News Archive

1/10/2010

Prince Charles To Visit Caithness Mod

HRH THE DUKE OF ROTHESAY TO VISIT 107th ROYAL NATIONAL Ṃd CAITHNESS EVENT RECEIVES ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL Am Ṃd Nàiseanta Ŕoghail (The Royal National Ṃd), Scotland's premier festival celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, will this year play host to a very special visitor, HRH The Duke of Rothesay.   On Thursday 14th October, HRH The Duke of Rothesay will visit the nine day celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature, meeting local Gaelic and Caithness organisations, listening to Gaelic music and presenting the prestigious Gold Medals.  

1/10/2010

Food & Drink At The Caithness Mod

ROYAL NATIONAL MOD ANNOUNCES EXCITING FOOD AND DRINK LINE UP FOR OCTOBER EVENT WICK MARKET CALLS OUT FOR MORE CULINARY EXHIBITORS - Helping to celebrate Scotland's Year of Food and Drink, Am Ṃd Nàiseanta Ŕoghail (The Royal National Ṃd), Scotland's premier festival celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, which is taking place in Caithness in October 2010, has announced the details of its food and drink programme.   The nine day celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature, running from Friday 8th until Saturday 16th October, is set to attract thousands of spectators to the Caithness towns of Wick and Thurso, two of the most northerly points of mainland Scotland.  

30/9/2010 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 1 October 2010

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 1st) sold 8,909 store lambs including 1,173 sheep on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers.  Lambs (7,638) averaged £46.92 and sold to £100 gross for a Texel lamb from Bogallan, North Kessock.  

30/9/2010 : Other Public Services

 
Offshore clean-up recovers more than 270 fragments

More than 270 fragments of nuclear fuel have been recovered from the seabed since the latest phase of offshore clean-up got underway at the start of August.   Of the 279 recovered to date, 40 fragments have been categorised as a "significant risk" to health, with the remainder falling into lower levels of radioactivity.  

29/9/2010 : Local Authority

Don't Get Caught By Free Offers Online Warning

Don't be caught out by 'free' offers and trials online warns Highland Council Trading Standards Highland Council Trading Standards are warning other consumers to be on their guard when responding to online classified adverts or advertising features after hearing from Highland consumer, Ms Jessica Thomas.   Ms Thomas was attracted to an advertising article online promoting Acai berries as a slimming aid.  

29/9/2010 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 30 September 2010

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 30th) sold 6,085 breeding and store sheep.   Gimmers (619) averaged £113.32 and sold to £150 gross for Cheviots from Greenacres, Barbaraville.  

29/9/2010

School Estate Statistics 2010

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published a range of statistics from a Scottish Government survey of the size, value, condition, capacity and running costs of the school estate in Scotland.   For the first time this year, the publication brings together consistent data on school rebuilds and refurbishments over the last three financial years.  

29/9/2010

Changes To Renewables Obligation - Consultation

A consultation is underway that may affect Caithness.   If you wish to have your say on the changes got to the Scottish Government web site at - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/09/06152625/0 Responses to this consultation paper are required by 1st December 2010.  

29/9/2010

Exam results in Scottish Schools 2009-10

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics relating to the pre-appeal attainment of pupils in Scottish schools at national and education authority levels.   The statistics relate to further analysis of the August 2010 SQA pre-appeal exam results and present cumulative attainment in 4th, 5th and 6th year for pupils in publicly funded secondary schools.  

29/9/2010

School Inspection Framework Review

Her Majasties Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is reviewing its existing school inspection framework which was introduced in 2008.   The review covers inspection in the pre-school, primary, secondary and special school sectors, including all through schools and follow-through inspections.  

29/9/2010

Scotland's Renewables Potential

Innovation and advances in clean green energy present a "pivotal turning point in human history", Scotland's First Minister said today, urging private finance leaders to seize the multi-billion pound opportunities in renewable and low carbon technology.   First Minister Alex Salmond opened the Scottish Low Carbon Investment conference in Edinburgh, where more than 450 leading figures from international finance, energy and other sectors are gathered to explore opportunities and help accelerate private investment in a global market that is forecast to grow to £4.3 trillion by 2015.  

29/9/2010

Provisional Results - 2010 June Agricultural Census

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Provisional Results From The 2010 June Agricultural Census on land use, crop areas and livestock.   This is the first of a new Agriculture Statistics Publication Series, which provides commentary and graphics on the latest annual changes and trends over the past 10 years.  

29/9/2010

Small Business Bonus Scheme - Have You Applied?

From April 1 2010 tens of thousands of small businesses will continue to pay no rates at all under the Scottish Government's small business bonus scheme.   You could save up to almost £4,100 year, depending on your rateable value.  

29/9/2010

Where Higher Education Qualifiers Go

Attainment in higher education and destinations of qualifiers 2008-09 Statistics on qualifiers from higher education courses at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) and Scottish colleges for 2008-09 are published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician along with survey information on the first destinations of EU domiciled qualifiers from HEIs in the same year.   The publication reports on all higher education qualifications, including those at HNC/HND level and students that upgraded their previous higher education qualification.  

29/9/2010

Communities To Benefit From Renewables

Financial help in preparing renewables projects at the pre-planning stage could boost the potential benefits to communities from green energy production, Ministers said today.   Addressing the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference in Edinburgh, Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs said: "It is vital that Scotland can unlock the huge potential this country has for the local ownership of energy production which could reap such great community benefits.  

29/9/2010

Does Your Business Know About European Structural Funds

In Scotland, Structural Funds are the significant source of European Union funding for economic development in Scotland.  Programmes run over a seven year period.  

29/9/2010

Local Authority Housing Income And Expenditure

Scotland's Chief Statistician today released statistics on local authority housing income and expenditure The statistics provide information about housing debt, supervision and management costs, repairs and maintenance costs, direct spending on capital works and rental income.   The main points from the release are: Average council rent being paid into the Housing Revenue Account in 2010-11 is £54.63 per week, an increase of £1.79 per week (3 per cent) since 2009-10.  

29/9/2010

Law To Help Families Facing Repossession

A new law to protect homeowners across Scotland facing repossession comes into force today.   The Homeowner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act, provides the strongest legislative protection anywhere in the UK for those at risk of repossession.  

28/9/2010 : Local Authority

HIGHLAND WIDE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - Consultation

THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL COMHAIRLE NA GÀIDHEALTACHD TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 AS AMENDED HIGHLAND wide LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PLANA LEASACHAIDH IONADAIL NA GÀIDHEALTACHD GU LÈIR PUBLICATION OF PROPOSED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN The Plan & Where to Read It The Highland Council has prepared a Highland wide Local Development Plan.  The current "Proposed Plan Draft" (hereinafter referred to as "the Plan") can be inspected free of charge during normal opening hours at the following locations: ï‚· Every public library within the Highland Council area (a full list is available via: http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/ ) ï‚· Every Highland Council Planning and Building Standards office (a full list is available via http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/planning-and-development-contacts.htm ) ï‚· Every Highland Council Service Point within the Highland Council area (a full list is available via: http://www.highland.gov.uk/livinghere/servicepointnetwork/localservicepoint.htm The Plan will also be available on all mobile libraries and can be viewed online at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/developmentplans Content & Purpose The Plan represents the Council's land use vision, strategy and principal, general policies for the whole Highland Council area except that part within the Cairngorms National Park Authority boundary.  

28/9/2010 : Local Authority

Challenge Innovation Fund For Voluntary Groups

The Highland Council has agreed to operate a challenge fund to encourage third sector organisations to develop innovative approaches to assisting people with barriers to employment into training, work experience or jobs.   The funding is available until March 2011 and therefore only projects that can complete or are well underway before the end of March 2011 will be considered.