News Archive
3/7/2012
Motorists warned of delays on A897 Helmsdale to Melvich road
The Highland Council will be carrying out a major patching exercise on the A897 between Helmsdale and Kinbrace with work starting on Monday (9 July 2012). The works will be carried out Monday to Friday between 8am to 4pm over a 4 to 5 week period and due to the nature of the work delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected throughout the working day.3/7/2012
3378 Volunteers Cleaned Up Highland
Keep Scotland Beautiful mobilised 3,378 volunteers to clean up Highland as part of Scotland's National Spring Clean. 2,612 children and 766 adults from Highland were amongst 117,734 volunteers from across Scotland who gave their time between 1 April and 31 May to support National Spring Clean, run by Scotland's leading charity for the environment, Keep Scotland Beautiful.3/7/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 3 July 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 3rd) sold 68 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (46) averaged 208.8p (+1.4p) and sold to 230p per kg and £1,593.90 gross.1/7/2012
Deadline fast approaching for the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan
The consultation on the first stage of preparing the Local Development Plan for the Inner Moray Firth area is drawing to a close, with the deadline for submissions at 5 pm on Friday (6 July). The consultation document, known as the Main Issues Report, asks for people's thoughts on where future development should and should not be located across the Inner Moray Firth area which stretches from Tain in the North to Fort Augustus in the South and Auldearn in the East to Garve in the West.30/6/2012
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Energy: As reported last week, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) launched its online procurement portal for supply chain companies seeking to tender for work with the company. A variety of current tendering opportunities is at https://www.sseopen4business-highlands.com/sse/publicSearchForm.html#publicSearchForm and interested businesses are being encouraged to register their organisation and create a business profile on the site.30/6/2012
Support For Rural Communities To Buy Land
Rural communities in Scotland can now apply for support to help buy their land, Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson announced. The new £6 million Scottish Land Fund which will empower communities by helping them acquire land opens for applications on Monday (2 July 2012).30/6/2012
Local Businesses Invited To Join SSE In Highland Success
SSE plc is launching an exciting and innovative website today which will contribute to the economic well-being of the Highland economy. The innovative website - www.sseopen4business-highlands.com is designed specifically to offer Highland businesses, service providers and local suppliers the opportunity to do business with the UK's second largest energy company.30/6/2012
Caithness and Sutherland Schools Learn The Importance Of Engineering
School pupils and teachers across Caithness and Sutherland have been taking part in a number of industry visits as part of a £110,000 project investing in the future of young people in the area. Launched last year, the technology project has seen around 350 pupils from local high schools take part in visits to Dounreay and Caithness Horizons in order to understand the opportunities available locally in engineering.30/6/2012
Wave And Tidal Energy Action Plan
A marine energy action plan, developed by the wave and tidal power industry in Scotland to accelerate electricity generation from the sea, has been unveiled recently. The plan outlines progress made since the launch of the 2009 Marine Energy Road Map and makes recommendations to help improve access to finance, grid development, infrastructure and supply chain, the planning regime and engagement with Europe, to ensure Scotland and other nations seize the huge potential for clean energy from the world's seas and oceans.30/6/2012
Report Reveals Changing Shape of Caithness and Sutherland Economy
The economy of the north of Scotland is changing, according to a new report published today. Local agencies and business leaders have welcomed the findings of the study which show the percentage of jobs dependent upon Dounreay has decreased from 15% to 10% since 2006, and the number of new businesses being created has risen.30/6/2012
Over £100m To Stimulate Economic Growth
A £105 million package of economic stimulus which, this year, will maximise opportunities to create jobs and growth, was announced last week by Finance Secretary John Swinney. Mr Swinney outlined proposals to support new investment and accelerate projects from future years to boost the economy.28/6/2012
Caithness District Partnership Focus On Review Of Adult Services
The Caithness District Partnership, which will identify key issues and priorities governing the care of children and adults in the county, met for the first time earlier this week when it agreed that, as a first priority, it would support a review and re-design of services for adults in Caithness, with a particular focus on older adult care and support. The meeting took place at the Pulteneytown People's Project Community Centre, Wick, when Colin Punler, an NHS Board Member from Thurso, was elected chairman.28/6/2012
Budget Consultation Timetable Agreed
The Highland Council has agreed to embark on a four-month public consultation over budget savings needed in 2013/14 and 2014/15. The Council estimates the savings targets will be £11.5 million in 2013/14 and £18.2 million in 2014/15.27/6/2012
Council confirms £10,000 towards new design for Berriedale Braes
The Highland Council has shown its commitment to the economy of the North Highlands in approving £10,000 towards the design of an improved road alignment for the Berriedale Braes. This stretch of the A9 is maintained by Transport Scotland.27/6/2012
Three new community councils to be formed
Following a third round of Community Council elections in the Highlands, three new councils are guaranteed to be formed. Caithness West and Uig, Skye, can operate from 3 July as they received more nominations than half their maximum membership.25/6/2012
Greener Homes Plan For Scotland
The Scottish Government plans for low carbon homes will provide more than £2 billion to help make the nation's homes more energy efficient. More than one in four Scottish households suffer from fuel poverty with more than 500,000 homes still requiring cavity wall insulation and more than 600,000 homes with solid walls.25/6/2012
£120 million broadband boost
Scottish Government investment will bring superfast broadband to communities across the Highlands and Islands, Alex Neil said today. The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment said the funding will ensure homes and businesses across some of Scotland's most rural areas could get the benefits of next generation broadband for the very first time.25/6/2012
A9 Upgrade Plans Welcomed
Highland Leader welcomes Scottish Government's A9 commitment. Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of The Highland Council, has welcomed news that the Scottish Government intends to bring forward by two years to 2015 the start of work to upgrade to dual carriageway the A 9 Inverness - Perth road.24/6/2012
4942 people in the Highlands supported by Skills Development Scotland
In the Highlands, 4,942 people were supported by Skills Development Scotland's careers information, advice and guidance services (CIAG) in the past year. Between April 2011 and March 2012, 1,328 people also joined SDS's national training programmes in the Highlands.23/6/2012
