News Archive

Wanted - 200,000 Scots To Keep Scotland Beautiful

200,000 Scots called to action to tackle the nations litter problem! Keep Scotland Beautiful Keep Scotland Beautiful, one of Scotland's leading environmental charities, is calling out to 200,000 Scots to do their bit to clean up their favourite part of Scotland during a two month attack on the nations litter.   Scotland's biggest annual litter clean up, known as National Spring Clean, is Keep Scotland Beautiful's flagship volunteer campaign and is supported by Zero Waste Scotland.  

Status Quo Prevails On Public Entertainment Licensing

The Highland Council has assured organisers of free-to-enter events that there will be no change to the current licensing arrangements when new guidance on public entertainment licensing is introduced on 1 April.   This means that there will continue to be no charge for community or fund-raising events that are free to the public to attend.  

Highland Council NHS Highland Senior Appointments

Senior appointments Planning for Integration - The Highland Council and NHS Highland.   The Highland Council and NHS Highland are very pleased to announce some key senior appointments to support the move to integration of health and social services in April.  

Business Gateway's New Funding For Businesses

New grant set to help Business Gateway companies in Highland grow.   Highland companies with ambitions to grow could be eligible for up to �10,000 of support thanks to a fund being offered exclusively through Highland Council's Business Gateway.  

Countryside Rangers Launch Their 2012 Guide

The Highland Council's Countryside Rangers, in partnership with the Rangers from Moray Council, have launched their 2012 brochure featuring over 400 guided walks and events to encourage everyone to get out and explore the great outdoors and find out more about the animals that share it with us.   Some highlights in the programme of walks and events, that covers the whole of the Highlands and Moray, include Gruffalo children's activity days, long distance walks, mountain conservation days, whale and dolphin spotting, wild food foraging and gentle wildlife walks.  

Woodland Owners Could Win Prize Money

One month's countdown for entry to Scotland's Finest Woods Awards 2012.   Woodland owners and managers are being urged to prepare their entries for this year's prestigious Scotland's Finest Woods Awards and compete for a share of the �7,500 prize money.  

Allan Confirms Boost For Science Learning

Additional funding has been awarded to the professional development of Scotland's science teachers as the Scottish Government welcomes experts' recommendations to further improve science and engineering learning.   Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, today announced funding of �600,000 as he welcomed the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group (SEEAG) report which sets out a range of recommendations for the Scottish Government and its partners.  

£110m Caithness Wind Farm Plans On Display

Green energy developer Infinergy is set to showcase its plans for the Limekiln wind farm, near Reay, which could bring in £9.75million to support community initiatives over its lifetime.   The proposed wind farm of up to 26 turbines would have a generating capacity of around 78 megawatts (MW), enough to power around 43,600 homes - equivalent to 43% of Highland households.  

Fire Services Latest Statement

Statement from Highland & Islands Fire Board, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service, and Representative Bodies.   Joint press statement from Highland and Islands Fire Board, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service, the Fire Brigades Union, Retained Firefighters Union and the Fire Officers' Association A high level seminar involving the Highland and Islands Fire Board, senior staff from Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service (HIFRS), the Fire Brigades Union, the Retained Firefighters Union (Scotland), the Fire Officers Association and senior officers from the HIFRS Peer Support Team was been held on Friday 24th February 2012 to analyse the key issue of risk to communities and firefighters in the area.  

Increased Risk Of Tick Borne Disease

Tick-borne disease charity BADA-UK (Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness-UK) and its Patron, TV Bushcraft and Survival expert Ray Mears, are warning both outdoor workers and outdoor-pursuits enthusiasts to be vigilant about a potential increased risk of tick bites this spring.   The charity is using its annual awareness campaign Tick Bite Prevention Week (26 March - 1 April) www.tickbitepreventionweek.org to highlight the health risks that ticks pose, especially following the recent EU ban of the herbicide Asulam.