News Archive

Government Takes Major Step In Improving Biosecurity And Preventing Diseases

Introduction of new border controls will help guard against incoming diseases and pests while minimising burdens and costs for traders and consumers.   New border controls introduced today will help prevent the import of diseases and pests from animal and plant products Series of new controls will minimise burdens and costs for traders and consumers.  

Roads In Caithness Will Get Worse Caithness Area Committee Admits As Funding Is Inadequate For 2024/25

The Council at the Caithness Area Committee agree the roads budget for 2024/25 with exactly the same amount as for 2023/24.   Clearly with rapidly increasing costs this will come nowhere near to maintaining the roads to even the poor condition they are now in.  

Another Big Gale Is On the Way For Wednesday

Very windy gusting up to 65 miles an hour on Wednesday 31 January 2024 with heavy rain pushing southeastwards through the morning and early part of the afternoon.  Scattered showers and sunny spells for the rest of the day.  

Britain's Employment Gaps Are Falling, But Its Sickness Gaps Are Widening

Britain's rise in sickness-related inactivity, and resulting fall in employment, since the start of the pandemic has played out differently across the country - with traditionally low employment areas like Glasgow continuing to record strong jobs growth, but areas with existing high levels of ill-health and disability like West Wales seeing the biggest rises in long-term sickness, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Monday 29 January 2024.   The Foundation's latest Labour Market Outlook examines recent changes to employment and economic inactivity due to ill-health in different parts of the country.  

Fuel Thefts Increasing - Take Action To Protect Your Tank

There has been a notable increase in the number of reports of the theft of domestic heating oil and diesel from storage tanks and vehicles during the past 7 days.  The reports have come from across the country including our rural communities.  

Local Projects Benefit From West Of Orkney Windfarm Support

A number of projects in Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney are making a positive impact in their local communities thanks to support from the West of Orkney Windfarm.   Last year the developer set up a small donations fund, offering up to £1000 each towards worthwhile programmes in the far north.  

Tobacco Age Of Sale To Be Raised And Single-use Vapes Banned

Moves to protect children agreed after four-nations consultation.   Plans to ban single use vapes and raise the tobacco age of sale so that no one born on or after 1 January 2009 can ever legally be sold tobacco in Scotland have been unveiled.  

Metalworking Fluids - Most Businesses Inspected ‘Not Doing Enough' To Protect Workers

Back in September last year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced it was carrying out inspections.  Since then more than half of those checks have identified failings.  

Issues At The Post Office Go Beyond Horizon Scandal, Badenoch Says After Chairman's Exit

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has confirmed the departure of Post Office chairman Henry Staunton and said issues at the organisation "go beyond the Horizon scandal".   She also said it was "better the Post Office had new leadership going forwards" and "it was very sad we came to this conclusion".  

Heat Pump Applications Up By Almost 50% As Families Make The Most Of Government Grant Increase

New figures show applications to the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme in December jumped by 49% compared to the same month in 2022.   Figures for December show applications jumped by 49% year on year.