Highland Council's Trading Standards team is participating in an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) campaign to warn consumers about bogus car buyer scams which cost UK consumers nearly £3 million every year. Bogus car buyer scams, which are sometimes referred to as "vehicle matching scams", target consumers selling cars and falsely promise to match them with definite buyers.
At its annual report to The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee on 20 May, Highland Opportunity Limited (HOL) was able to describe another year of solid support to Highland businesses, together with recent major developments in enterprise support. HOL is the Council owned Enterprise Trust with a remit to assist local businesses to start up and grow, to create or preserve jobs and make European trade connections.
Following a presentation to The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee Members have given their full support for the Council to work with its partners HIE and HITRANS to raise awareness of the economic problems facing rural petrol stations and look at ways of securing a sustainable and accessible network of fuel supply throughout the Highland area. Experian Catalist were commissioned to produce a comprehensive study looking at the future of the 231 petrol stations currently operating over the Highlands and Islands area.
A total of 18,340 Highland residents have asked to vote by post at the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections. The electorate in Highland is 171,601.
Tenant housing group representatives from across the Highlands have been working with The Highland Council to produce a new strategy that puts tenant involvement and communication very much at the centre of future housing service delivery and development. Launched on Monday 25 May 2009 the strategy replaces The Highland Council's previous strategy and, running up to 2012, it aims to improve opportunities for tenant participation across Highland and develop and maintain effective working relationships to progress the design and delivery of housing services.
The Local Returning Officer in the Highlands for the forthcoming European Parliamentary Elections, Alistair Dodds, wants voters to be aware of what they need to do to cast their vote on Thursday 4 June. In the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local Government elections voters were asked to use three different voting methods on three ballot papers.
Scottish Water today (25 May 09) revealed figures showing that its major investment in new water mains across the Highlands and Islands has paid dividends, with 106 fewer burst pipes in the past year. During 2008/09 Scottish Water dealt with 1,397 burst water mains in the Highland and Western Isles local authority areas, a seven per cent drop from 1,503 the previous year (07/08).
On 3rd June, from 4pm at Caithness Horizons, Thurso, GlobalScot Bob Creighton who lives and works in Connecticut USA, will address a small group of ambitious business people, brought together by Fusion. There is still time to book a place on this event if you wish to attend.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the UK Met Office have announced a change to the Inshore Waters Forecasts that are broadcast on VHF radio by Stornoway and Clyde Coastguard during their Maritime Safety Information (MSI) broadcasts. The change has come about as a result of consultation between the MCA, UK Met Office and the Western Isles Fisherman's Association to better define the difference in the weather conditions between the Atlantic coast of the Western Isles and the Minch, Little Minch & Sea of the Hebrides which is covered by the Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath, including the Outer Hebrides forecast.
Staying Safe On The Road Is A Family Affair, Says RoSPA The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is urging mums, dads, carers and children to remember road safety is a family affair this half-term. RoSPA is supporting the UK's first National Family Week, with a message that everyone can do their bit for each other's well-being on the road.
The owners of the Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant are back in business after their small restaurant in Castletown was destroyed by an arson attack. Only weeks after being put out of business they have restarted but this time in Halkirk.
David Whiteford has been appointed as the new Chairman of The Prince's North Highland Initiative. Mr Whiteford will take up the position on 1st June 2009.
Like a giant Meccano set, some 1500 parts are being fitted together to create a new ventilation system that will protect workers decommissioning some of Dounreay's most hazardous facilities. The network of fans, electrical infrastructure, supports, ducts, chambers and stacks will vent the airflow during the next stages of cleaning out and dismantling the key plants that made up the Fuel Cycle Area.
Funding to transform a derelict site in Pulteneytown, Wick, into high quality houses has been awarded this week by The Highland Council's Planning, Environmental and Development Committee. Members have approved £297,836 of funding from the Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme to the Highland Housing Alliance towards a £1,512,836 redevelopment project, which will transform a derelict site into 11 residential properties and bring new life into Pulteneytown's historic streets.
Work on the refurbishment contract in the Thurso Pedestrian Precinct has now been completed apart from the laying of coloured bitumen over the tarmac area running through the centre of the precinct and a few other minor works. The project which cost just over £370,000 was financed by The Highland Council's T.E.C and Planning & Development Services was designed by the councils Wick based engineering team who consulted with the Community Council and members of the public before finalising their plans.
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd has received planning consent for two of the biggest construction projects needed to complete the site clean-up. The new facilities will look after low and intermediate-level radioactive waste from the remainder of the site closure programme.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 14th) sold 946 sheep of all classes. Store lambs (168) sold to £84.50 gross for a pen of Texel crosses from Balrailan, Dingwall.
Caithness company, Berry Good were absolutely delighted with their very first award from the Scottish Food and Drinks Excellence Awards held recently in Glasgow. The awards which are hailed as the 'oscars' of the Scottish food and drink industry were held on the 7th May in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
The Highland Council is joining in with the UK-wide campaign Foster Care Fortnight which starts today (Monday 11 April), to attract more local people into fostering. The fortnight is co-ordinated by fostering charity Fostering Network, to raise the awareness of fostering and highlight the shortage of foster carers across the whole of the UK.
Students from Robert Gordon University, the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen College have successfully completed the BP Tutoring Scheme, a 14 week volunteering experience as student tutors in primary and secondary schools throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. A total of 87 students from the three institutions took part in the Scheme, which aims to improve education in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - 46 students from Robert Gordon University, 21 students from the University of Aberdeen and 20 from Aberdeen College.
