Works starts Monday 26 September for three weeks. Motorists using the A9 between Helmsdale and Thurso will benefit from an improved road surface as £220,000 of carriageway resurfacing is set to take place at four locations on the route starting next week.
Scotland's new Farm Advisory Service (FAS) launches today (20.09.16). The FAS forms part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) which is co-funded by the EU and Scottish Government.
Highland and Moray fishing communities are being encouraged to apply for a share of £1 million pounds of European Funding to support the sustainable development of fisheries areas. The funding has been awarded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to encourage community-led local development and localised decision making through Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs).
First Minister opens new Statoil Headquarters. The oil and gas industry still has a strong future in Scotland, despite its current challenges, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today as she announced new activity and investment in the sector.
Update From Bill Mowatt. 'Notice to mariners': Installation of first tidal-stream turbine in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound at Atlantis RL's MeyGen site c.
FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 17th) sold 673 weaned calves and store cattle, 12 OTM cattle and 3 adult head of breeding cattle. Bullocks (404) averaged 272.7p (-15.1p on the year) and sold to 356.1p per kg for a pen of 205kg Charolais crosses from Dunlichity Farm, Farr, and £1000 gross thrice for a pen of 540kg Limousin crosses, 490kg Simmental crosses and a 550kg Limousin cross from South Laggan, Spean Bridge.
Leader of The Highland Council, Margaret Davidson (Independent Councillor) has written to The Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to express her concerns about the future of Fort George. In her letter she said: "I am deeply concerned at the continued uncertainty around the future of Fort George as an active military barracks.
Response to Personal Independence Payment review highlights 65% of appeals are successful. 65% of disabled people who appeal against their PIP award are successful, highlighting a ‘deeply flawed system'.
Motorway Improvements Project one of largest recycling schemes in Scotland. Scottish Roads Partnership, the company tasked with constructing the project along with their main contractors Ferrovial Lagan Joint Venture and Amey, has recycled more than 90 per cent of waste on the project, as Recycle 2016 week starts.
Over £80 million has been repaid to creditors in the past year, according to the Annual Report and Accounts published by Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) today. The Scottish Government Agency also recovered all of its costs through fees and income during the year, ensuring its work had no impact on the public purse during 2015-16.
Empowering BBC Scotland will allow the corporation to address audience concerns and deliver better programming, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said. The UK Government's renewal of the BBC Charter was published on Thursday, but the Scottish Government says the proposals do not deliver fully for the Scottish audience.
Dounreay has said "you're hired" to ten local newcomers who have started their careers at Dounreay this week. This makes it the 61st consecutive year that apprentices have joined the site.
Week Commencing 12th September 2016 Energy & Business Services: Representatives from the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm consortium were in Wick this week to formally unveil plans to transform two historic buildings at Wick harbour into the Operations & Maintenance base for the project. For photos, (see my online blog, address below) The drop-in event was very busy with interested members of the public (estimated at around 150), and the comments I heard in the room were overwhelmingly positive.
Optimism from Scotland's wave and tidal energy sectors, fuelled by the Meygen's product launch on Monday, boosted delegates at Scottish Renewables' Marine Conference in Inverness this week. Recent successes from Scotrenewables, Nova Innovation and Sustainable Marine Energy have been complemented by the launch of the world's largest tidal stream energy scheme.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 16th) sold 5,655 store lambs and sheep. Blackface lambs (4,430) sold to £70 gross for ewe lambs from 13 Peinchorran, Portree.
The Highland Council has informed staff, parents and pupils of ongoing issues with the new Inverness Royal Academy building and the actions being taken to address them. The Council is working with, Hub North Scotland Limited, Morrison Construction and its sub-contractors, to resolve issues which include: problems with the school's gas installations and the impact this is having on some classes; intermittent power and ICT issues; and management of pupil flow during lunch breaks.
A survey of businesses in the Highlands and Islands has reported that although companies remain optimistic about their own prospects, there has been a decline in confidence in Scotland's economic outlook since the UK's EU referendum. A total of 1,054 businesses located throughout the region took part in the survey carried out by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in July and August, exploring business confidence and investment.
Officers from the Environmental Health Service have been contacting food businesses, retailers, suppliers and hoteliers across the Highlands following the Food Standards Scotland ban of cheese made by Errington Cheese Ltd, which has been linked to an E.coli 0157 outbreak in which a three year old child died. The recent cheese ban relates to Dunsyre Blue, Dunsyre Baby, Lanark Blue, Lanark White, Maisies Kebbuck, Cora Linn and Sir Lancelot.
The Highland Licensing Committee has agreed changes to the activities which are required to have a public entertainment licence so the Highland Council is advising community groups, members of the public, event organisers, charities and businesses to make sure they are aware of the different requirements so not to face the disappointment of having their event or activity cancelled. In particular organisers of public Hogmanay events are being asked to check if their event now falls within the revised definition and, if so, they are being encouraged to submit their applications early.
Scotland's first national Climate Week aiming to inspire people across the country to take action on climate change got underway on Friday 16th September 2016 Over sixty organisations from across Scotland are participating in Climate Week, running events and training designed to engage people on what climate change is, how they can be part of the solution and showcase achievements on climate change. Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change Roseanna Cunningham launched the week whilst participating in a volunteer hedge planting day at the new Seven Lochs wetland park.