News Archive
19/12/2012
Energy Sector Boosts Passenger Numbers At HIAL Airports
Passenger numbers at Scotland’s regional airports jumped by more than 10% last month, with the booming energy sector responsible for much of the growth. Latest figures from airport operator HIAL show that its 11 airports handled 101,701 passengers in November, an increase of 10.5% on the same month last year.
19/12/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 19 December 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 19th) sold 80 MV accredited pedigree females at its annual show and sale. The judge, Mr John Macgregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, awarded the Suffolk champion to a gimmer by Cairness Stockbroker, carrying a single to Rookery Rooney, from Mr R.19/12/2012
Limekiln Wind Farm Could Create Skilled Jobs Lost From Dounreay 
Green energy firm Infinergy has officially submitted its planning application for a 24-turbine wind farm at Limekiln, in Caithness. Infinergy believes the project will significantly offset the carbon footprint of the area and create new industries, jobs and skills that will outlast the decommissioning of nearby Dounreay Power Station.
18/12/2012
17 Highland datazones in most deprived 15% in Scotland
The Highlands has 17 datazones ranked in the most deprived 15% in Scotland according to the Scottish Government’s latest release of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). SIMD has been designed to identify the most deprived areas across Scotland.18/12/2012
Board Confirms End Of Door Entry Policy
The Highland Licensing Board has confirmed its decision to abolish its door entry policy, which required customers at 13 night clubs across the Highlands to enter the premises by midnight. The Board took a policy decision to abolish its door entry policy at a meeting on 20 November on the basis that it had not been demonstrated that the policy continued to serve any of the 5 licensing objectives.18/12/2012
Recycling Arrangements Over Holiday Period
Recycling and refuse collection arrangements over the Christmas Holidays. With the 2012 festivities almost upon us, The Highland Council is advising households not to get snowed under with waste but to take advantage of all the recycling opportunities available over the Christmas holidays.
18/12/2012
Council Help And Advice For Private Landlords
Highland Council publishes help and advice for private landlords and letting agents. Private landlords are being given information about new laws and advice about what they need to do to meet their new duties in the latest edition of The Highland Council’s Landlord News published this week.18/12/2012
Scotland’s Population Hits Record High
A decade of devolution has delivered an historic record population and a key driver for growth. The first set of 2011 Census data, which are published today, reveal that Scotland’s population is now the highest in history, beating the previous record set in the early 1970’s and reversing declines seen in the decades since.17/12/2012
Council assesses storm damage to East Highlands
The Highland Council is taking stock of the damage to its eastern coastline following storm surges over the weekend which resulted in damage to existing coastal defences and a number of harbours. Staff from The Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services were been deployed throughout the week end to respond to local flooding issues and clean up the debris resulting from the storms.
16/12/2012
Largest Fall In Unemployment Rate For Four Years
Finance Secretary John Swinney has welcomed new statistics showing the largest fall in the unemployment rate in Scotland for four years. Unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 19,000 during the most recent quarter, with a significant drop in youth unemployment over the year.16/12/2012
Marine Protected Areas
Steps are being taken that could see a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) equivalent to an area the size of Scotland being created in Scottish waters. If designated the MPA network would almost double the 12 per cent of Scotland’s seas currently protected, bringing the total area to more than 20 per cent.
16/12/2012
Scottish Hydro Electric Invests £5.4 Million In Highland
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) invests £5.4m in network in Highland. The electricity network in Highland has been strengthened further through a £5.4m investment in preparation for the winter months as part of a planned £160 million company wide investment programme over the next four years.16/12/2012
Way Forward Agreed for Planning
Agreement on further planning reforms in Scotland has been reached following discussions between Local Government Minister Derek Mackay, Cosla leaders and other key stakeholders this afternoon. Mr Mackay announced a package of measures to speed up the updating and processing of local development plans, and to streamline the planning system as well as extending the number of developments that do not need to submit planning applications.
14/12/2012
NDA Announcement On National Nuclear Archive
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced a decision to proceed with the next phase of the National Nuclear Archive project, which will see a new purpose built archive facility constructed at Wick to provide long-term storage of records and other archive material from civil nuclear sites in the UK. The archive will be operated on NDA’s behalf by a specialist commercial partner and is expected to bring more than 20 sustainable jobs to the town.
14/12/2012
Contract awarded for major Council office redevelopment in Wick
Work will start early in the new year on the construction of a new Council headquarters for Caithness, in the centre of Wick. The contractor, to be confirmed soon, will demolish the old listed building at Market Place and refurbish/restore the adjoining, Stafford Place Buildings, retaining the listed façade, to accommodate 140 Council staff currently based in a number of offices in Wick.14/12/2012
Political Balance Changes At Highland Council As SNP Lose One More
The membership of the Council has changed with the switch of Councillor Alex MacLeod, Landward Caithness, from being a member of the SNP Group to being known as an Independent Nationalist. The membership is now:- Independent 35, SNP 21, Liberal Democrat 14, Labour 8, and Independent Nationalist 2.12/12/2012
HI-Scot Credit Union Can Help Savers and Borrowers in 2013
As we approach 2013, nearly five years on from the start of the “Credit Crunch” of 2008, households in the Highlands and Islands Region continue to face many financial challenges. There are challenges for both borrowers and savers in equal measure; whether it is the saver who has seen interest paid on savings being slashed, or the borrower who can no longer access credit from their Bank.12/12/2012
HIE Gaelic Plan underpins agency's commitment to unique language and culture
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has published its renewed Gaelic Language Plan, detailing actions which the development agency will take to support Gaelic language and culture over the next three years. HIE's Gaelic Plan 2012-15 builds on the organisation’s commitment to supporting Gaelic developments and has been approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.12/12/2012
SNH Board a ‘challenging and rewarding’ opportunity
The recruitment of new Board members for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is an opportunity that is both challenging and rewarding, according to one of its retiring members. Dr.11/12/2012
