Week commencing 16th January: Energy: Scottish Government has announced that Scrabster harbour is one of 14 sites across Scotland to become an "Enterprise Area". Scrabster is included as one of five sites in the Low Carbon & Renewables - North grouping.
SNH recognises the important role that farmers, landowners and crofters play in looking after the wider countryside and our most valuable sites, SSSIs and Natura sites. There are several sources of funding to support land management activities that deliver environmental and nature and landscapes benefits.
As a matter of urgency, Highland Council roads officials have been asked to bring forward options for a long term solution that provides a secure transport link between Wester Ross and Lochalsh. The move came at the Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee today (Thursday) as the result of the closure of the A 890 Stromeferry Bypass - which takes traffic from Lochcarron to Kyle/Plockton and on to Skye - due to landslides and the continuing danger of rock fall.
Eligible candidates are reminded that the deadline for returning nomination papers to seek election to the new Crofting Commission is 4 pm on Thursday 26 January. Six people will be elected by Scotland's crofting community to represent their interests on the Crofting Commission, which will come into effect on 1 April 2012 when it will replace the current Crofters Commission.
Natural environment will support wealth, health, lifestyle and culture, says new SNH strategy. Scotland?s natural environment should be valued not just for its own sake, but because it generates wealth and can sustain and improve our health, lifestyles and culture.
What can ERI do for you? Our courses allow you to study for a postgraduate certificate, a diploma, an MSc or take individual modules for Continuing Professional Development and can be taken on a full- or part-time basis. The ERI invites you to a buffet and drinks evening.
Parking restrictions at Miller Academy, Thurso will be robustly Policed following concerns. Police in Thurso are warning residents, in particular parents of children at Miller Academy School, that they will be enforcing the various no parking restrictions around the school over the forthcoming period.
Ambitious, family run Moray business Forsyths Ltd is to make its largest investment to date to expand local manufacturing facilities. Work has begun to build and adapt a range of buildings and install specialist equipment at the company's Rothes site.
250 packed into Lochcarron Village Hall on Monday night for a public meeting regarding the measures being taken short and longer term to combat the closure of the A 890 Stromeferry Bypass between Lochcarron and Kyle/Plockton due to the danger of further rock fall. The meeting was advised that the road was likely to remain closed until at least 17 February, when The Highland Council hoped to be able to reopen the road on a temporary basis.
Following The Highland Council's success at the Loo of the Year Awards, staff from the Education, Culture and Sport service responsible for looking after the award winning toilets were presented with their certificates at the start of last week's committee meeting. In total the Council won 8 National Category Awards, a further 3 National Awards and a trophy for Thorr House in Thurso.
Scotland's position as a leading player in renewables has been reinforced this week with the signing of an agreement between First Minister Alex Salmond and one of the world's leading renewables innovators. The signing at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi quickly follows discussions between the FM and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive of alternative energy company Masdar, during the FM's visit to the UAE in November last year.
With young people facing increasing challenges in finding employment opportunities the Council is taking positive steps to help by launching an action plan to deliver on six key cross-service pledges. Speaking after today's Planning, Environment and Development Committee, Chairman Ian Ross said: "As a Council we are committed to young people and are being proactive in how we provide support.
The Scottish Government today announced that Scrabster will be 1 of 14 sites in Scotland's New Enterprise Areas. There are four sectoral areas, and a total of 14 sites within those areas.
Alstom and SSE Renewables create joint venture to co-develop world's largest wave farm off the coast of Orkney, Scotland Alstom and the leading Scottish marine developer SSE Renewables have signed a new joint venture agreement to develop the Costa Head Wave Project, an up to 200 Megawatts (MW) wave energy site located north of mainland Orkney, in The Crown Estate's Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Strategic Area. Alstom and SSE Renewables will work together to obtain the necessary permits and intend to populate the site with AWS-III wave energy converters, a technology currently under development by AWS Ocean Energy Ltd, in which Alstom acquired a 40% equity share in June 2011.
The Highland Council is advising community groups, businesses, charities and anyone requiring a public entertainment licence that legislation changes come in to place from April 1st 2012. Currently, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, a licence is only required where the public pay either to take part or to watch the entertainment.
At today's (Tuesday 17 January) meeting of The Highland Council's South Planning Application Committee members turned down an application for a 31 turbine wind farm on land at Dunachton, Alvie and Dalraddy Estates to the North West of Kincraig. The proposed development, know as Allt Duine, was lodged by RWE Npower Renewables Limited.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 17th) sold 81 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (42) averaged 196p (-4.8p) and sold to 210p per kg and £1,404.00 gross.
A scheme is to provide funding for projects that make a difference in local Scottish fishing communities, with up to £7.6 million to be shared out across 13 local authorities. £4.2 million is available under Axis 4 the European Fisheries Fund, which the councils involved need to co-finance in order to access.
ScotRail is to provide an additional early morning service to ensure that Plockton High pupils can get to school - free of charge - while the Stromeferry bypass remains closed. From Monday 23 January, an 06.20 Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh service will transport the children to Plockton before 09.00.
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement today (17 January) that three locations in the Highlands are being designated as enterprise areas. These locations are Scrabster in Caithness, Nigg, in Easter Ross and the Inverness campus at Beechwood.
