As a result of national shortages of road salt, The Highland Council has taken emergency measures to preserve salt stocks. With immediate effect, low priority routes - Priority 3 and 4 routes which include most urban roads, school bus routes and rural roads and residential areas - will be treated with grit only.
The Highland Council is to participate in 'Scotland's Islands 2011' - a themed year that will showcase and develop islands life, locally, nationally and beyond through developing tourism, and provide opportunities in the arts, sport and cultural experiences. Members of the Council's Education.
Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed that a new Primary school will be built for the Milton of Leys area of Inverness. Funding for the construction of the school will be provided from within the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service capital programme.
Consultation on Higher Activity Waste A consultation published today seeks to find responsible solutions to managing Scotland's legacy of radioactive waste. Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy aims to ensure that the treatment, storage and disposal of such waste is done in a way that offers maximum protection to people and the environment.
Public sector joins community effort in dealing with snow Staff in the Scottish Government and its rural agencies have been lending a helping hand to communities during the snowy weather. Resources have been redeployed to help keep the country moving and the help has proved vital for rural communities badly hit by the big freeze.
A proposal to establish Gaelic Medium education provision at Glen Urquhart Primary School in Drumnadrochit took a step forward this week. At The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee members were informed about the outcome of a recent statutory consultation on the proposal to establish Gaelic Medium provision at the school.
Blueprint to safeguard Scotland's stock of social housing New council house and housing association tenants will no longer have the Right to Buy (RTB) their homes, it was confirmed in proposals unveiled to MSPs today. RTB for new build social housing in Scotland will also be scrapped.
Caithness Heat and Power is a joint project supported by The Highland Council since its inception in 2004 because of its potential to provide renewable energy in an area of fuel poverty via an innovative biomass district heating system at Pulteneytown, Wick. The project has, to date, failed to achieve its objective due to problems relating to technology, and an internal audit report by The Highland Council's Head of Audit and Risk Management into the enterprise has highlighted that the Council's and the company's governance arrangements covering the project should have been stronger .
Badenoch A9 road between Ralia (Kingussie) and Blair Atholl - Drifting snow - currently open, with a convoy system being operated behind ploughs. Please be patient when you reach the affected areas.
Schools: Only one secondary school, five primary schools and four nursery schools in the Highlands were closed today (Tuesday 12 January 2010) as a result of adverse weather conditions. Kingussie High School remained closed due to health and safety concerns.
The Highland Council is responding to the high number of enquiries received from the public about the bad weather to open its Customers Service Centre this weekend. The Centre will be operational between 9 am - 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Northern Constabulary Issue Advice Following Possibility of Freezing Rain in North Highlands and Islands Northern Constabulary are issuing safety advice to members of the public following a warning of possible freezing rain in parts of the Highlands and Islands tonight and tomorrow. Freezing rain is very hazardous in that the precipitation falls as rain but freezes on contact with the ground.
Temperatures The cold temperatures are obviously attracting a lot of attention e.g. the -22.3C recorded at Altnaharra in the Highlands this morning.
Calls soar as households seek help to beat the freeze Scotland's national energy assistance helpline will be operating an extended hours service, as the country experiences the biggest snow fall for thirty years. The service will now be available weekdays from 9am until 7 in the evening and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.
The following roads are currently affected by weather within the Northern Constabulary area: Ross-shire: Unclassified Kishorn to Applecross road (Bealach na Ba) remains closed due to snow Sutherland: B871 Kinbrace to Syre remains closed due to snow B869 Unapool to Lochinver remains closed due to snow Badenoch: B9007 Carrbridge to Glenferness remains road closed due to snow Isle of Skye: B885 Struan to Portree remains closed due to snow Unclassified Breakish to Kylerhea is passable with extreme care Western Isles: Unclassified Pentland road from Carloway to Stornoway is not recommended by Police due to surface ice. Whilst all other roads in the Northern Constabulary Force Area are open, many of them, particularly minor roads, remain affected by snow and ice, especially following the extremely cold temperatures experienced overnight.
Line replacement needed to harness, transmit and export Scottish renewable energy. The Beauly - Denny power line upgrade has been approved.
Council care at home staff throughout the Highlands are going the extra mile to maintain services to clients in rural areas. An example of the efforts being made to get to older and vulnerable people has been witnessed in the Dingwall area and the Black Isle, where staff have gone beyond the call of duty in order to visit their clients.
Review of current road conditions: A number of roads remain closed as a result of heavy snow on Tuesday. Roads closed are listed below.
A number of councils in Scotland are experiencing shortages of salt and, through Mutual Aid arrangements, the Council is in a position to assist those councils with the most pressing needs. The Council is expecting a fresh supply of salt from our suppliers in Northern Ireland.
The Highland Council has thanked its winter maintenance crews and home care workers for their efforts in maintaining services during the worst weather conditions to affect the area for 30 years. Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Transport Environmental and Community Services, also paid tribute to members of the public, who have helped a neighbour or an older or vulnerable person during the prolonged spell of cold and snowy conditions by clearing a path, digging out a car, buying provisions or simply keeping in touch to check the neighbour is well and coping.
