News Archive

Huge Increase In Passenger Numbers At Wick John O'Groats Airport

HIAL PASSENGER NUMBERS UP BY 8,000.   Wick John O'Groats passenger traffic was up by 123% in May.  

Highland Council gives its backing to 277-turbine wind farm

See the STV video report.   Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited is a joint partnership formed between SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK.  

Impact of �bedroom tax� must be assessed

The UK Government has been asked to clarify how it plans to review the impact of the bedroom tax on Scottish households, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today.   Initial data collected by the Scottish Government and COSLA show that in the first two months since the introduction of the bedroom tax, more than 22,000 applications for emergency funding have been made in the form of Discretionary Housing Payments � a four-fold increase compared to the same period last year.  

Grant Body Awards �118K in Latest Round!

The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently held its 6th grant assessment round awarding �118K to seven community and voluntary groups for projects that will benefit people living in the Caithness & North Sutherland area.   This latest round of awards brings the Fund�s total funding commitment to over �648K, of which forty seven voluntary and community groups have benefited.  

Wick Harbour Authority to benefit from Axis 4 European Fisheries Funding

The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has awarded funding of £30,098 to Wick Harbour Authority for the purchase of additional infrastructure to increase the capacity at Wick Marina from 72 to 84 berths.   Interpretation panels will also be installed in the area around the harbour to promote the maritime heritage of Wick and provide information regarding the diversification process to create a modern port.  

Dounreay modifies beach monitoring system

Dounreay has modified the equipment used to detect particles on beaches near the site following the discovery last year of a particle with an unusual radiation signal.   The adjustment makes the system more sensitive to the detection of other such particles, without affecting its ability to detect the usual type of particle that has been found near Dounreay.  

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Energy/ Business Services: The Highland Council�s North Planning Applications Committee will next week consider a report on the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd�s application to Marine Scotland to build at a site in the Moray Firth.  Members of the committee will be asked to endorse the recommendation that the Council raises no objection to the development, subject to a number of conditions, including one ensuring that the developer continues dialogue with supply chain and ports, specifically mentioning Wick harbour as a potential operation and maintenance base.  

Domestic Biomass Supply Chain Drop in Day

Local shops and businesses across Highland are being encouraged to take advantage of a new retailing opportunity � bagged wood pellets for domestic biomass heating systems.   The Highland Council is hosting an event in Inverness on Thursday 20 June to encourage an increase in the supply of domestic biomass fuel across the area.  

International company recruiting home workers in Caithness and Sutherland

International business services provider, Arise, is holding a series of recruitment advice sessions in Caithness and Sutherland to find local people interested in working from home.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been working closely with the US company who now have a significant presence in the UK with offices in London and Edinburgh.  

Highlands and Islands Enterprise awards Property Framework Contract

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed four construction firms to its new prime contractor framework to deliver the majority of its building projects across the region.   In the agreement which will last up to four years, Galliford Try Construction Ltd (trading as Morrison Construction in Scotland), Kier Construction Ltd, Mansell Construction Services Limited, and Robertson Construction Group Limited will work on projects estimated to be worth around �6 million per year.