Industrial Action update - impact on Council Services

30th November 2011

ECS: All schools in Highland were closed to pupils. Information has been prominent on the home page of the Council's web site since Friday. The list of schools closed was posted yesterday advising school staff not taking strike action to go to their nearest school if their school was closed.

High Life Highland: The only notification of closures has seen the closure of Kyle, Broadford and Inverness Libraries and Nairn Leisure Centre. Lochaber Leisure Centre - operating single shift - opening at 2.30 pm.

TEC Services: Inverness Crematorium is closed and there will be no burials across the Highlands.

Corran Ferry, which plies between Nether Lochaber and Ardgour, did not operate today. Staff available for emergency call out.

No refuse collections in Lochaber, Nairn and Sutherland. In Inverness, there was an estimated 50% reduction in service, with 6 waste routes and 1 blue box route operating as normal. No service was provided on all 3 brown bin routes, 2 blue box routes and 3 refuse routes.

All but two routes in Ross and Cromarty (Gairloch and Ullapool) were operating. In Skye, all refuse routes were operating normally and only two recycling routes were affected.

There was no impact on services in Caithness or Badenoch and Strathspey.

At Inverness, the Henderson Drive Recycling Centre was closed. Also closed were the recycling centres in Nairn and Sutherland and Ullapool.

Winter maintenance services were maintained.

Social Work: Essential social work services including care at home and residential care services provided by the Council were not be affected by the strike action.

Some day care services, however, did not to operate and these are: -

Corbett Centre Inverness - adults with learning disability; Glen Centre Aviemore - older people; McLean Court Nairn - older people; Acharacle - older people; Tigh na Drochaid, Portree - older people and adults with learning disability.

Remaining open on Wednesday are Caberfeidh, Kingussie - adults with learning disability; the Mackenzie Centre, Inverness - older people; the Montrose Centre, Fort William - adults with learning disability; and Airdferry, Dornie - older people.

Any concerns about a child or adult's welfare should be reported as normal to the local Social Work Office, but if this is not possible, the emergency service is available at: 0845 769 7284.

Customer Services: The Service Centre will remain open and the public is being advised to contact here if they require assistance normally provided at a Service Point.

The strike will also result in the closure of 19 of the Council's 35 Service Points, namely:-

Caithness: Wick
Sutherland: Bettyhill, Dornoch, Lairg
Ross: Bonar Bridge, Invergordon, Tain, Ullapool
Skye and Lochalsh: Broadford, Kyle, Portree
Lochaber: Fort William
Inverness: Ardersier, Fort Augustus, Inverness (Church Street).
Nairn
Badenoch and Strathspey: Aviemore, Grantown, Kingussie.
Planning: The public planning office at Kingussie was closed.

Offices: All main administrative offices remained open.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

1/9/2026 : Local Authority

What Changes in Highland Today? New Rules for Private Hire Drivers and a Fresh Garden Waste Year

For most people in Highland, 1 September is simply the start of another month.  But today also marks the beginning of two changes introduced by Highland Council which will affect different groups of residents.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

 
Candidates for Highland Council Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness By-Election confirmed

Following today’s deadline for nominations, The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness by-election.  There are 5 candidaes.  

31/8/2026 : Local Authority

Head Teacher at Thurso High School, outlined measures that have helped improve educational outcomes

Highland Council’s strategy to raise attainment in the region is making good progress, with encouraging early data emerging from this year's examination results.   Last week councillors on the education committee noted the work undertaken in Highland Council's Education and Learning Improvement Plan (ELIP) and the associated Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy (RAAS).  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

26/8/2026 : Local Authority

The Triple Squeeze: Energy, Mortgages and Council Tax — How Much More Can Households Take?

There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger.   A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.  

24/8/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso Schools: Public Meeting and Statutory Consultation – Key Dates

Highland Council has now formally launched its statutory consultation on proposals to replace Thurso High School and reorganise primary school provision in the town.   The consultation concerns the proposed relocation of Thurso High School, Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School to a new education campus based around the existing Thurso High School site and the proposed Community Point of Delivery.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Public consultation to help shape future policy protecting Highland's dark skies

Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies.   Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region.   The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Demand for social housing remains high across Highland Butit is part of a biggr Scottish Problem

Demand for social housing across the Highlands remains high, with almost 8,826 households on the Highland Housing Register (HHR).   Housing and Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The demand for social housing across Highland remains significant and continues to outstrip the number of homes available in many areas.