Over the recent week of wintry weather, Community Service Teams have been clearing roads and paths across the Highlands to aid more vulnerable members of the community. More than 60 offenders have been working with The Highland Council Social Work staff to clear snow and grit paths and roads.
The Northern Constabulary force area continues to be affected by snow and low temperatures. All roads in the Northern Constabulary force area are open.
SECURITY experts are warning Christmas consumers to be more cautious than ever of online fraud as shopping on the web hits an all time high. With days left before Christmas only 44% of shoppers say they regularly check bills and financial statements against receipts.
Construction Industry Must Undergo Huge Change To Meet The Low Carbon Challenge The construction industry faces the largest change management programme since Victorian times if it is to meet the low carbon agenda, according to an industry report. The Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), which is drawn from the construction industry, was tasked by the government to consider how the construction sector could meet the low carbon agenda and the IGT today published its report.
A report for Highlands and Islands Enterprise says that visitor numbers in Caithness and Sutherland could increase by more than 30% over the next ten years. The study was carried out for the social and economic development agency to look at current and future leisure and business demand to help accommodation providers in the area plan for growth.
As the winter weather bites, Scottish Water is advising communities across the Highlands and Islands to heat, insulate and protect their homes, businesses, holiday cottages and village halls to help prevent the misery of burst pipes. There are three simple steps: *Heat - Leave your heating on at a low temperature.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 1st) sold 94 weaned calves and store cattle, 15 adult head of breeding cattle, and 61 OTM cattle. Bullocks (46) averaged 146.2p and sold to 178.2p per kg for a pen of 303kg Charolais crosses from Abersky, Torness, and £760 gross for a pen of 533kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from Viewhill, Rearquhar.
As part of the inspectorate's ongoing strategy for evaluating the educational provision of local authorities, a report has been issued on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Pennyland Primary School. The report from the interim visit is based on the initial inspection report of October 2009 and describes the improvements that have been made since that original inspection.
BOWER PRIMARY 2.12.10 AM Bad weather CANISBAY PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather CASTLETOWN PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather CROSSROADS PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather DUNBEATH PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather HALKIRK PRIMARY 2.12.10 " Bad weather THURSO HIGH SCHOOL 2.12.10 School open, but no transport for pupils on side roads.
SCHOOL Date Time Closed Reason BOWER PRIMARY 1.12.10 AM Bad weather CANISBAY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather CASTLETOWN PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather CROSSROADS PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather DUNBEATH PRIMARY HALKIRK PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather HILLHEAD PRIMARY KEISS PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather LYBSTER PRIMARY MILLER ACADEMY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather MOUNT PLEASANT PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather NORTH WICK PRIMARY PENNYLAND PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather PULTENEYTOWN ACADEMY PRIMARY REAY PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather SOUTH WICK PRIMARY THRUMSTER PRIMARY 1.12.10 " Bad weather THURSO HIGH SCHOOL 1.12.10 School open to local & pupils on main roads only WATTEN PRIMARY 1.12.10 AM WICK HIGH SCHOOL 1.12.10 School open but no pupils on side roads MOUNT PLEASANT SPECIAL EDUC. UNIT, CASTLETOWN 1.12.10 AM CAITHNESS EARLY YEARS AUTISM CENTRE, WICK THURSO HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL ED UNIT 1.12.10 AM .
School closures - 30th November 2010 Caithness 52. BOWER PRIMARY 53.
Week commencing 22nd November This week's main focus has been finalising a draft of the delivery programme that describes how the partners will achieve the aims set out in our 2011-2014 Action Plan. In developing this draft programme I have been working with collegues from HIE in particular.
Caberfeidh House at John o'Groats is to benefit from a major £580,000 improvement programme after being awarded £134,750 funding by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. John o'Groats Leisure Ltd directors, father and son, Walter and Andrew Mowat aim to completely transform Caberfeidh House and provide significantly improved facilities to meet the needs of the modern discerning tourist, through a number of actions aimed at achieving VisitScotland 3-star accreditation.
Businesses and communities in Caithness, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides look set to benefit from investment in major infrastructure projects approved today (Monday 22 November) by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The HIE Board (Monday 22 November) has approved grants totalling more than £13m to develop three major projects.
As forecasters predict snow this week in the Highlands, The Highland Council has published on its web site route maps setting out its snow clearing and gritting priorities for local roads. Eight leaflets outline the Council's route and footpath priorities and provide advice and contact numbers for motorists.
The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed savings proposals for grounds maintenance. Earlier in the year, the Council agreed that a tender for routine grass cutting be issued to establish the potential level of savings to be gained from contracting out this area of service.
Plans for greater say in care services Robison announces new Self-directed Support strategy A new strategy to give people more control over how social care and support is provided to them was today (TUES 23rd November 2010) launched by Minister for Public Health Shona Robison. The Self-directed Support (SDS) strategy aims to ensure as many people as possible can choose how their funding for social care support is spent.
Met Office Weather Warnings Now In Place For Later In The Week Thursday 25th November Valid for Highland, Grampian, Angus, East Lothian and Scottish Borders Heavy Snow Thu 25 Nov There is a moderate risk of severe weather on Thursday. There is potential for snow showers to become frequent in places giving localised accumulations of 2-5 cm of snow inland with 10 cm or more on high ground in northeast England and Scotland.
Government explores the future challenges and opportunities of computer trading in financial markets The Government Office for Science today embarked on its latest Foresight project, which will examine the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advances in financial markets worldwide. In recent years the ways in which financial markets operate have been transformed by fast-paced technological progress.
Proposals for cuts aim to maintain highest possible police numbers NORTHERN Constabulary will seek the agreement of the Board, which meets on Friday 26 November, to implement the recommendations of the Best Value Review, which includes the closure of 16 police stations, reduced reception hours at some stations and a new call management structure. Work is still continuing in order to assess the full implications of the Scottish Budget, announced on 17 November, for this Force, however a cut equivalent to around 6%, including inflation, is anticipated.