Water Boost for Highland Developments
Scottish Water has unveiled plans to invest in quality and growth schemes in dozens of communities across the Highlands in a bid to enable more development to proceed.
Artists Reveal Hidden Heroes of Inverness
Guess the local celebrity is the name of the game for people visiting Inverness city centre on Saturday (2 September).
Public Inquiry For Beauly to Denny Power Line
The Scottish Executive has announced that the proposed upgrade of the overhead electricity transmission line between Beauly and Denny will be referred to public inquiry.
Music To Pupils Ears As Edinburgh Quartet Visit
During a visit next week to the West Highlands, the Edinburgh Quartet will be meeting pupils from four primary schools to give them music lessons with a difference as well as performing a public concert at Torridon Village Hall on Monday 4th September.
Bio-Mass Boiler For Dingwall Primary School
The Highland Council is to install its first bio-mass heating system when the existing oil central heating boiler at Dingwall Primary School is replaced with a dual-fuel system which is expected to cut running costs by over £6,000 per annum and save the Council over 93 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Highland Council Launches Home Composting Scheme
This week The Highland Council launches its Home Composting scheme in Caithness and Sutherland offering residents a lifetime’s supply of free compost if they buy a discounted compost bin for their garden for only £10.
Consultation Dates for East Inverness and South Nairn Development Options
The Highland Council’s consultants (Halcrow) have prepared an interim report which examines long term growth options for land abutting the communities of Culloden and Nairn.
Planning Chairman’s Upbeat Report on Highland Housing
The chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning Development Europe and Tourism Committee, Councillor Sandy Park has revealed that 11,500 houses can be delivered in the Highlands over the next five years on sites which are free from constraints.
Blas Festival 2006 About To Start
The Blas Festival starts this Friday (1 September) with nine days of great music in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Badenoch and Strathspey, Lochaber, Nairn and Skye & Lochalsh.
HMIe Report on Portree High School
Portree High School was inspected in March 2006 as part of a national sample of secondary education, covering key aspects of the school’s work at all stages.
HMIe Report on Cradlehall Primary School, Inverness
In an HMIe report on Cradlehall Primary School, Inverness, a range of strengths were identified.
HMIE Report – Kilchuimen Academy
In an HMIe report on Kilchuimen Academy, a range of strengths were identified, with the school commended for support for learning, especially for pupils with additional support needs; the quality of teaching provided by some individual teachers; the strengthening links with the local community and the steps taken by the recently appointed senior managers to improve the school.
Highland Council Music Groups Tune Up
One hundred and six young musicians from throughout the Highlands will gather this weekend for the first rehearsal of this season’s Highland Regional Youth Orchestra.
Bats in Balnain
A night of batty fun is being organised by Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers on Saturday 2nd September 8-10pm in Balnain.
Council Cracks Down On Litter Louts In Fort William
The Highland Council is actively pursuing people who drop litter in the centre of Fort William in a campaign to keep the Outdoor Capital of the U.K. clean and tidy.
Inverness Area YouthBank visit Durham University
Earlier this month a delegation of four young people from the Inverness Area Youth Forum attended a weekend residential at Durham University, Stockton-on-Tees, as part of their YouthBank project.
Motorists urged to go slow at Portree High School
Part time 20mph speed limits will be introduced at another school in Skye and Lochalsh area on Monday 4th September, 2006.
"Duet" provides new opportunities for children with mobility difficulties
Children in the Nairn area with mobility difficulties will be able to get around and enjoy the outdoors more now with the help of a new dual tandem wheelchair bicycle thanks to a sponsor gift from LifeScan Scotland Ltd.
Progress at Highlands and Islands development talks
Scottish Water has advised the Highlands and Islands Conveners’ Group that substantial investment would be made in the region's water and waste water infrastructure to enable as much development as possible to proceed.
Focus on paths in the Black Isle
The Highland Council is undertaking consultations with communities to help in the first stage development of its Core Paths Plan, which is a requirement of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
Constructing European Partnerships
A skilled German delegation of construction companies is visiting Inverness on Monday 18th September 2006 to meet with Highland companies involved in the construction sector who are interested in partnering and sub-contracting opportunities.
Drivers urged to go slow in Skye and Lochalsh
Motorists in Skye and Lochalsh area are being warned that permanent 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced this term at another four schools in the area, for children’s safety.
Retiral of Highland Music Adviser
The Highland Council's Adviser in Music, Bert Richardson, has retired after 38 years service to education.
Public Transport contracts awarded
The Highland Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has awarded 111 bus contracts and 13 subsidised taxi contracts at a total cost of £2,255,891, which will take effect from 1 January next year.
Big Cheers For Volunteers
A special event to celebrate and recognise the work of volunteers in promoting physical activity in the Inverness Area will take place at Inverness Sports Centre on Wednesday 23 August.
Canna and Inverie Ceremonies Complete West Highland Pier Improvements
The final phase of a £30 million investment in the Small Isles and Knoydart Ferry Scheme will be marked with a double ceremony this week.
Progress Reported to Care Home Sub-Committee
The Highland Council’s Care Home Sub-Committee has been advised of the positive progress being made in pursuing the Council’s decision to modernise care for older people, which includes seeking interest from the independent care sector to provide modern care homes in Inverness, Tain, Muir of Ord, Fort William and Grantown.
Doors Open Days Highland 2006
An opportunity to see a unique snapshot in history will be included in Doors Open Days Highland event this September.
Council Rangers enter twilight zone
Two evening events have been organised by Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers offering participants the opportunity to explore the local environment after dark.
Contract awarded for fifth phase of Armadale-Broadford road.
The Highland Council has agreed to award a contract valued at £1,627,517 to R. J. McLeod Ltd. to build the fifth and penultimate phase of the A851 Armadale – Broadford road on Sleat, Isle of Skye.
Case of Suspected E.coli
An 8 year old boy in Primary 4 at Muirtown Primary School in Inverness has suspected E coli O157 infection following a holiday abroad
Council introduces new taxi tariffs.
The Highland Council’s TEC Services has approved increased taxi fares following consultation with the trade and public and these will take effect from Monday 18 September.
Crafty Work At Highland Schools
Two artists are about to take up residence in two Highland schools for the third year of the Highland Craft Residencies project. The artists were selected by the pupils themselves to come and work with them at Inverness Royal Academy and Rosebank Primary School in Nairn.
Council to forward response to Cairngorm National Park Authority
Following a debate at the Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee, The Highland Council will be forwarding its response to the Cairngorm National Park Authority’s consultation document “Preferred Strategic Direction For Affordable Housing.”
Work Starts On New Sutherland Office Complex
Work begins on Monday (21 August) on a major project which will bring The Highland Council’s 110 administrative and professional staff from the five current locations across East Sutherland into the one building at Drummuie, just south of Golspie.
Consultation over A96 Corridor
The A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn is recognised as the preferred location for major long term development in both national and local planning policy.
Launching Blas 2006
This year’s Blas Festival is to be launched officially at Inverness’s newest venue, The IronWorks, on Wednesday 16th August. (read press release in English or Gaelic)
Survey of lungwort lichen
A long term survey into a species of lichen that indicates levels of air pollution has been started in Caithness.
Forging Links With China
A delegation from China, headed by the Vice Mayor of Hengshui City, are in Inverness this week as part of a UK trip to promote closer links and develop potential projects.
Invergordon Port’s Busiest Day of the Season
The port of Invergordon will enjoy its busiest cruise liner day of the season on Thursday when it plays host to three ships in the one day.
High Life Scheme Extended
The popular High Life Leisure Scheme, which provides low cost access to leisure facilities in the Highlands for regular users, is to be extended to users of Inverness Leisure; Culloden Academy Community Complex, Inverness and Lochaber Leisure Centre, Fort William.
Day Care in Fort William
Day care provision for clients with dementia in the Fort William area is being switched from the Caol Community Centre to the Montrose Centre, with effect from Monday (21 August).
Whiteness Head walk with council ranger
Highland Council Countryside Ranger John Orr is leading a guided walk to Whiteness Head, Ardersier on Sunday 20th August, 11am – 3pm.
Market Interest in Care Home Provision
Members of The Highland Council’s Care Home Sub-Committee, who meet next on Friday, have been advised that there is significant interest from the independent sector in bidding to provide care homes in Fort William, Grantown, Inverness, Muir of Ord and Tain, replacing care homes in these areas currently owned and managed by the Council.
Education Minister meets Highland probationer teachers
Scottish Minister for Education and Young People Peter Peacock MSP today (Friday 11th August) welcomed more than 100 probationer teachers, who will be working in Highland schools in the new session, at their induction day in Inverness.
Lochardil By-Election Result
The by-election for Ward 53 (Lochardil, Inverness) on The Highland Council resulted in a victory for Mr David Henderson, Scottish Liberal Democrat.
New school site at Conon Bridge Chosen
The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has agreed that the new amalgamated primary school, serving Conon Bridge and Maryburgh, should be built on the existing Conon Bridge school site.
Hostel Entitlement at Portree High School
The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has agreed that hostel entitlement at Portree High School be removed from pupils from Kyleakin, Drumfearn, Isle Ornsay, Camus Cross, Teangue, Sasaig, and Ferindonald from July 2007.
Committee Agrees Amalgamation of Brae Lochaber Schools
The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has voted 13-9 to recommend the amalgamation of Roy Bridge Primary School with nearby Spean Bridge Primary School with effect from August 2007.
Seashore sculpture contest at Reiss beach
Despite the poor turn out in numbers for the annual seashore sculpture contest at Reiss beach on Friday 11th August, the winning entries were very imaginative and impressive this year.
Floral Judges to Visit Alness
Monday 14 August will be a big day for Alness as the Judges from Britain in Bloom and the judging team from Beautiful Scotland in Bloom will visit the town.
Imagining the Centre: Art in the Old Town of Inverness
Church Street is the venue for a free day-long event on Saturday 9 September aimed at involving the public in a major regeneration programme for the old town of Inverness.
Sand artists have a whale of a time.
Nine folk braved the poor weather and joined Paul Castle Highland Council Planning and Development Service Countryside Ranger at Farr Beach on Wednesday to build a seven metre minke whale out of sand.
Nairn Public Urged to Have Their Say on Exciting Expansion Plans for Town
Residents in and around Nairn are being urged to have their say on “exciting” plans for the medium to long term growth of the town.
Civic Trust Awards 2007
Entries sought for National Architecture and Environmental Design Awards
SQA Results - Attainment in Highland Schools
Pupils from the twenty nine secondary schools in Highland received their SQA results today – Tuesday 8th August. One Highland pupil achieved outstanding results of 6 Highers at band A with another 47 pupils gaining an exceptional 5 or more Highers at band A.
Developers Sought for Fort William Waterfront
The Highland Council is seeking proposals for use of its property interests as part of a major development opportunity in Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK and home to the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Proposals are sought consistent with a Development Brief prepared by the Fort William Steering Group, which sets out the community’s vision for the Waterfront.
Back to School Slowly in Lochaber
Motorists in Lochaber area are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced this term at another six schools in the area, for children’s safety.
Aviemore Registration Office Moves as Registrar Retires
A Highland Registrar who registered births, deaths and marriages in her own home for the past 35 years retired this week.
Wick High School Synthetic Pitch Update
Work is progressing well on a £584,000 floodlit synthetic sport pitch for Wick High School.