As recently reported, the B876 between Castletown and Reiss will be closed for three weeks from 28 August 2017 to enable urgent repair works to be carried out. This will result in changes to the X99 and 81 services, along with the 276 / 277 / 281 services to Dounreay) Details of the timetable and route changes are attached.
Welcoming the publication of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said:"This report offers recommendations for reform of the system to make it work better for ratepayers across Scotland while ensuring that the contribution they make to important local services is maintained. "Ken and his team were tasked with finding ways to improve the current system, updating it so that it better supports business growth, encourages long term investment and enables businesses to better navigate fast-changing marketplaces.
Week Commencing 14th August 2017 Energy & business services: Caithness Chamber of Commerce this week ran an event sponsored by CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The main speaker was Bill Cattanach of the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), with introductory presentations by myself and Sandy Mackie of Scrabster Harbour Trust.
The Highland Council's Planning Performance Framework has been agreed for submission to the Scottish Government. All Planning Authorities in Scotland are required to submit an annual Planning Performance Framework to the Scottish Government, setting out how they have performed over the previous financial year.
With the countdown underway for the Queensferry Crossing opening, a new website for the Forth Bridges was launched today by the Minister for Transport Humza Yousaf. The site gives details of the traffic management and road layouts that will be in place when the bridge first opens.
Graduates from as far afield as Portugal and London arrived in Caithness last week to kick start their career at Dounreay. Ten new recruits have started on the two-year graduate scheme with educational backgrounds as diverse as engineering, law and digital forensics and ethical hacking.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 17th) sold 15,573 store lambs at their annual district sale to average £52.54 (-£1.52 on the year). Cheviot wedder lambs (6,589) averaged £49.36 (-£1.71) and sold to £66.00 gross from Knockglass, Dornoch.
Leader of the Highland Council Margaret Davidson commented following her meeting with Police Scotland on 16 August 2017, saying: "I am very grateful to ACC Hawkins and other officers for a very candid and useful meeting and for providing the information which we requested. "I remain, however, extremely disappointed in the recommendation going to the SPA and the poor governance in that decision making process.
Food and drink businesses looking to grow through innovation are encouraged to register for a free workshop which takes place in Inverness on 31 August. The event will focus on the new ‘Make Innovation Happen' service which provides a single access point for all innovation support to the Scottish food and drink industry.
Motorists are advised of a temporary road closure in Caithness to allow repairs to be carried out to approximately 1km of the B876 at Killimster Moss. The road will be closed from 8am on Monday 28 August 2017 until 6pm on Saturday 30 September 2017.
Members have today approved proposals to expand the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal funded free open public Wi-Fi system to 14 towns across the Highland. Towns recommended for the free Wi-Fi programme are Alness, Aviemore, Dingwall, Dornoch, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Invergordon, Nairn, Portree, Tain, Thurso, Ullapool and Wick.
The Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson, has urged the Scottish Government to start using devolved powers to mitigate the impact of benefit changes in the Highlands. The call follows a meeting with Inverness MP, Drew Hendry, where she discussed the problems created by the introduction of Universal Credit.
The Council has agreed to updated developer contributions for the delivery of new schools in the Inverness area. Taking account of the forecasted phasing of housing sites, school roll forecasts indicate that 13 Primary Schools in Inverness will be under pressure within the next 5 years.
It is 60 years this weekend since the first criticality was achieved in Scotland using a test rig at Dounreay. Now the decommissioning team responsible for the site is marking that milestone by taking a major step towards demolishing the oldest reactor that remains at the former fast reactor research centre.
Twenty-three Scottish companies are travelling to Norway this week to highlight the country's expertise at the world's largest aquaculture technology exhibition. Aqua Nor 2017 gets under way in Trondheim on Tuesday (15 August 2017), and runs until Friday (18 August 2017).
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 15th) sold 31 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (2) averaged 226.0p (-5.1p) and sold to 226.0p per kg and £1,254.30 gross.
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP David Stewart recently asked the Scottish Government by what date the Kessock Bridge Flyover in Inverness will be complete. In his response the Transport Minister Humza Yousaf advised that £109 million of the £315 million Inverness and Highland City Regional Deal will be made available by the Government to deliver the grade separation of the A9 and A82 Longman roundabout and the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially opened the £500 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, saving motorists up to 20 minutes on journey times. The project, including the new seven mile stretch of the M8 motorway, aims to tackle congestion problems in central Scotland and is the first part of a combined £1.7 billion investment by Transport Scotland in the roads network.
Tuesday 12th September 2017, 10:00am - 4:00pm at Brora Village Hub, Muirfield Road, Brora, KW9 6QY (£40) Generations Working Together is excited to be visiting Brora to deliver our intergenerational training course which is open to anyone who would like to learn more about intergenerational work and how to use an intergenerational approach. Please note the price of £40 will include 4hrs CPD accreditation and a training pack.
One hundred and forty two probationer teachers who are on the Teacher Induction Scheme and a few probationer teachers on the Flexible Route were recently welcomed to the Highlands (on Friday 11 August 2017) at an induction course held in Smithton Free Church Hall. Bill Alexander, Highland Council's Director of Care and Learning welcomed the probationers saying: "It's really good to see so many young people starting their careers in education here in the Highland and I wish them all well.