Council Leader welcomes Scottish Government's progress on Berriedale Braes project
14th January 2014
The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry has welcomed the progress being made by the Scottish Government to upgrade the Berriedale Braes, Caithness.
Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown has advised Councillor Hendry that public consultation on the preferred alignment is scheduled to take place soon and he hopes to publish the trunk road orders by the summer of this year, allowing construction to commence just as soon as funding becomes available.
Councillor Hendry said: "I am delighted with the commitment of the Scottish Government to have this project shovel ready by consulting over the alignment and putting in place the necessary trunk road orders - ready for construction when funding becomes available. "
Councillor Graham Phillips, Chair, Transport Environmental and Community Services, agreed. He said: "This is excellent news that the scheme is still on track and that the Government is committed to getting the scheme design ready and on the shelf. The Council will assist where it can with the Order process and help with the development of the detailed design using our local knowledge in the area."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Today : Local Authority
Local councils will be able to request up to two extra in-service days this academic year, so that teachers can prepare for the most significant curriculum changes in more than a decade. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) which brings together the Scottish Government, local authority body COSLA, and teaching unions has agreed up to two additional in-service days, which will form part of multi-year support for implementation of the updated curriculum.
Today : Local Authority
Imagine a dedicated employee logs into their bank account on payday, only to find it completely empty. When they contact HR, the records show their salary was successfully processed but sent to an entirely different bank account.
Today : Local Authority
The Highland Council’s newly unveiled Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2027–2032 paints a glossy, optimistic picture of the region's future. It promises a steady pipeline of 700 affordable homes a year, framed alongside a booming £10–£16 billion "Growth Deal" linked to green freeports and renewable energy expansion.
Yesterday : Local Authority
Highland Council is forecasting expenditure of almost £75 million on its housing capital programme during 2026/27, against an original budget of nearly £84 million, as rising building costs, project delays and the availability of additional government funding influence its investment plans. A Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital monitoring report, covering expenditure to 31 August 2026, is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
Yesterday : Local Authority
Highland Council is making progress on a range of housing and property projects, but rising construction costs, shortages of contractors and uncertainty over future funding continue to threaten delivery. A progress report covering the second quarter of 2026/27 is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
Yesterday : Local Authority
Highland Council is stepping up its efforts to bring long-term empty properties back into residential use, but early results from its £1 million Empty Homes Challenge Fund suggest that turning the policy into actual homes may prove more difficult than anticipated. A report going before the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November provides an update on the strategy introduced in November 2025.
Yesterday : Local Authority
The number of people presenting as homeless in the Highlands has reached its highest level in three years, highlighting the growing pressure on housing services despite some encouraging performance figures from Highland Council. A report covering the six months from April to September 2026 is being considered by the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.
3/11/2026 : Local Authority
Highland Council has set out an ambitious vision for the economic future of the Highlands, with the possibility of attracting between £10 billion and £16 billion of public and private investment over the next 25 years. On paper, it is an impressive prospect.
3/11/2026 : Local Authority
The Caithness Area Committee which met (Monday 2 November 2026) has approved six applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF). This approval securing significant investment to support local projects that will benefit communities across the north.
31/10/2026 : Local Authority
From the loss of a direct bus link to Inverness to uncertainty over rural broadband, a difficult council budget and the future of community organisations, the past week has provided plenty for Caithness residents to think about. But there have also been celebrations, local achievements and signs of community spirit.