News Archive

World's Largest Wave Farm Agreement Signed For Orkney

Alstom and SSE Renewables create joint venture to co-develop world's largest wave farm off the coast of Orkney, Scotland Alstom and the leading Scottish marine developer SSE Renewables have signed a new joint venture agreement to develop the Costa Head Wave Project, an up to 200 Megawatts (MW) wave energy site located north of mainland Orkney, in The Crown Estate's Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Strategic Area.   Alstom and SSE Renewables will work together to obtain the necessary permits and intend to populate the site with AWS-III wave energy converters, a technology currently under development by AWS Ocean Energy Ltd, in which Alstom acquired a 40% equity share in June 2011.  

Wind Farm Application For Allt Duine Refused By Councillors

At today's (Tuesday 17 January) meeting of The Highland Council's South Planning Application Committee members turned down an application for a 31 turbine wind farm on land at Dunachton, Alvie and Dalraddy Estates to the North West of Kincraig.   The proposed development, know as Allt Duine, was lodged by RWE Npower Renewables Limited.  

Additional train service for Plockton High School pupils

ScotRail is to provide an additional early morning service to ensure that Plockton High pupils can get to school - free of charge - while the Stromeferry bypass remains closed.   From Monday 23 January, an 06.20 Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh service will transport the children to Plockton before 09.00.  

Council welcomes designation of 3 Highland enterprise zones

The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement today (17 January) that three locations in the Highlands are being designated as enterprise areas.  These locations are Scrabster in Caithness, Nigg, in Easter Ross and the Inverness campus at Beechwood.  

North Highland Smokers Encouraged To Quit

North Highland smokers urged to improve their health and wealth by kicking the habit.   North Highland's 6,784 smokers are being urged to make 2012 the year they quit for good - and to take advantage of the wide range of NHS services to help make it happen.  

Regeneration Partnership Manager Looks At 2011 Highlights

Eann Sinclair the Programme Manager for Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership look s back at some of the business highlights last year in Caithness.   January Staff move into the new �4M Centre for Energy & the Environment in Thurso, and begin the �3M MaREE research programme, with funding from HIE, ERDF, UHI, Scottish Funding Council.  

Events At Whaligoe Steps Cafe

Thursday 19th January - Tea Tasting Evening at the Whaligoe Steps Cafe Come to the Whaligoe Steps Cafe in Ulbster for an evening of tea specialities.   Taste some of our 40 different varieties of tea, and eat tea scented; savoury, sweet and iced goodies.  

Highland schools and leisure facilities works brought forward

Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed to bring forward �1.038 million of Capital Funding Projects to help offset an estimated �3.6 million projected underspend in the current financial year 2011/12.   Approved projects in the Capital Programme which are being brought forward include works at: � Kingussie High School, Culloden Academy, Inverness and Tain Craighill Primary School; � inspection of craft, design and technical equipment in Secondary Schools; � works at Dingwall Leisure Centre; and � the purchase of a disabled access mini-bus at Lochaber High School.  

Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update

Week Ending 9th January 2012 Energy: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd has published a contract notice for the design of the subsea hub and off-shore platform proposed for the Moray Firth (in the area of the Beatrice field), to support the provision of a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea link from Caithness to the Moray/ Aberdeenshire coast.  This is a key milestone in the ongoing electricity Grid enhancement programme for the area, and the proposed timetable would see the facility built and commissioned by the end of 2014.  

New road lay out at Inverness

Motorists are being advised that work begins in Inverness on Monday (16 January 2012) to replace the existing traffic signals at the Harbour Road/Shore Street junction, which have reached the end of their useful life.   The Highland Council is removing the traffic signals and replacing them with a mini roundabout.