News Archive
2/6/2012
Abnormal loads for Baillie Windfarm - A9 Scrabster
The initial movement of 33 Abnormal Loads for Baillie Windfarm in Caithness will take place on Monday 4th June through to Wednesday 6th June. The route to be followed will be from A9 Scrabster Harbour turning right at the A836 junction (junction at the Weigh Inn) to a storage area close to Dounreay.1/6/2012
Wildflower and Bumble Bee Verges In Caithness 
Last summer the Caithness Biodiversity Group supported by Highland Council TEC Services piloted a project to enhance the wildflower interest of a small selection of our roadside verges. The aim was to protect and encourage wildflower diversity and to increase the amount of pollen and nectar available to our insect life in particular to bees.
1/6/2012
Highland Schools And Communities Celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Schools and local communities in the Highlands are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a variety of ways over this weekend and the rest of June. From the Castle of Mey in Caithness to Arisaig and Portree to Nairn, at tea parties, beach parties, and barbeques bunting will be flying throughout the Highlands.1/6/2012
Linda's new role as Champions' Co-ordinator and Children's Champion
The Highland Council has appointed Councillor Linda Munro from North West and Central Sutherland, to the new role of Champions' Co-ordinator and Children's Champion. The Council's Administration intends to appoint other champions - such as for carers and for older people - and Councillor Munro will have a co-ordinating role in promoting support for these important areas of work.1/6/2012
Olympic Torch Relay - Highlands Busy
An unprecedented weekend of entertainment and activity, which will bring significant economic benefit and international media exposure for the highlands will take place over the extended weekend from Friday 8 June to Monday 11 June when the Highlands hosts a number of major events. · Olympic Torch Relay · Olympic Torch evening event - Northern Meeting Park (Inverness) · Olympic Torch Event - John O'Groats · Curtis Cup - Nairn · Mountain Bike World Cup - Fort William · Rock Ness Multi-agency groups, involving the Council, Police, and other key agencies, have been active throughout the Highlands for several months to prepare for the Big Weekend.30/5/2012
A First in Scotland for Wick High School
Wick High School Computing Science department is the first in Scotland to be selected as a certified partner with Apps for Good, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to encourage young people to use technology to tackle problems for social good. The new third year cohort of 55 students will be working with industry experts throughout the year to research, build and market apps on the android mobile platform using App Inventor and will then, if selected, take part in a national competition where the winning teams will work with professional developers to re-launch their app and potentially make some money for the school.
30/5/2012
Technology Safety To The Fore For Parents and Young People
Multi-agency push to educate parents/carers and youngsters about using new technology safely. Multi-agency partners have joined forces to encourage young people to use new technology safely and responsibly.30/5/2012
Council Agree New Committee Structure and Office-bearers
The Highland Council has agreed a new committee structure and elected office-bearers. There will be four strategic committees, namely: Finance, Housing and Resources; Planning Environment and Development; Transport Environmental and Community Services and Adult and Children's Services.30/5/2012
Local Firm Welcomes Fund Raising Fellows
Local firm Geddes Windows and Doors Ltd, based in Halkirk, will be looking to welcome members of other companies within the construction and supply trade to the county as they complete their gruelling Land's End to John O'Groats cycle in their quest to raise funds for the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice. Geddes Windows and Doors Ltd have recently been working with Senior Architectural Systems Ltd to develop a new product range of timber and aluminium clad windows, doors and curtain wall products at their factory for the UK Market.30/5/2012
Torch visit to John O'Groats - Sunday 10 June
The torch will make an appearance at John O'Groats - the most northerly point in mainland Great Britain - on Sunday 10 June. A celebration is taking place at the harbour in the Caithness landmark following the Caithness and Sutherland Vintage Car Rally being staged at the village park.29/5/2012
Scotland's towns - vibrant or vulnerable?
New Study Published by SAC New SAC research ranks 90 of Scotland's towns according to their vulnerability to downturn associated with current economic and social change. Published in the SAC Rural Policy Centre's new report 'Rural Scotland in Focus 2012', the Index suggests that a cluster of vulnerable places exists in the south, and particularly the south west, of Scotland - the index ranks Campbeltown and Dunoon in Argyll & Bute as the most vulnerable places of those analysed.28/5/2012
Thurso Pupils Raise £260.83 for Village Well in Zambia
(By Saul Stevens 1S4) On the 17th of May 2012 Thurso High School held a coffee afternoon in the canteen for an hour after school, which was run by first year pupils. The coffee afternoon revolved around Fairtrade, which aims to ensure a fair amount of money goes to the producers from developing countries and their communities, so they can have access to schools and healthcare.28/5/2012
Test Purchase Volunteers Sought
The Highland Council's Trading Standards are seeking young people to help them to check that businesses are not selling age-restricted products to those under the minimum age. Leaflets produced in association with NHS Highland are being sent out to all Highland Council secondary schools, encouraging young people aged between 15½ and 16½ years old to volunteer to visits shops in the Highlands and carry out test purchases of age-restricted products such as cigarettes, solvents, fireworks, DVD movies and games.28/5/2012
Caithness & North Sutherland Fund Awards over £100k!
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently awarded its 2nd round of grants for 2012 to community projects totalling £101,342. 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.
28/5/2012
Attention Contractors - Highland Council Renewing Its Contractors Framework
The Highland Council is currently in the process of renewing its Contractors Framework agreement which will be used by Highland Council Services for selecting contractors to carry out all construction works up to the value of £50,000. The Contractors Frame work is changing from £25k to £50k This new agreement, which will commence on the 3rd September 2012, will in effect cover a three year programme of work but will be re-opened and re-advertised at six monthly intervals to provide the opportunity for new contractors to apply.28/5/2012
CERN on lookout for Helix Nebula participants at Cloud Computing World Forum
29/05/2012. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, will outline the next stage of its Helix Nebula European cloud computing project at the Cloud Computing World Forum (www.cloudwf.com) on 12 and 13 June, with the aim of increasing participation in the scheme.28/5/2012
SNH looking for Highlands' best nature photos
Closing Date For SNH Photo Contest - 31 July 2012. To celebrate Scotland's amazing biodiversity, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have launched a free photo contest.28/5/2012
Pie Tax Victory for Common Sense!
Scottish Bakers welcome the statement from the Treasury to reverse their decision to apply a tax on bakery products sold over ambient temperature. Alan Clarke Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers supported this decision, "bakery products contribute £594.7M to the Scottish Economy and the proposed legislation was totally flawed by proposing to tax bakery products sold over ambient temperature.
28/5/2012
Energy Saving Scotland Say Get Moving To Take Advantage Home Insulation Offers
Dear Sir or Madam, As rising energy bills and other costs continue to eat into many household budgets, I would like to let your readers know about free and subsidised home insulation offers currently available from UK energy suppliers. These offers are heavily subsidised as a result of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) which finishes on 31 December this year.27/5/2012
