News Archive
16/3/2013
Start of less favoured area payments
Payments from the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme will start to arrive in bank accounts from Friday, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead confirmed earlier this week. The Scottish Government has now authorised payment of 10,190 claims to farmers and crofters working in some of the most challenging conditions in Europe, worth £56 million – around 86 per cent of the total £65.5 funding for the scheme.15/3/2013
Council And Cromarty Port Authority To Sign Agreement
Memorandum of Understanding seeks to strengthen economy & bring new jobs in the Cromarty Firth. The Highland Council and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority are to sign a partnership agreement to promote co-operation and joint working, with the aim of creating good quality employment opportunities and facilitating the development of new and existing port facilities at Invergordon and in the Cromarty Firth.15/3/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 11th March 2013 Energy: Applications from Meygen Ltd and Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd will go before next Tuesday’s meeting of the Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee. You can view the applications at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/committees/npac-comms/2013-03-19-npac-ag.htm Business Services: Good news this week that recent investment by HIE in local company Escape Technologies has helped create 4 new jobs, bringing the company’s staffing complement to 9 as it moves into new premises in Thurso town centre.14/3/2013
Mackays Hotel Officially Recognised as “Staymakers” by Olympic Training Scheme
Inspired by the success of the London 2012 Olympics’ Gamesmakers, Mackays Hotel in Wick has become the latest organisation in the UK to gain national recognition for its dedication to excellent customer service, joining an elite segment of hospitality businesses that have achieved the status. The family run hotel received news this week that it is the first hotel in Caithness & Sutherland to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Business status, a training programme that was used to train the tens of thousands of staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and nearly one million people worldwide, in exceptional customer service.
14/3/2013
Escorting Abnormal Loads over the A9 Kessock Bridge 
There is a regular flow of abnormal loads, northwards over the A9 Kessock Bridge, which in the main includes outsized assembly parts for a range of important development initiatives within the Highland area. It is important for the progress of the Highland economy that such loads are progressed without unnecessary delay.
14/3/2013
SRUC Experts Warn Farmers of High Disease Risk to Spring Barley
www.sruc.ac.uk/news Plant pathologists from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are warning Scottish farmers that there is an almost unprecedented disease risk to spring barley this year after the heavy rains last season. After finding that in some regions nearly 50% of the seeds are infected with at least one strain of fungal disease they are stressing that farmers in all regions should get their seeds tested and treated to minimise the risk.
14/3/2013
Council’s Commitment to Highland tourism industry
In recognising that tourism is the Highland’s biggest industry, members of the Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee today agreed funding to VisitScotland of up to £270k in 2013/14. They also agreed that a further £80,000 be used to both deliver services directly by the Council’s tourism team and to provide discretionary funding to business or community groups undertaking tourism projects.
14/3/2013
Delivering Integrated Services In Highland
Highland Councillors have agreed a further enhancement of the model for the integration of health and care services across the authority. This involves the organisation of Allied Health Professional Services and Community Learning Disability Nurses, as well as some changes to the performance frameworks for both adult and children’s services.14/3/2013
Drivers switch to rail during Kessock Bridge works
With up to 45 minute delays at the Kessock Bridge North Drivers should consiider getting tyhe train at the recenly opened station at Conon and leave the car there to pick it up on returning north and avoid two trip sover the bridge to help ease conjestion. ScotRail today revealed figures showing a major increase in passengers using stations north of Inverness during the first month of the £18million Kessock Bridge refurbishment programme.
14/3/2013
Preparing to operate PAYE in real time (RTI)
From 6 April 2013 employers will have to start reporting PAYE information to HMRC in real time. You may see this referred to as Real Time Information - or RTI.13/3/2013
D E Shoe Shop In Wick Under Threat As Stores Up For Sale
Wick's DE shop under threat after the chain's bosses put most of their Scottish stores up for sale, recently. A total of 10 jobs are on the line taking the Wick and Thurso branches together.
IT company expands workforce at its Thurso base
A Caithness IT company is creating new jobs in the North of Scotland as it relocates to a new office in Thurso town centre. Escape Group is to move from the Janetstown Industrial Estate where it has been operating for three years.
13/3/2013
Highland Council Leader Corrects GMB Union On Wrong Statements Re Employee Numbers
Leader explains Council job statistics. The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry is to write to the GMB trade union to tell them they have got the wrong end of the stick over job statistics.13/3/2013
Meet the Buyer Event for Caithness and Sutherland Subcontractors
Miller Construction is extending an invitation to subcontractors and suppliers based in the Caithness and Sutherland area to a Meet the Buyer event to find out more about future opportunities for local businesses in the area. As a Tier 1 contractor with hub North Scotland Limited, Miller Construction is preferred bidder on a £50m pipeline of work to be delivered over the next three years in Wick and Tain and is seeking suitable local partners to deliver these projects and others when they arise.13/3/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 13th March 3013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (March, 13th) sold 2,668 sheep of all classes. Lambs (1,632) averaged £46.85 and sold to £84 gross for Texel crosses from North Calder, Halkirk.13/3/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 12th March 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 12th) sold 79 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (47) averaged 218.2p (+3.5p) and sold to 228p per kg and £1,665.00 gross.13/3/2013
Police catch 120 drivers speeding across Highlands and Islands
Police in the Highlands and Islands took part in a national ACPOS led campaign over the weekend 8 March to 11 March to highlight the dangers which exist on country roads. A total of 120 drivers were caught speeding.12/3/2013
Landward Caithness by-election date confirmed
By-election - Ward 4 (Landward Caithness) Candidates wishing to stand at the by-election being held in The Highland Council’s Ward 4 – Landward Caithness – have until 4 pm on Thursday 28 March to complete their nomination. The by-election is being held on Thursday 2 May to find a successor to Councillor Robert Coghill (Independent) who, following medical advice, stepped down at the end of February.11/3/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 4th March 2013 Energy: Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) is currently consulting on the planning application to build new overhead lines from Dounreay to Spittal; from Spittal to Mybster; and for a new substation 3.5km south of Thurso. Information on the proposals can be found at http://www.sse.com/DounreayMybster/ProjectInformation/ and the full Environmental Statement is also available to view at the Highland Council Service Points in Rotterdam Street, Thurso and Girnigoe Street, Wick.9/3/2013
