News Archive
3/10/2012
Wick High School Goes For Vivo Rewards Scheme
WICK HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE ONLINE REWARDS SCHEME IN SCOTLAND. Wick High School is the first school in Scotland to sign up to Vivo Miles, the award winning online rewards system for secondary school students.
3/10/2012
Taxi Fare Review In Highland
The Highland Licensing Committee is recommending one change to existing taxi fares following an annual review. The proposed change, which would take effect from Monday 21 January next year, is to permit Tariff 2 to be charged from 9.00pm until 7.00am instead of from 10.00pm to 7.00am as at present.3/10/2012
Review Of Garages and Garage Sites
Highland Councillors have agreed to consult with current garage tenants and residents living close to Council garages and garage sites on the number currently vacant and on how to make better use of these areas. The council owns and manages 1,820 individual garages and 904 individual garage sites.3/10/2012
Wick Airport Renamed - Wick John O'Groats Airport
A new name for the gateway to Caithness & North Sutherland - Wick Airport rebranded 'Wick John O' Groats Airport' Wick Airport is to be renamed Wick John O' Groats Airport later today in a bid to promote the airport as the gateway to the UK's most northerly mainland settlement. The move was suggested by the Airport Consultative Committee in order to reflect the status of John O'Groats as a world famous tourist destination and highlight the close proximity of the airport to the village, which is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation.
2/10/2012
Living Wage For Highland Council Employees By April 2013
The lowest paid employees of The Highland Council will benefit from the introduction of a £7.20 an hour wage from April next year. The national UK minimum wage from 1st October is £6.16 per hour (see below for details of age rules and amounts) Members of the Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee today agreed to introduce the Scottish Living Wage by applying a living wage supplement to all employees currently paid less than £7.20 per hour to bring them up to £7.20 per hour from 1 April 2013.2/10/2012
Highlands Awarded Fairtrade Zone Status
The Highlands have been awarded Fairtrade Zone Status by the Fairtrade Foundation. The good news was announced at The Highland Council's Finance Housing and Resources Committee by Council Vice-Convener Councillor Hamish Wood, who has led the Fairtrade campaign over the past two years.
1/10/2012
Highland mums urged to use free milk, fruit and veg scheme 
Some mums and mums-to-be in the Highlands are missing out on a "fantastic" scheme which gives them free milk, fruit and vegetables. Healthy Start is a UK Government initiative to improve the health of pregnant women and families on benefits and tax credits.
1/10/2012
Wick Woodland With Community Spirit
The new Newtonhill Croft Woodland established by the Forestry Commission for Scotland on the outskirts of Wick is coming together with help from the local community who have played a vital role in shaping the new site. Several projects have recently reached completion and have enhanced the woodland site for enjoyment by the local community.
1/10/2012
Scottish Water Launches Water Efficiency Videos
Scottish Water has launched three new water efficiency videos to raise awareness of water use around the home by our customers. Water is a precious resource and a lot of energy is used by Scottish Water to treat and then pump it to homes.
1/10/2012
Special meeting date set to discuss midnight door entry policy
The Highland Licensing Board has agreed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday 6 November at 2:30pm to consider consultation responses received on its door entry policy for premises with late night opening hours, which requires admission by midnight. A report presented to the Licensing Board today (2 October) said the special meeting will allow more time for members to read and consider all responses and invite a number of parties from each of the "for/against" sides of the argument to make a presentation to the Board on their position.1/10/2012
Highland Businesses Given Help to Seize Wind Farm Opportunities
One of the UK's leading renewable energy developers is holding Meet the Buyer events in Inverness and Thurso for businesses interested in seizing opportunities in the growing sector. RWE npower renewables, an already established developer and operator of both wind farms and hydro electric plants in the region, is hosting the session for the wide range of businesses which could play a part in projects they, and other developers, have in the pipeline for the Highlands and Islands.29/9/2012
Protection Against Whooping Cough
Pregnant women will be vaccinated against whooping cough to protect their newborn babies following a rise in cases amongst young infants. The vaccination programme aims to boost the short-term immunity passed on by pregnant women to protect their newborn babies - who normally cannot be vaccinated until they are eight weeks old.29/9/2012
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 24th September 2012 Energy: Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd, the consortium of EDP Renewables and Repsol, will be holding public meetings in the north next week to update on its submission to Scottish Government to construct offshore wind projects at three fields (Telford, Stevenson and MacColl) in the outer Moray Firth, just off the coast of Caithness. The events will be at Helmsdale Community Centre on Monday 1st October from 12-8pm and at Mackay's Hotel, Wick, on Tuesday 2nd October from 12-8pm.29/9/2012
£3 Million For Youth Employment Schemes
Thousands of young Scots will be helped into jobs following the allocation of £3 million Scottish Government funding for the third sector. Twenty-four projects across Scotland will receive investment from the Third Sector and Social Enterprise Challenge Fund with projections showing that 2,019 young people will be given the chance to improve their employability.29/9/2012
Fall In Farm Payment Euro Rate
The exchange rate to be used for the 2012 Single Farm Payment Scheme is €1 = £0.7985, the Scottish Government has confirmed. The exchange rate to be used was set on Friday by the European Central Bank and has fallen when compared with last year.29/9/2012
Short Breaks For Carers
More than 2,600 adult and young carers from across Scotland will benefit from the latest round of funding from the Scottish Government's Creative Breaks programme. Almost £1 million from the programme will support over 60 projects, giving carers and young carers the chance to enjoy a range of activities, including residential weekend stays, daytime breaks, social activities, overnight and therapeutic woodland based activity breaks.29/9/2012
Funding To Help Planners With Wind Applications
A fund to help Planning Authorities deal with high numbers of applications for wind turbines has now opened for business. The £300,000 funding will be available to help those planning authorities who have experienced a significant increase in the number of planning applications for wind turbines, putting pressure on their ability to meet statutory deadlines.29/9/2012
NHS Treatment Law Comes Into Force
From today, NHS patients requiring planned inpatient or day case treatment will be covered by a 'Treatment Time Guarantee' enshrined in law. The guarantee will mean that patients will have a legal right to receive treatment within a maximum of 12 weeks from when they are diagnosed and agree to the treatment.29/9/2012
Scotland Ready For Winter
The extensive range of specialist equipment that will be used to clear Scotland's roads this winter was on display in Edinburgh on Thursday. Other measures and improvements implemented since the winter of 2010-11 include: A commitment to have more salt stocked at the start of this winter than used across Scotland in the entire winter of 2010-11 A strengthened network of weather stations and new cameras at 24 sites to improve decision-making New guidance for Operating Companies on when to use alternative de-icers that work in severe conditions Publication of daily gritting plans to give the public and media more access to more information about the treatments taking place A Freight Scotland Hotline for drivers to highlight network problems and guidance for HGV drivers New YouTube on Winter Service Provision produced for key stakeholders and the public Transport Scotland sits on the World Road Association Winter Technical Committee to discuss international lessons Transport Minister Keith Brown tested two RAIKO Ice Breakers which have been purchased by Transport Scotland.28/9/2012
