Contrary to some newspaper reporting, only 9 of the 94 public toilets which the Highland Council currently manages, are earmarked for closure and these are where there are alternative facilities close by. Amongst the 29 toilets originally considered for rationalisation, several have been recommended for retention as council run facilities.
Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) have been successful in their bid to secure EU Highland LEADER funding to add to their already announced securement of Caithness & North Sutherland Funding (C&NSF)to enable them to deliver the "Destination Thurso" project. Funding awarded of £33.5k by EU Highland LEADER and £5k by C&NSF will see the employment of a Tourism Development Officer until November 2019 to deliver a programme which includes a one-stop shop "Destination Thurso website and social media, localisation workshops and through consulting the community a tourism development plan for Thurso.
After a few weeks of preparations the new B & M Store has opened today 19th October 2018. The store took over the premises vacated by Homebase that recently closed several stores around the UK.
Tributes have been paid to The Highland Council's Director of Care and Learning, Bill Alexander who retires on 19 October after eighteen years leading the council's Care and Learning Services. At the Council's Care and Learning meeting held on Thursday 18 October 2018, Chair of the Committee, Cllr Andrew Baxter; and Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson praised Mr Alexander for his long service to the Council.
Responding to the amended motion lodged by Gail Ross MSP in the Scottish Parliament which related to her (Rhoda Grant MSP) original Parliamentary Motion highlighting the possible closure of public toilets in the Highlands, Regional MSP Rhoda Grant has said " Gail is perfectly entitled to lodge an amendment to my original motion, but in doing so she has shown that she is actually more concerned about protecting the reputation of the Scottish Government than her own constituents. I was keen to point out in my motion that Local Authorities are having to look at closing public toilets in order to make ends meet.
The Highland Council has paid tribute to Mr Des Devine, former Surveyor at the Council who died earlier this week. Steve Barron, Chief Executive said: "It is with great sadness that we heard that Des Devine passed away this week after a long and brave battle with cancer.
Dave Macleod, the recently appointed head of property and infrastructure at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, reflects on the crucial role that property plays in regional development. When the BASF Group, the largest diversified chemical company in the world, was looking to expand its operations, a factory built and owned by HIE on Lewis was instrumental in attracting them.
Scotland's Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board has published its Strategic Plan. The Plan has a 20-year horizon and will be updated annually.
The companies responsible for decommissioning Dounreay on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have set out proposals to ensure long-term employment for their workforce after the site closes. Around 1,100 Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) staff taking apart the former research site have been told about a series of future commitments including the offer of a job with one of the companies behind the site's parent body organisation Cavendish Dounreay Partnership.
The prospects of those qualifying through Highlands and Islands colleges are continuing to increase according to the Scottish Funding Council's annual College Leaver Destinations report. The publication, released last week, reports on the destinations of those who left college in the 2016 to 2017 academic year.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 16th) sold 24 prime cattle. Prime Bullocks (2) averaged 211.0p (-17.0p) and sold to 214.0p per kg and £1,391.00 gross.
The big offshore construction vessel Seabed Stingray (8,878 tonnes) arrived in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound from the Cromarty Firth's Nigg Energy Park around 07:00 on Monday (15.10.18) morning with a very special cargo on board. The 121 metre-long vessel was in the narrow strait between Gills Bay and Stroma Island to replace two of the four 'pioneering' tidal turbines that had been lifted out from SIMEC Atlantis Energy's MeyGen site last Summer for inspection and modification at Nigg.
PORTREE, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (October, 15th) sold 293 rams at its annual sale. Rams (293) sold to £620 gross for a Blackface shearling from Newton of Crathie, Ballater.
Following a pre-planning drop-in session at the end of September 2018, The Highland Council has given the public a further 28 days to share their views and comment on the proposal for a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Longman landfill site in Inverness. The public can now visit the Council's website to find out more about the MRF and to share their views on the proposal.
Marine Scotland Science today published the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2017. The publication details statistics on the employment and production from Scottish fish farms.
The cost of car insurance in Scotland increased up to +£15 (+3%) over the past quarter, following a short burst of decreasing prices. The Scottish Borders saw one of the biggest increases of all UK regions, with prices creeping up by +£15 (+3%).
Satisfaction with the hospital environment has risen since 2011 and now stands at 92%, according to the latest annual appraisal of NHS assets and facilities. The proportion of NHS buildings classified as being in a good condition has improved from 58% in 2014 to 72% in 2017.
Author of the report - Alison O'Connor. Executive Summary Scotland's brewing and distilling sectors play a vital role in the Scottish economy.
Dr James Vance, Head Teacher at Culloden Academy has been appointed as interim Head of Education Services with The Highland Council's Care and Learning Service. Dr Vance, who starts his new employment in January 2019, will be based at the Council's headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.
A new renewable energy system on Fair Isle will go live today (Friday 12 October) as the community celebrates reliable 24 hours power for the first time. The new island wide high voltage network is being delivered by an innovative renewables system combining three turbines, a ground mounted solar system and a battery storage- underpinning a range of social and economic opportunities for islanders.