News Archive
28/8/2012
Electric Cars Help Reduce Carbon Footprint In The Highlands
Public agencies in the Highlands are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions from travel by using electric cars and vans for business use. In addition, the electric vehicles are expected to generate significant savings in both running costs when compared to hiring a regular car.
28/8/2012
Bull Stud Contract Awarded
Work to upgrade and modernise Scotland's bull stud farm is now underway. The contract to undertake the building work and upgrade the bull stud facility at Knocknagael Farm, near Inverness, has been awarded to Robertson Construction Ltd.
28/8/2012
Four Marine Energy Teams Vie For £10m Saltire Prize.
Two tidal energy and two wave power developers have entered into the race for Scotland's £10 million Saltire Prize as the competition's Grand Challenge phase begins. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed senior representatives of the four teams to a Grand Challenge launch event in Orkney, where MeyGen was unveiled as the fourth Saltire Prize competitor, joining Aquamarine Power, Pelamis Wave Power and ScottishPower Renewables.
28/8/2012
The Highland Council Backs An End To Tenants' Right To Buy
The Highland Council is to support an option being considered by the Scottish Government to end the right that Council house tenants have to buy their homes. The Council believes that ending the right to buy will help it meet the growing demand for affordable rented accommodation as housing waiting lists grow.28/8/2012
Saltire Prize Junior Photography Competition
School pupils are being invited to capture 'the power of the sea' in a junior photography competition aimed at highlighting the awesome force and natural resource of the waters around Scotland. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the competition, being run under the auspices of the Saltire Prize for marine energy technology, as she announced that two tidal energy and two wave power developers are challenging for the main £10 million Prize.
28/8/2012
Find Out If Your Business Can Supply Highland Council
Help is at hand for Caithness businesses to supply The Highland Council. A free event aimed at helping Caithness-based businesses to supply The Highland Council will take place on Wednesday 5 September in Wick.28/8/2012
Free Schmallenberg (SBV) Tests
Farmers in Scotland are being offered free tests for the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in animals imported from areas where the virus is circulating. The move is a result of a partnership involving the Scottish Government, the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and Moredun Research Institute (MRI).28/8/2012
Slaughter Regulations Consultation
A consultation on new EU rules to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter and killing was today launched by the Scottish Government. Domestic legislation will be introduced in Scotland to enforce and implement the new EU Regulation.28/8/2012
New Wave Of Marine Renewables Investment
Five marine energy developers will benefit from £7.9 million funding to further develop testing of new wave and tidal prototypes in the seas around Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. The second round of WATERS (Wave & Tidal Energy: Research, Development & Demonstration Support) funding is to enable Scottish developers and supply chain firms to capture an increased share of the growing international marine energy market, which could be worth up to £4 billion to Scotland's economy by 2020.
28/8/2012
DFR Commissions New Plant
Safe destruction of the highly hazardous liquid metal left over from the UK's first fast reactor experiment is a crucial part of the site decommissioning programme. DFR was the first fast reactor in the world to provide electricity to a national grid and work to dismantle the fifty year old plant is well underway.
26/8/2012
Launch of the Council's budget blog - should we shorten the school day?
The Highland Council has today (Monday) launched a budget blog on the home page of its web site: www.highland.gov.uk by asking the public if they think it is a good idea to save £3.2 million per year by shortening the school day of Primary 4 - 7 pupils by 30 minutes, bringing their day in line with Primary 1-3 pupils. Class hours for pupils in P 4-7 are currently 25 hours per week.26/8/2012
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Energy: I took part in a meeting this week to help develop the marketing plan for the Pentland Firth & Orkney waters, together with colleagues from Orkney Islands Council, HIE and EMEC. As partners build on the recent announcement of Marine Energy Park status for the Pentland Firth/ Orkney waters area and the Enterprise Area status for Scrabster, our discussions focused on ensuring that the message to potential investors remains clear and attractive and that local communities and stakeholders are kept informed of progress.25/8/2012
Collecting Seeds to Save Bumblebees
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is running a wild flower seed collecting workshop in partnership with Scotia Seeds. The workshop is free and open to anyone with an interest in learning how to collect wild flower seeds to help support the Great yellow bumblebee.
24/8/2012
Golden Opportunities For Scottish Students
UK's best student support package is in Scotland. Scottish students will benefit from the best funding package available in the UK with enhanced support and free tuition, Education Secretary Michael Russell announced today.23/8/2012
Farmers and Landowners Can Earn £25k Every Year
FAO Landowners & Farmers Are you interested in earning up to £25k per annum for the next 20 years? If so please contact Hannah via the following: Hannah[AT]phenixenergy.com Telephone: 07403 557 133 At Phenix Energy we will offer you a credible and financially viable solution for your project, which you are free to either accept or decline. No hard sell and no commitment.22/8/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 23 August 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 23rd) sold 11,498 store lambs at their annual sale. Cheviot wedder lambs (7,413) averaged £52.27 (+£1.22 on the year) and sold to £70.00 gross from 5 Mill Park, Isle of Raasay.21/8/2012
Caithness & North Sutherland Fund July 2012 Grant Awards 
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently awarded its 3rd round of grants for 2012 to community projects totalling over £79K. Six groups in Caithness and two groups in the North Sutherland area have been awarded funding for projects that help to improve the attractiveness of their area as a place to live, work and invest.
21/8/2012
Council Invites Views On Guidance For Small Wind Turbines
The Highland Council has prepared planning guidance for Small-Scale Wind Turbine Proposals and is asking for people's views on it. From tomorrow (23rd August) the draft guidance is available to view on the website www.highland.gov.uk and in local Highland Council Libraries, Service Points and at Council Headquarters in Inverness.20/8/2012
Budget Consultation At Wick
You can find out more about the Highland council budget and contribute your ideas a the meeting. If you would like to contribute but not at the meeting check how you can do it in writing or online.
20/8/2012
