Temperatures The cold temperatures are obviously attracting a lot of attention e.g. the -22.3C recorded at Altnaharra in the Highlands this morning.
Calls soar as households seek help to beat the freeze Scotland's national energy assistance helpline will be operating an extended hours service, as the country experiences the biggest snow fall for thirty years. The service will now be available weekdays from 9am until 7 in the evening and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.
The following roads are currently affected by weather within the Northern Constabulary area: Ross-shire: Unclassified Kishorn to Applecross road (Bealach na Ba) remains closed due to snow Sutherland: B871 Kinbrace to Syre remains closed due to snow B869 Unapool to Lochinver remains closed due to snow Badenoch: B9007 Carrbridge to Glenferness remains road closed due to snow Isle of Skye: B885 Struan to Portree remains closed due to snow Unclassified Breakish to Kylerhea is passable with extreme care Western Isles: Unclassified Pentland road from Carloway to Stornoway is not recommended by Police due to surface ice. Whilst all other roads in the Northern Constabulary Force Area are open, many of them, particularly minor roads, remain affected by snow and ice, especially following the extremely cold temperatures experienced overnight.
Line replacement needed to harness, transmit and export Scottish renewable energy. The Beauly - Denny power line upgrade has been approved.
Council care at home staff throughout the Highlands are going the extra mile to maintain services to clients in rural areas. An example of the efforts being made to get to older and vulnerable people has been witnessed in the Dingwall area and the Black Isle, where staff have gone beyond the call of duty in order to visit their clients.
Review of current road conditions: A number of roads remain closed as a result of heavy snow on Tuesday. Roads closed are listed below.
A number of councils in Scotland are experiencing shortages of salt and, through Mutual Aid arrangements, the Council is in a position to assist those councils with the most pressing needs. The Council is expecting a fresh supply of salt from our suppliers in Northern Ireland.
The Highland Council has thanked its winter maintenance crews and home care workers for their efforts in maintaining services during the worst weather conditions to affect the area for 30 years. Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Transport Environmental and Community Services, also paid tribute to members of the public, who have helped a neighbour or an older or vulnerable person during the prolonged spell of cold and snowy conditions by clearing a path, digging out a car, buying provisions or simply keeping in touch to check the neighbour is well and coping.
Carol-Anne Mackay has been appointed as Event Support Officer to support the National Modd which is being held in Caithness in 2010. Carol-Anne will provide support to the local organising committee of Mod Ghallaibh, for a full programme of events, leading up to, and during the Royal National Mod.
'At the end of the day' was yesterday unveiled as Britain's most common office cliché. The annoying six-word phrase, a favourite of everyone from Premier League footballers to the office loudmouth, is uttered on average at least three times-a-day in every workplace.
The Highland Council's Convener Councillor Sandy Park is calling for patience when it comes to clearing Highland roads and pavements. Since the recent wintry conditions have started the Council's entire fleet of 114 road, and 54 pavement gritters and over 200 winter maintenance staff have been working flat out within the Council's gritting policy to keep roads clear.
Do you have an electrical item that's lost its spark? By the end of January 2010 facilities will be in place at Recycling Centres across Highland to recycle all waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Householders in Highland will be able to recycle any electrical item with a plug attached, or items operated by a battery.
Cash boost for housing support services Twenty nine projects will share 2.4 million pounds from the Scottish Government to fund housing support initiatives across the country. The Housing Voluntary Sector Grant Scheme supports projects tackling disabled and rural housing issues, repossession and debt advice, homelessness and support for projects helping ethnic minority The Scottish Housing Advisory Service (SHAS) receives a contribution of £274,000 to provide guidance for frontline advisers on how to deal with housing enquiries.
A new team for Caithness has been created at Scottish Natural Heritage's North Highland Area Office in Golspie. Tom Kellett is now in charge of the team of Area Officers following a promotion.
A funding pot of £40,000 will bring some seasonal cheer to environmental enthusiasts in Caithness over the next 3 years. The Caithness Partnership has secured the funds from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highland Leader Programme to operate a Caithness Environment Fund.
Consultants, contractors and skilled trades businesses are being advised they have until noon on Friday 22 January next year to submit an application to The Highland Council to be included on frameworks for construction work up to a value of £25,000, and for design consultancy services for projects of all values. The deadline is important because if companies miss it, there will be no opportunity for them to be considered for Council contracts/consultancy for at least another two years.
More than 200 temporary jobs for young jobless people are to be created in the Highlands as a result of a successful bid by The Highland Council to the UK Government's Future Jobs Fund. Of the 313 Scottish jobs approved by the Department of Work and Pensions in a fifth round of funding, 203 are to be created in the Highlands at a cost of £1.3 million.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December 16th) sold 93 MV accredited pedigree females at its annual show and sale. The Beltex judge, Mr D.
Within a few years, much of the experimental nuclear site at Dounreay will disappear from the landscape. Many of the facilities that have dominated the skyline of Scotland's north coast for the past 50 years will be razed to the ground.
Four pupils of Dingwall Academy have retained the school's title as winners of the North of Scotland Heat Young Consumer of the Year Competition held on Friday 11th December at Highland Council Chambers, in Inverness. Quiz Master, Jamie Stone MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, put Braeview Academy, Dundee and Dingwall Academy, Highland to the test, with questions on money and credit, consumer law, food and safety and the environment.
