Salt supplies in the Highlands are at maximum levels as The Highland Council prepares for the winter. Stocks stand at 67,300 tonnes.
A campaign spearheaded by The Highland Council to win a fairer deal for consumers over delivery charges for goods bought on the internet, especially for those living in remote communities, is continuing to produce beneficial outcomes for consumers. Members of The Highland Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee heard on Thursday how the work being carried out by Trading Standards professionals across the North of Scotland.
Households across the country are being urged to act now to cut their bills and make their homes warmer through a national public awareness campaign launched today, which aims to encourage people to call the Home Energy Scotland Hotline [0800 512 012] for free energy advice and support. This comes after a new survey1 found that almost 80 per cent (77%) of Scots are concerned about the cost of their energy bills this winter.
If Scotland could secure an extra 1 per cent of Japan's salmon import market it would increase the value of exports to Japan by 100 per cent, to approximately £6.4 million. That was the message from Scotland's Food and Drink Secretary Richard Lochhead today as he visited the world-famous Nobu restaurant in Tokyo where top quality Scottish salmon is now served.
Prize money worth up to £300,000 plus a year’s dedicated business support is up for grabs in a new competition for Scotland’s young innovators. The Young Innovators Challenge – launched today by First Minister Alex Salmond and Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance – will be open to young people aged 18-24 who are in their final year of college or university, taking part in a national training programme or studying for a Modern Apprenticeship.
Week commencing 12th November 2012 Enabling activities: Partners developing a one day event aimed at highlighting current and future job opportunities met this week to agree a revised timetable of work, leading to the staging of an event in February next year. The day will involve businesses, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, agencies such as Job Centre Plus, Skills Development Scotland, Highland Council and HIE, as well as North Highland College and a range of training providers.
Protected student places and a key role in the drive to get young people into employment will place colleges at the heart of Scotland’s economic growth. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Education Secretary Michael Russell reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s support for the sector and the reforms being undertaken to ensure it fully delivers for Scotland’s people and the economy.
In recognition of the demand and potential of small-scale wind turbine developments in the Highlands and following a public consultation, The Highland Council has revised its Supplementary Guidance for Small-Scale Wind Turbines. The document will now become part of the statutory adoption process to be passed on to the Scottish Government.
New campaign urges owners to clean up after their dogs. A new poster campaign has been launched in the Highlands to remind dog walkers that people who do not pick up after their pets have fouled will be issued a fixed penalty notice.
The Highland Council is set to hold a number of events to raise awareness of the importance of waste reduction as part of this year’s European Week for Waste Reduction (17 – 25 November). To celebrate the week, The Highland Council is joining organisations across the region in a bid to raise awareness of how even small changes can make a big different to the amount of waste we produce.
The £9million community benefit fund associated with Infinergy’s Limekiln wind farm proposal could help villagers in Reay safeguard their community’s future with a range of innovative projects designed to boost economic growth and tourism potential. Green energy firm Infinergy is offering the community surrounding its 24-turbine Limekiln wind farm proposal an industry-leading community benefit package worth £5,000 per megawatt (MW) – a total of up to £360,000 per year or £9million over the 25 year lifetime of the project, based on a total installed capacity of up to 72MW.
Two new byelaws restricting public drinking in Inverness, Beauly and Ardersier have been approved by the Scottish Government and will come into force on Friday 30 November. This follows discussions between The Highland Council and Northern Constabulary, and consultation with the community.
Business and community leaders in Caithness and Sutherland will be meeting enterprise bosses tomorrow to discuss local and national issues. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is hosting a business breakfast in Thurso with representatives from around 30 business and community groups operating locally.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 13th) sold 44 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (12) averaged 209.3p (+5.0p) and sold to 215p per kg and £1,324.80 gross.
Security and defence experts from across the UK will be showing how technology usually used by the military and defence can be used to save lives at home. John Innes from Selex Galileo and Giles Huby of Copernicus Technology will both be presenting at the P4 Digital 2012 conference at Eden Court in Inverness on November 20 and 21.
An innovative school based project, designed to encourage young people to think about prominent social issues and build strong partnerships with local charities is being launched in Grantown on Tuesday (20th November 2012). The Wood Family Trust is working in partnership with Scottish Hydro and The Highland Council to establish YPI in the Highlands.
Scottish regional airports operator HIAL is determined to seek out new business opportunities, despite “tough” economic conditions, according to its Managing Director. He was speaking as the company published its annual report and accounts for 2011/12.
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed the launch of a community broadband initiative – Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) – which will act as a one-stop-shop for all community broadband needs – supporting rural communities to find solutions to the challenges of rural broadband delivery. As part of the Scottish Government’s CBS initiative a £5m ‘Rural Seed Fund’ is being established to invest in community projects over the next three years.
Scottish airports operator HIAL has launched its winter operation plan which aims to ensure passengers across its network of 11 airports keep flying this winter. The company has invested £400,000 on snow clearing equipment and a new de-icer storage facility at Inverness, and is also taking part, for a second winter, in a CAA trial aimed at accurately reporting runway surface conditions.
Update Week commencing 5th November 2012 Energy: Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) this week announced the signing of a Partnership Agreement with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). SSE is a key player in the development of the energy sector in the north, both as a developer and generator of renewable energy.
