News Archive

2/1/2018

 
Approaching Storm Eleanor To Cause Chaos For Drivers, Who Will Still Hit The Roads In The Wind

Caithness and Sutherland may miss the worst of Storm Eleanor but further south be careful.   · 65 per cent of Brits feel incoming Storm Eleanor sounds like a 'low - moderate' storm, despite being predicted to widespread damage, with winds up to 80mph.  

2/1/2018

Easier Than Ever To Join Hi-Scot Credit Union

You can now join Hi-Scot Credit Union on the web site.   Hi-Scot have added a number of new features to their web site recently including joining.  

2/1/2018

 
Week Ahead - A Stormy Start To The Week But A Big Change Later

Storm Eleanor blows us into the new year with some disruptive winds expected in the UK.  Big changes are then expected later this week, Met Office Meteorologist Aidan McGivern has all the details..  

27/12/2017 : Local Authority

 
Permanent Extension To Blue Badge Scheme Criteria

Cognitive improvements to be included in Blue Badge scheme The disabled person's parking badge pilot, which was launched in April 2016, has been made permanent by the Scottish Government.   The eligibility criteria were revised and extended under a pilot to allow carers and relatives of people who pose a risk to themselves or others in traffic to apply for a disabled person's parking badge, provided they meet the criteria.  

27/12/2017 : Local Authority

Stay safe with New Year sales advice from Trading Standards

People looking to pick up a New Year bargain in the sales on the internet, by mail order or on the high street are being encouraged by The Highland Council's Trading Standards team to be aware of their consumer rights and to stay safe online from scams and fake websites that try to dupe inexperienced online shoppers trying to buy a bargain.   Consumers have extra protection when they shop online.  

27/12/2017 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 27 December 2017

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 27th) sold 27 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (2) averaged 209.0p sold to 210.0p (-24.0p) and £1312.50 gross.  

23/12/2017

 
Bird Backpacks And Attack-proof Sensors For Some Scorries

Miniature bird backpacks containing solar-powered GPS systems or tracking tags on tail-feathers could transform our understanding of how wild birds move around offshore wind farms.   The technologies are among the suggestions put forward by four pioneering companies responding to an innovation challenge from the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, working on behalf of Moray Offshore Windfarm (East) Ltd (Moray East), with the project supported by Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd, Marine Science Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  

22/12/2017 : Engineering & Metal Goods

 
Subsea 7 Awarded Huge Contract Offshore Norway

Subsea 7 S.A.  (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) has announced the award of a substantial contract by Statoil for the Snorre Expansion Project, located in the Tampen area, 150 km west of Florø in Norway.  

21/12/2017

 
Ambulance Services On Life Support For The Festive Period

The union representing Scottish ambulance workers warned today that lives are being put in danger due to poor planning and dangerously low staffing levels.   UNISON, Scotland's biggest health service trade union, said that ambulance technicians and paramedics are repeatedly being asked to work excessively long hours without breaks.  

21/12/2017 : Air / Bus / Rail / Ferry Services

 
Northlink Ferries To Operate Revised Timetable During Dry Dock Period

-- Rolling dry dock period to commence late January with final vessel complete by 20 February--.   -- MV Arrow secured on short term charter -- -- Alternative travel arrangements in place for MV Hamnavoe -- NorthLink Ferries has today (Thursday 21 December) published timetables confirming arrangements for the regular planned maintenance of its passenger vessels, with one vessel at a time due to be out of service between 22 January and 20 February.  

21/12/2017 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Major Contract To Support Next Stage Of Dounreay Clean-up

Construction of a new facility to support the decommissioning of reactors and demolition of historic active laboratories are just two of Dounreay's major projects expected to be delivered as part of a new framework agreement, potentially worth up to £400 million, which is being published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) today.  - www.ojeu.eu The decommissioning services framework agreement will initially be for a period of up to 4 years with the possibility of extensions of up to 3 years meaning skyline changes could be delivered over the next decade under the arrangements.  

21/12/2017 : Local Authority

Scottish Government rules out ‘tourist tax' measures

The British Hospitality Association secured a major victory today (21 December2017) as the Scottish Government confirmed that any plans for a ‘tourist tax' in Edinburgh - or any other Scottish cities - are firmly off the table.  The BHA has been campaigning consistently for over six years against the implementation of any such additional and uncompetitive tax and is delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised our reservations.  

21/12/2017

Funding Boost For Replacement Fish Market At Lerwick

Plans for a new fish market in Lerwick have taken another step forward with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) approving funding of £586,879 to Lerwick Port Authority (LPA).   LPA is leading on the £6.3m project to develop a modern fish market to support the sector across the islands and manage the growing demand for Shetland whitefish.  

20/12/2017 : Local Authority

Employees compensated following change to recycling contract

Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Steve Barron said: "The Council is continuing to do all it can to support employees who lost their jobs following the change in contract for the processing of recycled waste.   Evanton-based William Munro Construction laid off the staff after Highland Council transferred a recycling contract.  

20/12/2017

UNISON deliver 5000 'fair pay now' postcards to Scotland's health minister

Health union UNISON will deliver 5000 christmas cards to constituency MSPs demanding that the Scottish government pay up on NHS pay.   Tom Waterson, chair of UNISON health committee said, "across Scotland NHS workers have been enthusiastic in their support for our campaign.  

19/12/2017

Democracy In Action

Electoral reform consultation launched.   Voters in Scotland are being asked to have their say on how they choose their political representatives at Holyrood and in local government elections.  

18/12/2017 : Local Authority

Food business fined for food safety rules after ignoring previous warning

The Highland Council has successfully prosecuted a food business after discovering unsafe hygiene practices in the transportation of food.   An investigation by officers of the Council's Environmental Health Team discovered that N E Meats Ltd of Newcastle had been transporting and delivering foods from the North of England to the Highlands without any temperature control measures.  

16/12/2017

Record Investment In Health

Investment and reform of the health service will be prioritised, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay confirmed in his Draft Scottish Budget.   Mr Mackay visited the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to meet NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde staff and students in the teaching and learning centre, where he took part in a teaching session on cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  

16/12/2017

 
The Line Of The A9 Between Pitlochry And Killiecrankie

Locals and road users will get a chance to see the plans at public exhibitions in Pitlochry Town Hall on 17 and 18 January 2018.   Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said:"Having recently published draft Orders for the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry project, we are now able to publish the draft Orders for the over 4 mile stretch between the popular tourist towns of Pitlochry and Killiecrankie.  

16/12/2017

Innovations In Social Care

Publication of national plan to improve workforce planning New actions will be put in place to ensure people get the right care, in the right place, and at the right time - supporting them to live as independently as possible.   The National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan sets out how the Scottish Government, COSLA, and social care partners will work together to develop new ways of recruiting nurses and care workers, and improve national and local workforce planning.