Council responds to concerns at Thurso sheltered housing scheme. The Highland Council has responded to concerns about warden cover at a sheltered housing scheme in Thurso by visiting residents and promising to advise them soon of the outcome of the consultations.
£100,000 North Highland fund to stimulate tourism and food & drink sectors. A £100,000 challenge fund which will stimulate new ways of working within the North Highlands' tourism and food & drink sectors is being launched today (Friday).
week commencing 17th September 2012 Energy: Scottish Renewables' Marine Conference and Exhibition took place in Inverness this week, with over 250 delegates and over 40 exhibitors including Kongsberg Maritime, Caithness Renewables and Invest Caithness. To coincide with the Conference Scottish Renewables published data indicating that the costs of connecting to the National Grid for Caithness-based Pentland Firth wave and tidal projects had decreased against previous estimates, whilst connection charges from Orkney had dramatically increased.
First Minister Alex Salmond and Cosla President David O'Neill are together asking Scotland's councils to use capital investment to promote economic recovery and to protect and create jobs. Mr Salmond and Mr O'Neill have written asking local authorities to review whether they have any further 'shovel-ready' construction projects that could begin at short notice - if the UK government were to release funds.
The new Caithness District Partnership will meet in full for the second time on Friday 28 September, as part of the new arrangements under the Planning for Integration (P4i) partnership between the NHS and The Highland Council. Partners will consider a report from the NHS steering group, who are recommending a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has hit out after the Scottish Court Service today launched their consultation on court closures. The move means that 11 of Scotland's 49 Sheriff Courts and 5 Justice of the Peace Courts are threatened with closure.
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has noted the progress being made with trials to achieve energy and carbon savings in street lighting. Members were told that the introduction of new technology energy efficient white lights with associated 25% dimming between midnight and 6 am has generated annual savings of £60,000.
The Draft Budget for 2013-14 and the actions the Scottish Government will take this Autumn will provide further investment in construction, skills and the green economy John Swinney said today. Setting out the budget to Parliament, Finance Secretary John Swinney pledged £180 million over two years for construction, skills and employment and a green economic stimulus.
The Highland Council is to embark on a programme of repair works to war memorials in the Highlands ahead of the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 in 2014. The majority of the Council's 165 memorials have been inspected to assess the level of work required to bring them up to a good standard.
Science O3, the organising charity behind the annual Caithness International Science Festival, will be collaborating with The Highland Council Countryside Rangers to present a fun-filled family activity day at Dunnet's Seadrift Visitor Centre on Saturday, 29th September 2012. The day of workshops, talks and walks, led by the Highland Council's Countryside Rangers, will highlight the biodiversity of Caithness and allow people of all ages to learn more about the wonderful world of birds, bush craft, whales, bats and basket making.
New public toilets in Thurso are now open for use by visitors and locals. On Monday (17 September 2012) Jannetta Sutherland, Visitor Services Advisor with VisitScotland, whose office is opposite the new toilet block, was invited to cut the ribbon to mark the completion of the project.
A proposal to build a new town to accommodate up tp 10,000 residents in over 4000 new homes to be built over a 30 - 40 year period finally got the go ahead today The proposals relate to the creation of a new community on 259 hectares of land on the A96(T) just to the north east of Tornagrain and south of Inverness Airport. It is envisaged that the town will have a population of around 10,000 when built out over an estimated 30-40 year period.
Transport Minister Keith Brown today announced that Conon Bridge Train Station will be reopened in time for the resurfacing works being carried out on the Kessock Bridge next year. The station has been closed since 1960 but a new £600,000 station will be built on the site, set to re-open by February 2013.
Planning Minister Derek Mackay yesterday updated parliament on progress towards planning reform, and outlined a major review of Scottish Planning Policy and the programme for delivery of Scotland's third National Planning Framework. In a statement to Parliament, Mr Mackay stressed the importance of the planning system in creating sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
HI-SCOT Credit Union is now operating across the Highland area and provides an opportunity for people in the community to come together to save, and borrow money at low rates. Credit Unions are not-for-profit co-operatives, with surpluses being returned to members.
Questions and Answers for Private Landlords and Applicants What is the Deposit Guarantee Scheme? The Highland Deposit Guarantee Scheme (here after referred to as the scheme) provides the 'Guarantee' of a deposit instead of a tenant providing cash deposit immediately. The Guarantee is to assist people having difficulty raising a cash deposit at the initial stage of the tenancy.
Capital investment by the Highland Council over the last 18 months has delivered £1.6 million of environmental improvement projects across Highland communities. Members of today's PED Committee had the opportunity to see photos of some of the projects which have been implemented by the Planning and Development Service in support of economic development.
Member of the public reports card skimming device at Co-op at Keppoch Road, Culloden. Police received reports of a skimming machine attached to an ATM at the Co-op store in Keppoch Road, Culloden yesterday (18 September 2012).
Healthy Homes for Highland is an easy way for services and organisations to refer people for help and advice through one referral. Anyone referred to Healthy Homes can get free advice and assistance with: Making their home warmer and ways to reduce their fuel bills which may lead to the installation of grant funded insulation, heating and other energy efficiency measures) Making their home safer through a Home Fire Safety Check (including free smoke alarms and removing trip hazards).
HPA - Poisons experts issue warning about wild mushroom foraging. Wild food enthusiasts are being urged to take extra care when foraging for mushrooms because of the risk of picking toxic varieties, says the Health Protection Agency's poisons experts.