News Archive
18/1/2010
Highland Council appoints new Head of Education
John Considine, former Rector of Inverness Royal Academy has been appointed as Acting Head of Education Services with The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service. Mr Considine, who starts his new employment today (18 January), will be based at the Council's headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.16/1/2010
Preparing For The Thaw
The Highland Council is preparing to combat the threat of flooding, which may result from the thaw of heavy snow and ice blocking some drains. Transport Environmental and Community Services (TECs) staff will be targeting known flooding areas in advance to ensure drains and culvert intakes are kept as clear as possible.15/1/2010
Measures To Conserve Salt In The Highlands
As a result of national shortages of road salt, The Highland Council has taken emergency measures to preserve salt stocks. With immediate effect, low priority routes - Priority 3 and 4 routes which include most urban roads, school bus routes and rural roads and residential areas - will be treated with grit only.15/1/2010
FUTURE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
Consultation on Higher Activity Waste A consultation published today seeks to find responsible solutions to managing Scotland's legacy of radioactive waste. Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy aims to ensure that the treatment, storage and disposal of such waste is done in a way that offers maximum protection to people and the environment.15/1/2010
Highland Council to participate in Scotland's Islands 2011
The Highland Council is to participate in 'Scotland's Islands 2011' - a themed year that will showcase and develop islands life, locally, nationally and beyond through developing tourism, and provide opportunities in the arts, sport and cultural experiences. Members of the Council's Education.15/1/2010
Council To Build New School In Inverness Area
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed that a new Primary school will be built for the Milton of Leys area of Inverness. Funding for the construction of the school will be provided from within the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service capital programme.15/1/2010
HELPING RURAL SCOTLAND THROUGH BIG FREEZE
Public sector joins community effort in dealing with snow Staff in the Scottish Government and its rural agencies have been lending a helping hand to communities during the snowy weather. Resources have been redeployed to help keep the country moving and the help has proved vital for rural communities badly hit by the big freeze.15/1/2010
Gaelic Medium Provision At Glen Urquhart Primary School
A proposal to establish Gaelic Medium education provision at Glen Urquhart Primary School in Drumnadrochit took a step forward this week. At The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee members were informed about the outcome of a recent statutory consultation on the proposal to establish Gaelic Medium provision at the school.15/1/2010
RIGHT TO BUY TO END FOR NEW TENANTS
Blueprint to safeguard Scotland's stock of social housing New council house and housing association tenants will no longer have the Right to Buy (RTB) their homes, it was confirmed in proposals unveiled to MSPs today. RTB for new build social housing in Scotland will also be scrapped.13/1/2010
Internal Audit Report into Caithness Heat and Power
Caithness Heat and Power is a joint project supported by The Highland Council since its inception in 2004 because of its potential to provide renewable energy in an area of fuel poverty via an innovative biomass district heating system at Pulteneytown, Wick. The project has, to date, failed to achieve its objective due to problems relating to technology, and an internal audit report by The Highland Council's Head of Audit and Risk Management into the enterprise has highlighted that the Council's and the company's governance arrangements covering the project should have been stronger .13/1/2010
Northern Constabulary Road Report - 0600hrs 13th Jan 2010
Badenoch A9 road between Ralia (Kingussie) and Blair Atholl - Drifting snow - currently open, with a convoy system being operated behind ploughs. Please be patient when you reach the affected areas.12/1/2010
Weather Update Tuesday 12 January 2010
Schools: Only one secondary school, five primary schools and four nursery schools in the Highlands were closed today (Tuesday 12 January 2010) as a result of adverse weather conditions. Kingussie High School remained closed due to health and safety concerns.8/1/2010
Council Service Centre Opens at Weekend
The Highland Council is responding to the high number of enquiries received from the public about the bad weather to open its Customers Service Centre this weekend. The Centre will be operational between 9 am - 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.8/1/2010
North Police Advice For Motorists Tonight
Northern Constabulary Issue Advice Following Possibility of Freezing Rain in North Highlands and Islands Northern Constabulary are issuing safety advice to members of the public following a warning of possible freezing rain in parts of the Highlands and Islands tonight and tomorrow. Freezing rain is very hazardous in that the precipitation falls as rain but freezes on contact with the ground.8/1/2010
Temperatures Dropping All Over Scotland
Temperatures The cold temperatures are obviously attracting a lot of attention e.g. the -22.3C recorded at Altnaharra in the Highlands this morning.8/1/2010
HELPLINE FOR FUEL POOR EXTENDS HOURS
Calls soar as households seek help to beat the freeze Scotland's national energy assistance helpline will be operating an extended hours service, as the country experiences the biggest snow fall for thirty years. The service will now be available weekdays from 9am until 7 in the evening and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.8/1/2010
Road Report at 0630 hours 8/1/10
The following roads are currently affected by weather within the Northern Constabulary area: Ross-shire: Unclassified Kishorn to Applecross road (Bealach na Ba) remains closed due to snow Sutherland: B871 Kinbrace to Syre remains closed due to snow B869 Unapool to Lochinver remains closed due to snow Badenoch: B9007 Carrbridge to Glenferness remains road closed due to snow Isle of Skye: B885 Struan to Portree remains closed due to snow Unclassified Breakish to Kylerhea is passable with extreme care Western Isles: Unclassified Pentland road from Carloway to Stornoway is not recommended by Police due to surface ice. Whilst all other roads in the Northern Constabulary Force Area are open, many of them, particularly minor roads, remain affected by snow and ice, especially following the extremely cold temperatures experienced overnight.7/1/2010
BEAULY - DENNY Power Line Upgrade Approved
Line replacement needed to harness, transmit and export Scottish renewable energy. The Beauly - Denny power line upgrade has been approved.7/1/2010
Council staff go the extra mile to get to home care clients
Council care at home staff throughout the Highlands are going the extra mile to maintain services to clients in rural areas. An example of the efforts being made to get to older and vulnerable people has been witnessed in the Dingwall area and the Black Isle, where staff have gone beyond the call of duty in order to visit their clients.7/1/2010
