Shadow Energy Minister, Rhoda Grant MSP has cautiously welcomed steps by the UK government towards special subsides for power generated on and around Scotland’s Islands by renewables. In recent years the cost of connecting Island energy projects to the mainland electricity grid had slowed development.
Legislation to widen access to university and improve governance and accountability in colleges and universities has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill, which was agreed today, means: Widening access agreements have legal backing Ministers can drive progress and identify priority groups for widening access Twelve regional chairs for the college sector will be appointed through the public appointment process College and university governing bodies will consider equality duties when appointing governors Government is paving the way for national pay bargaining in colleges Skills Development Scotland and its partners can share information to help prevent young people dropping out of education.
Decrofting legislation to tackle the difficulties owner-occupier crofters are facing when applying to decroft their land has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. Decrofting land can enable a house to be built on the land and facilitate croft land being passed from one generation to the next.
A major new bridge over the Firth of Forth will be named the Queensferry Crossing, after securing more than a third of votes in a public ballot. First Minister Alex Salmond revealed the outcome of the ‘Name the Bridge’ public vote which attracted around 7,600 unique suggestions and more than 37,000 votes during a seven-month process to find a permanent name for the new Forth replacement road crossing.
Plans for a new schools and community school complex next to the existing Wick High School and Pulteneytown Academy has taken another step forward with the submission of a detailed planning application for the project. Planned is:- · a new Wick High School; · a new primary school to replace Pulteneytown Academy Primary and South Primary; and · the East Caithness Community Facility featuring a new swimming pool, fitness suite and library.
easyJet to add additional Inverness - London flights as part of five year airport deal. easyJet, Scotland’s largest airline, has announced plans to enhance connections between Inverness and London from Spring 2014 as part of a new five year deal between the airline and Inverness Airport.
The future of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters (PFOW) will be guided by the outcome of a joint consultation launched by Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Heriot-Watt University. Two documents have been produced to support the development of a pilot Marine Spatial Plan that aims to balance the needs of all existing and future users of the PFOW.
ASDReports www.asdreports.com This introduction to the report from ASD Reports will perhaps alert more people to the huge increase in subsea work now approaching Caithness and other places in Scotland. Aimed at the industry the full report wil cost you several thousand dollars to buy but may well be worth it if you are investing millions.
DSRL is committed to the socioeconomic development of the Caithness and Sutherland area, and in particular to improving the employment prospects and “job-readiness” of local school leavers. As part of this commitment, we have contributed to the development of an innovative, industry-led event to provide young people with the practical skills and information required to support their success in moving into employment in all sectors.
Crucial milestones were achieved in the clean-up of the UK's nuclear legacy last year, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has revealed in its annual report and accounts. Progress was generally good across the NDA's 19 licensed sites, with achievements during 2012/13 including:.
Additional Funding announced for Communities to buy land and properties to help regenerate their local areas. Community groups across Scotland are being urged to explore the opportunities available through the recently-expanded Scottish Land Fund.
An initiative to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in Inverness and the Highlands by 2025 is being proposed by The Highland Council’s Leadership. A report to be considered by the Council at its meeting on Thursday (27 June) asks the Council to sign up to a long term commitment to create a Carbon Neutral Inverness in a Low Carbon Highlands; branded as a Carbon CLEVER Highlands by 2025.
Three lead baths weighing between twenty-one and twenty-eight tonnes each have been hoisted out of the redundant Dounreay Fast Reactor. Stripping out the old lead baths has been a challenging legacy faced by both the DFR project team and Dounreay’s waste directorate as decommissioning the fifty year old plant progresses.
The Highland Council has appointed a new Chief Executive. He is Steve Barron, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing and Property.
Every year, young people who venture into quarries unsupervised are killed or seriously injured. Operators know from past experience that the warmer weather and the start of the school holidays herald an increase in these tragic incidents.
Council’s new 10-year building programme will boost Highland construction industry. The Leadership of The Highland Council today (Thursday) unveiled ambitious and exciting long term plans that will boost the Highland economy, with spending of almost one billion pounds over the next 10 years.
HIAL PASSENGER NUMBERS UP BY 8,000. Wick John O'Groats passenger traffic was up by 123% in May.
Businesses in and around Caithness are being encouraged to become more involved in the construction of Spittal Hill Windfarm if approved, located just over 2km north east of the village of Spittal through a series of contractor preview events. The proposals, which outline plans for up to 8 turbines with an installed capacity of up to 24 megawatts (MW) and a height to the tip of up to 100m, would represent a capital investment of around £30 million for the area, and if approved, would present local businesses with a unique economic opportunity.
See the STV video report. Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited is a joint partnership formed between SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK.
Talented young people are choosing to work in the Highlands and Islands and helping businesses to achieve more as a result of a graduate programme in the region, according to a report commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). More than 40% of graduates taking part in the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme said that without it they would have been less likely to have been working in the Highlands and Islands.
