance of the planning system in creating sustainable economic growth for Scotland.18/9/2012
Save, Borrow, Plan for Tomorrow
HI-SCOT Credit Union is now operating across the Highland area and provides an opportunity for people in the community to come together to save, and borrow money at low rates. Credit Unions are not-for-profit co-operatives, with surpluses being returned to members.18/9/2012
Highland Deposit Guarantee Scheme
Questions and Answers for Private Landlords and Applicants What is the Deposit Guarantee Scheme? The Highland Deposit Guarantee Scheme (here after referred to as the scheme) provides the 'Guarantee' of a deposit instead of a tenant providing cash deposit immediately. The Guarantee is to assist people having difficulty raising a cash deposit at the initial stage of the tenancy.18/9/2012
Capital Investment For Highland Communities
Capital investment by the Highland Council over the last 18 months has delivered £1.6 million of environmental improvement projects across Highland communities. Members of today's PED Committee had the opportunity to see photos of some of the projects which have been implemented by the Planning and Development Service in support of economic development.18/9/2012
Beware Of Bank Card Skimming
Member of the public reports card skimming device at Co-op at Keppoch Road, Culloden. Police received reports of a skimming machine attached to an ATM at the Co-op store in Keppoch Road, Culloden yesterday (18 September 2012).18/9/2012
Healthy Homes For Highland
Healthy Homes for Highland is an easy way for services and organisations to refer people for help and advice through one referral. Anyone referred to Healthy Homes can get free advice and assistance with: Making their home warmer and ways to reduce their fuel bills which may lead to the installation of grant funded insulation, heating and other energy efficiency measures) Making their home safer through a Home Fire Safety Check (including free smoke alarms and removing trip hazards).18/9/2012
Do You Know Your Mushrooms?
HPA - Poisons experts issue warning about wild mushroom foraging. Wild food enthusiasts are being urged to take extra care when foraging for mushrooms because of the risk of picking toxic varieties, says the Health Protection Agency's poisons experts.18/9/2012
Designed for growth: Design to push innovation
Europe has a global leadership position in design. Design plays a key role as an intangible asset for innovative companies.18/9/2012
Could you be a NICE Fellow or NICE Scholar?
Health and social care professionals can now apply for Fellowships and Scholarships provided by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The positions are unique opportunities to learn about and get involved in the inner workings of NICE, network with likeminded advocates of evidence-based practice, and promote NICE's guidance and other products to peers and colleagues.18/9/2012
BHF - Work stress linked to heart disease risk
People who have highly demanding jobs and little freedom to make decisions are 23% more likely to have a heart attack compared with those without work stress, a study has suggested. Researchers analysed job strain in employees without coronary heart disease.18/9/2012
