Developers behind the Spittal Hill Wind Farm in Caithness, Steven and Tom Pottinger, have reached agreement with Watten Community Council over local community ownership of a turbine. The 30 turbine wind farm, situated on the eastern flank of Spittal Hill would have an installed capacity of up to 75MW, meeting the average energy needs of some 45,000 households and offsetting the annual release of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
We are delighted to announce that a FREE sustainable tourism workshop event will be held in Thurso on Thursday 27th May 11.00am - 3.15pm at The Park Hotel, where businesses can learn through interactive sessions and expert consultancy support from key partners. The main aim of the workshop is to promote business growth through the encouragement of sustainable business practices.
Key figures from the UK's oil sector will converge on Invergordon next month to discuss ways to strengthen the industry's links between Aberdeen and the Highlands. The two-day networking and awareness event - the first of its kind - has been organised by leading energy and engineering organisation North Scotland Industries Group (NSIG) and will be held on June 8 and 9.
Members of The Highland Council's, Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed to £1.79 million additional capital funding expenditure for five construction projects throughout the Highlands. At the Lochaber Leisure Centre in Fort William £370,000 will be spent bringing all the public areas up to full disabled access standards in addition to the £830,000 already committed for this project.
Plans published to harness Scotland's green energy potential Ambitious plans for the development of offshore wind energy projects in Scotland took a significant step forward today. The Scottish Government launched its 12-week consultation detailing draft plans to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and realise Scotland's multi-billion pound potential in renewables.
The Highland Council's budget blog switched its focus to swimming pools, museums and libraries. The blog was launched on Monday 10 May when the public was asked to comment on school issues and will continue to look at different aspects of the Council's spending every week until the blog closes at the end of June.
The Highland Council has moved a step closer to finding an operator to run the district heating scheme at Pulteneytown, Wick, currently operated by Caithness Heat and Power Ltd, a company owned and run by the Council. Following a procurement exercise, the Council has identified a preferred bidder to provide a suitable renewable energy solution for the existing customers of Caithness Heat and Power.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 18th) sold 62 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (43) averaged 162.7p (+2.9p) and sold to 176p per kg and £1,121.80 gross.
The Highland Council and ScotRail have announced that from Sunday 23 May a scheme will commence allowing reduced cost rail travel for companions accompanying a blind person who has a Scotland Blind Persons Travel Card. The scheme will cover all internal rail journeys for companions within the Highland Council area and to and from Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow for a single fare of £0.50p or a return fare of £1.00.
Police success in tackling vandalism and anti-social behaviour in North Division Northern Constabulary's North Division achieved significant increases in detection rates for vandalism over the past 12 months. Vandalism is frequently raised as a concern for communities.
Harriet Dempster, Director of Social Work Services, The Highland Council, is to retire in the summer after 36 years service in social work and 11 years at the helm in Highland. At its meeting on Thursday, the Council paid tribute to Ms Dempster's contribution to the council and wished her well in her retirement.
Reporter - Noel Donaldson A WOMAN who swindled a town improvements charity out of thousands of pounds while acting as its treasurer was given an ultimatum by a sheriff in Wick on Friday 14th May 2010. Sheriff Ian Cameron warned Karen Spruce at Wick Sheriff Court that she must raise a further repayment of £5000 or face jail.
Highland Council Trading Standard Service is calling on consumers, to be on their guard against rogue itinerant traders calling door to door. Vulnerable consumers such as the elderly appear to be targeted by gangs offering to carry out work on home repairs and maintenance.
A budget blog opened on Monday 10th May 2010 on The Highland Council's web site: www.highland.gov.uk, giving the public the chance to have their say on options for achieving major savings over the next three years. The blog, fronted by the Council's Budget Leader Councillor David Alston, is an important part of the Council's budget consultation which will run until the end of June.
The Highland Council has welcomed the findings of an audit on the Council's performance of its statutory duties on best value and community planning, which concludes the council is improving well and is well placed to deliver future improvement. The Commission found that the council benefits from strong political and managerial leadership.
Highland Council's Outdoor Access Team have secured £585,000 of funding over the next three years to help pave the way for a programme of improvements to the core path network across the Highlands. The new Core Path Improvement Scheme is expected to deliver a minimum of 45 projects over the next 3 years at an average cost per project of £13,000.
A campaign to raise awareness of the problem of seagulls nesting in urban areas in the Highlands has been launched today (Tuesday 11 May) by The Highland Council. Although the Council has no statutory duty to take action against gulls, it recognises the misery that gulls cause many homeowners and businesses throughout the nesting season, which is just about to begin.
Dounreay is being demolished at a rate of 100 sq. ft.
Industry leaders are presenting two days of top tips for Highlands and Islands food and drink businesses who want to break into US and Canadian markets. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is hosting the two-part event in Inverness on May 14 and June 10, in collaboration with Scotland Food and Drink and Scottish Development International (SDI).
HMIe publish the report 'Joint Inspection of services to protect children and young people in the Highland area' Scottish Government Inspectors had found that the performance of Highland's child protection services is 'very good' and have commended best practice across the authority. A report published today (Tuesday) is part of the second national cycle of child protection inspections in Scotland.
