News Archive

LABOUR CANDIDATE DISAPPOINTED BY LACK OF PLANS FOR THE FAR NORTH LINE

Scottish Labour candidate John Erskine has expressed his disappointment at the lack of planned improvements for the Far North Line by new Scotrail franchise operator Abellio who will run the franchise from April 1st.   Mr Erskine, who is contesting the seat of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, expressed this disappointment after he attend a stakeholder engagement meeting hosted by Abellio and HITRANS, where a presentation by Abellio ScotRail bid director Mike Kean was given followed by questions.  

Rhoda Grant MSP comments on the NHS bed blocking issue in NHS Highland

Highlands & Islands MSP and Shadow Minister for Sport and Health Inequalities, Rhoda Grant has said that the Scottish Government really need to address the bed blocking issue to release pressure on the NHS.   Speaking today she said " The BBC reports that an average of 1,216 beds per day were blocked in Scotland during the festive period.  

Forestry industry to focus on pollution challenges

Around 90 representatives from the North's forestry sector will hear about the latest thinking on pollution prevention and control in the Highlands and Islands this week.   The Highlands and Islands Forest Industry Cluster (HIFIC) is behind the event being held at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness this Thursday 26 February at 5pm.  

By-election to be held in Nairn Ward

FOLLOWING the resignation of Councillor Colin Macaulay (SNP), a by-election will be held to elect a Member for Ward 19, NAIRN Ward.   Nairn is a four-member ward.  

Tesco Bank Cuts Interest Rate on Loans Between £7,500 and £15,000

Tesco Bank has reduced the interest rate on loans between £7,500 and £15,000 to3.8%APR representative (reduced from 4.1%), offering customers our lowest ever personal loan rate.   The new interest rate is effective immediately, and both new and existing customers can apply.  

Not a Sausage in Savings Interest!

Inflation figures released today show that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell from 0.5% to 0.3% during January.   To beat inflation, a basic rate taxpayer at 20% needs to find a savings account paying 0.38% per annum, while a higher rate taxpayer at 40% needs to find an account paying at least 0.50%.  

Your Chance To Design A Caithness Flag

Following a successful meeting with the Lord Lyon and The Flag Institute with local community and Highland Council representatives, a competition for the design of a new flag for Caithness is launched today.   Caithness Civic Leader, Councillor Gail Ross said: "This is a great chance for people to get creative and design an eye catching flag that will become the public symbol for Caithness.  

Auto-Renewal Trap Could Cost 5.7m Motorists Up to £1.27bn a Year

As peak insurance renewal season approaches - research reveals that 19% of drivers allow their car insurance to auto-renew without checking other quotes.   A quarter of drivers have been with the same insurer for three years or more.  

New way to view onshore wind activity across the Highlands

The Highland Council has launched a new interactive map on its website showing the location of windfarms and wind turbines in the Highlands.   The user friendly Windfarm Activity Map covers all scales of wind energy development and provides detailed information such as turbine sizes and planning reference numbers to make it easy for people to get further information.  

Supporting Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Protection under spotlight at Council Committee

The importance of supporting environmentally, economically and socially sustainable aquaculture development in the Highlands was under the spotlight at yesterday's Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee.  Members agreed a pre-consultation draft supplementary guidance on Aquaculture which, will eventually be used to determine future planning applications.