News Archive

Council Offers Home Improvement Grants

The credit crunch may be biting but Highland Council has cash grants available to assist with home improvements.   Home improvement and repairs grants are available to help people living in owner-occupied or privately rented housing to meet the costs of having their homes improved, repaired or adapted.  

LEADER Funds Start To Filter Through

Since the launch of the Highland LEADER Programme in excess of �400,000 of funding has already been allocated to 27 successful local projects and plans across the Highlands.   Thanks to funding of �3,280 from both the Skye, and the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh LEADER Area Partnerships the Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations is now able to organise, deliver and evaluate a capacity building event aimed at benefiting community groups in Skye and Wester Ross.  

Council Confirms Commitment to Develop Tourism In The Highlands

A new partnership agreement between The Highland Council and VisitScotland for 2009/10 could see the Council contributing up to �445,000 to be used to promote the Highlands as a top tourism destination.   Last May Members agreed to support a review of the existing agreement with VisitScotland and although the final report will not be available until the end of the Month at last week's Planning, Environment and Development Committee the Council confirmed its commitment to develop Highland Tourism in partnership with the business sector, VisitScotland, EventScotland and HIE.  

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 24 March 2009

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 24th) sold 82 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (51) averaged 163.9p (+2.1p) and sold to 184p per kg and �1,217.20 gross.  

£4million Community Fund After Low Level Waste Facility Approved

Approval for the construction of Dounreay's low level waste disposal facility has secured £4M for a community fund package.   A working group, set up by the Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG), has helped to pave the way to secure the funding which is envisaged will be used to develop social infrastructure project in the Dounreay Travel to Work area.  

Energy Saving Measures Could Light The Way For Council

Research by Highland Council lighting experts has shown that potential energy savings could be achieved over time by converting street lighting in the Highlands from existing sodium lanterns to white light lanterns with dimming facilities.   A desk top exercise was carried out by the Council's TEC Services on a typical residential housing area with 160, 6 metre high lighting columns fitted with 100w high pressure sodium lanterns.  

Extension To Council Job Evaluation Appeals Deadline

The deadline for Highland Council staff to submit appeals against their job evaluation outcomes has been extended for one month until 8 May, 2009 by the Council's Modernising Employment Sub Committee.   Members of the committee heard that there had been requests from some staff and the trade unions to extend the appeal date of 10 April 2009.  

Council Reduces Speed at Sutherland School

Motorists are being advised that a 20's Plenty Advisory speed limit has been introduced on the roads near Helmsdale Primary School for children's' safety.   Roundels depicting the 20 advisory speed limits are also soon to be painted on the carriageway by The Highland Council.  

BDMLR Celebrates Its 21st Birthday and Over 3000 Call-outs

British Divers Marine Life Rescue - Celbrates 21 Years and 3000 Callouts 2009 sees the UKs leading and largest voluntary marine mammal rescue team celebrating it 21st Birthday this year and its achievement of responding to over 3000 call-outs.  Over 1200 of these call-outs have been responded to since BDMLR was sprung into the media spot light in 2006 when a whale swan up the River Thames.  

Local businesses to explore opportunities for Gaelic

Businesses will later this week have the chance to win up to �1,000 towards bilingual marketing and advertising when Inverness hosts a seminar on Gaelic and business.   The seminar, 'Gaelic - an economic opportunity for the Highlands and Islands', will be held on Friday March 20 and will host businesses such as the Glen Coe Ski Centre, Highland Airways and Crown Vets (in Inverness) on how Gaelic has helped their business through its use on company signs, websites, marketing, and amongst staff.