News Archive
19/1/2009
NHS Dental Care To Reach Another 35,000 People In Highland
A major expansion of NHS dental services will allow an additional 35,000 people access to NHS dental treatment in the Highlands. It follows the announcement of a £5.64million cash injection from Scottish Government.19/1/2009
Centre For Health Science Opens In Inverness
The completed Centre for Health Science (Ionad Ẹlas Slàinte) in Inverness was officially opened today (Monday, January 19) by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, at a ceremony attended by project partners as well as business leaders and academics. A public open day is also being held tomorrow (Tuesday, January 20).
18/1/2009
TREE-MENDOUS NEWS FOR WOOD FUEL HEATING
A £2 million scheme to boost the use of wood fuel used for heating is open for business. Applications are being invited for the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme, which will give grants of up to £100,000 to small and medium sized businesses to install renewable heating systems.18/1/2009
International Help For Local Businesses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is launching an extended programme of international trade development events for 2009. One of the aims of the programme will be to maximise the benefits to local businesses of the new direct flights between Inverness and Dusseldorf in Germany.17/1/2009
New Highland Youth Voice Chair and Vice Chair
The two new leaders of Highland Youth Voice, the young people's parliament for the Highlands, were introduced at the meeting of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee held on Thursday 15th January 2009. Robin Falconer from Wick is the new Chair of Highland Youth Voice and Lewis Munro from Plockton is the new Vice Chair.
17/1/2009
Concessionary Fares Scheme Changes For Caithness, Lochaber and Skye
Holders of National Entitlement Cards in Caithness as well as Lochaber and Skye, who are eligible for free travel, will need to alter the way in which they confirm their entitlement as the result of the introduction of new electronic ticket machines in these areas. Transport Scotland has provided Stagecoach Bluebird and Stagecoach Highland with new machines as part of the concessionary fares scheme.17/1/2009
Highland Council Houses Rent Increases To Pay For Improvements
The Highland Council has identified the need to spend around £88 million over the next six years to bring its stock of Council houses up to Scottish Housing Quality standards by carrying out upgrading work including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and energy efficient measures. The Housing and Social Work Committee agreed today (Wednesday) to increase the total it will spend on upgrading houses to £13.212 million in 2009/10.17/1/2009
Council expresses concern over Electric Meter Switch
The Highland Council has written to Scottish Hydro Electric to express its concerns that they are ceasing selling tokens for electricity meters before completing the switchover to new key meters in some parts of the Highlands. The Council has been notified by a concerned subpostmaster that he has been instructed to cease selling tokens for Scottish Hydro Electric meters as of tomorrow (Saturday 17th January).14/1/2009
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 14 January 2009
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (January, 14th) sold 3,208 store sheep including the annual sale of 421 cast rams. Lambs (1,476) averaged £42.39 and sold to £115 gross for Cheviot lambs from Balnakeil, Durness.14/1/2009
Act now and save on your water charges
Holders of abstraction licences who know in advance that they will not be abstracting in any one year are being reminded by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that it will not charge annual subsistence for that year. David Harley of SEPA said, "This is good news for abstraction licence holders and particularly for farmers who have decided not to grow certain crops that may require irrigation in a particular year." The reminder is issued days after SEPA published its 10 point action plan to support economic activity during the current difficulties.14/1/2009
RELAXATION OF 'RAVEN RULES' IS WELCOMED
Scotland 's livestock producers, particularly those in Argyll and the islands, this week welcomed news that the Scottish Government has granted concessions which will allow more rigorous control of predatory ravens. In areas where the problem is most prevalent, cull limits will be increased, following discussion with the local SNH office on appropriate numbers; this will reduce the need to apply for additional licences to raise the limit of the number of birds that can be taken at a later date.13/1/2009
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 13 January 2009
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 13th) sold 68 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (41) averaged 169.4p (+1.6p) and sold to 183p per kg and £1,177.10 gross.13/1/2009
It's not all doom and gloom on the retail high street
Shopworkers' union, Usdaw, welcomes the announcements of new jobs to be created in some of the major retail food companies this year. Tesco is creating 10,000 across the UK business, Morrisons over 5,000, Sainsbury's up to 4,000 and Iceland 2,500.10/1/2009
MEDIA Roadshow 2009
MEDIA Antenna Scotland will be holding a briefing event at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery The Discovery Room Castle Wynd Inverness On Wednesday 11 February 2009 From 11am to 1pm (tea and coffee will be served) Come along if you would like further information on opportunities for film, television and interactive companies in areas of development, distribution, training, markets and festivals, provided through the European Union's MEDIA 2007 funding Programme. To register, please contact Emma Valentine at scotland[AT]mediadeskuk.eu or tel.
6/1/2009
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 6 January 2009
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 6th) sold 58 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (12) averaged 167.8p (+1.5p) and sold to 170p per kg and £1,197.20 gross.5/1/2009
HIE Launches Free Business Advice Line
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) today formally launches a campaign to assist businesses to navigate their way through the current economic downturn. The agency has set up a dedicated advice line with business experts on 08000 884 884 offering free tailored advice to businesses of any size and in any sector.
31/12/2008
CAITHNESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPOINTS CHIEF EXEC
The Caithness Chamber of Commerce has recruited a chief executive to ensure a strong united business voice for the future. Trudy Morris, who currently lives in Inverness, will take up her new appointment on Monday 5th January 2009.
30/12/2008
HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS URGED TO MAKE NEW YEAR WATER RESOLUTION
Leading environmental groups are backing Scottish Water's effort to get people in the Highlands & Islands to make a New Year resolution to become more aware of how their use of drinking water contributes to carbon emissions. Head of Policy at WWF Scotland, Dr Dan Barlow, explained: "If Scotland is to tackle climate change, it's vital we reduce our emissions.24/12/2008
Breeder element removal tool installed in fast reactor
A versatile remotely-operated machine that will cut the heart out of Dounreay's fast reactor has been installed in the sphere. The retrieval cell is a highly engineered tool that will reach down inside the reactor vessel and remove the remaining breeder elements in a delicate and precise operation.
24/12/2008
