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News Archive


17/1/2009
New Highland Youth Voice Chair and Vice ChairThumbnail for article : 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 2009Thumbnail for article : 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.  
HIE Launches Free Business Advice LineThumbnail for article : 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 EXECThumbnail for article : 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.  
Breeder element removal tool installed in fast reactorThumbnail for article : 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.  
Shaft clean-up nominated for top awardThumbnail for article : Shaft clean-up nominated for top award
A ground-breaking project to recover nuclear waste from a shaft beneath Dounreay is in the running for a top award.   The project team has already taken a top in-house award for its safety and environmental performance during a three-year operation to divert groundwater from the shaft.  
24/12/2008
HIGHLAND COUNCIL RESPONSE TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Highland Councillors accepted the recommendations for the credit crunch at their meeting on 18th December 2008.   SUMMARY This report offers a brief overview of the economy as context to the Council's proposed response to the economic downturn.  
24/12/2008
HIE BRINGS FORWARD £2.5M DEVELOPMENT TO AID ECONOMY
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced this week that it has brought forward construction of a ý2.5m state-of-the-art business unit on The Enterprise Park, Forres in Moray.   The move follows last week's announcement by the agency that it intends to accelerate its capital spending programme where possible to alleviate the current slow down in the construction industry.  
23/12/2008
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 23 Dec 2008
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 23rd) sold 68 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (27) averaged 162.1p (-5.6p) and sold to 169p per kg and £1,190.70 gross.  
23/12/2008
Stamp Prices To Rise By 3p As Post Faces Stiff Email Competition
The cost of posting first and second class letters is to increase by 3p to 39p and 30p from April, the Royal Mail announced.   The stamp price rises follow increases last April, when first class stamps rose by 2p to the current 36p and second class by 3p to the present 27p.