News Archive

2/1/2013

Wakey Wakey - Property Sellers and Landlords - Get Your Energy Ratings on Adverts by 9th January

If you already have an energy certificate for selling your home that's fine.   But from 9th January 2013 you require to have the energy rating displayed on any adverts on any place or in any media.  

28/12/2012

Property Sales and Letting - Energy Performance Ratings for Adverts

Property Letting and Selling Advertisements Must Be Updated by sellers and landlords or their agents to show the Energy Performance Rating.   New rules on advertising from 9th January 2013 mean they must contain the Energy rating.  

28/12/2012 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Highlands And Islands Another Step Closer To Next Generation Broadband

An agreement to deliver the UK’s most complex broadband project to date is expected to be signed early in the New Year.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is very close to agreeing the detail of the multi-million pound project which will transform access to next generation broadband across the region.  

28/12/2012

Off-Sales Licensed Premises In Thurso Passed Test Purchases

Police pleased after Thurso off sales premises all pass recent Test Purchase operation On Thursday 27 December 2012, officers of Northern Constabulary completed a Test purchase operation within Off-Sales Licensed Premises throughout Thurso.   This involved the use of specially trained young persons, who under close supervision of Police Officers, entered licensed premises and attempted to purchase alcohol over the counter, whilst being under 18 years of age.  

27/12/2012 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 24th December 2012

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 24th) sold 47 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (16) averaged 208.4p (+3.0p) and sold to 223p per kg and £1,575.90 gross.  

27/12/2012

Cash To Tackle Empty Homes - Highland Empty Homes Initiative Gets £400,000

New funding could bring more than 400 empty homes back into use for communities across Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today.   Seventeen housing associations, councils and house builders submitted successful bids for the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Loans Fund.  

26/12/2012

 
Hilltop Horses Great Sale

Get over to Wick for some bargains at the Hilltop Horses sale..  

25/12/2012

Update on flooding and roads

Areas of Scotland affected by recent bad weather are now on the way to recovery, though a Highland road closure shows the importance of preparing for travel.   Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse, who visited Stonehaven and Brechin yesterday, said good progress is being made with the clear up in affected areas and thanked workers who have helped deal with the flooding and keep Scotland moving for Christmas.  

24/12/2012 : Coal Merchants

 
Red Diesel Available At Lindsays Coal - Small or Large Quantities

Did you know you can buy Red Diesel in any quantity from small to large if you are an authorised user at Bruce Lindsay coal merchant in George Street, Wick.   From time to time it maybe be that you just need a small amount of red diesel and this is no problem at Bruce Lindsay (formerly McEwans in Wick).  

24/12/2012 : Local Authority

Plea to Scottish Government for storm funding

The Highland Council’s Leader Councillor Drew Hendry has written to the Scottish Government seeking emergency financial assistance towards the cost of repairing damage caused to piers and harbours and coastal defences by recent exceptional storms.   In a letter to Richard Lochhead, MSP, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs and the Environment, Councillor Hendry says: “In Highland, the storm surge caused extensive damage along the eastern coastline between Wick and Nairn and our officials are currently carrying out detailed inspections to assess the nature and extent of the damage.  

22/12/2012 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Highlands and Islands another step closer to next generation broadband

An agreement to deliver the UK’s most complex broadband project to date is expected to be signed early in the New Year.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is very close to agreeing the detail of the multi-million pound project which will transform access to next generation broadband across the region.  

22/12/2012

Communities Reap Benefit Of Community Payback

Unpaid work totalling one and three quarter million hours was imposed on low-level offenders in Scotland as punishment for their crimes in the last year, according to figures released today.   This included work to repair fallen gravestones, clean graffiti off streets and stairwells, remove chewing gum from pavements, renovate elderly care homes and building work to help improve sports facilities for the benefit of the community.  

22/12/2012

 
Single Farm Payment Progress Update

Over 90 per cent of Scotland’s Single Farm Payments have now been made, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead confirmed today.   The latest figures show that 17,400 payments (92 per cent) have been made – putting £406 million into bank accounts across Scotland.  

22/12/2012

 
Flooding Awareness Urged

People are being encouraged to be extra vigilant in the run up to Christmas as flood warnings remain in place across Scotland.   Heavy rain overnight has affected many areas across Scotland with Central and Tayside receiving some of the heaviest.  

21/12/2012 : Local Authority

 
Contractor Appointed For Kessock Bridge Works

Commuters urged to think ahead.   A programme of essential repairs to the Kessock Bridge took a step forward today when Transport Scotland announced that Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering had been appointed to undertake the works.  

21/12/2012 : Local Authority

Watch out for phone scams! - From Trading Standards

Many people become the victims of fraudsters intent on conning them out of their cash.  If you receive an unsolicited or unexpected telephone call, be on your guard as it may be a scam.  

21/12/2012 : Air / Bus / Rail / Ferry Services

No Ferries Sailings From Aberdeen To The Isles

Serco NorthLink Ferries has confirmed that sailings between the Northern Isles and Aberdeen today (21 December) have been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.   According to current weather forecasts storms will halt sailings until Sun 23 December.  

21/12/2012 : Local Authority

Planning The Future For Thurso and Wick

Wick and Thurso communities to get unique opportunity to plan their futures.   Work on the new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan will begin in early 2013.  

21/12/2012 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale Of Poultry - 21 December 2012

Dingwall, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 21st) sold 169 lots of Christmas poultry.  Oven ready turkey (80) averaged 293p per lb and sold to 519.1p per lb for an 11.75lb bird from Balnakyle Farm, Aberlour, and £77 gross for a 19.25lb bird also from Balnakyle Farm.