Warning Of Delay For Drivers In Inverness
Work is scheduled to take place on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 February to complete the final surfacing of the new roundabout currently being constructed on the Inverness Southern Distributor Road.
Trade Fair Opportunity For Companies From The Industrial Technology Sector To Break Into International Markets
Companies throughout Europe from the industrial technology sector are being offered the opportunity to make business contacts and seal deals at Hannover Fair in Germany, the world’s leading showcase for industrial technology.
Top Marks For Avoch Primary School Nursery
The nursery class in Avoch Primary School scored an impressive five "key strengths" in their recent inspection by the School Inspectors and Care Commission.
The Provision Of Early Learning In Ross And Cromarty
Following a review of early learning facilities in Ross and Cromarty, Councillors at today’s Area Committee were asked to consider the future of two early learning facilities - the Rainbow Partner Centre in Saltburn and the Avoch Partner Centre.
The Official Opening Of The Highland Football Academy
The Highland Football Academy, a £2.25 million project, was officially opened today by Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, after four years of hard work to create top class facilities for the Highland footballing community and to promote excellence in the game.
Temporary Road Closure In Inverness
The Highland Council is warning of a temporary road closure in Inverness and advising drivers to use an alternative route.
Skye Councillor Seeks Assurances From Scottish Ambulance Service
Highland Councillor Hamish Fraser has written to the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service asking for assurances that problems with the landing lights at Broadford airstrip have been addressed and to seek clarification about the future of the service for Skye and Lochalsh.
Scotland Celebrates 50 Years Of The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award
2006 is an important year for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It is the 50th Anniversary of the Award’s creation, and lots of events are being planned across the country to celebrate, and there is a lot to celebrate too, as the Award is more successful today than it ever has been before.
Scot Editor Named As Journalist Of The Year
Pauline Taylor, editor of the Northern Scot, Elgin, has been named Journalist of the Year for the Highlands and Islands
Scam Awareness Month
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards team is taking part in Scam Awareness Month which is an international campaign running throughout February aimed at arming consumers with skills and knowledge to recognise, report and combat mass marketed scams. As well as raising awareness Trading Standard Officers will be carrying out internet sweeps in a bid to combat scams.
Safer Play For Balloch Nursery Pupils
Pupils at Balloch pre-school nursery went out to play this week in a new improved play area.Specialist contractors have recently installed a £5,000 bright green safety surface to cover the hard play ground area. The 30 pupils who attend pre-school nursery at Balloch Primary School both in morning and afternoon classes will now be able to play out of doors in safety.
Russian Delegation Visits The Highlands
A delegation of Russian officials visited The Highland Council headquarters in Inverness today as part of a fact finding tour of the Highlands.
Roads Closed To Traffic During Inverness Half Marathon
The Inverness Half Marathon and Fun Run takes place on Sunday 12 March and motorists in the city are being warned that during the event roads along the route will be temporarily closed to traffic.
Review Of Electoral Arrangements - Council Backs Nairn Campaign
Highland Councillors have given their unanimous support to a campaign to persuade the Scottish Executive to include Piperhill and Cawdor within Nairn in new council boundaries which will take effect from May next year
Residents Welcomed Back To Bayview
Residents at Bayview House, Thurso, were welcomed back to the residential home this week following a £380,000 refurbishment to meet new standards. Councillor David Flear, Convener of The Highland Council’s Caithness Area Committee, and Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Caithness Area Social Work Committee, greeted the first residents to return to the home following an eight-month absence.
Progress Made In Care Home Review
The Highland Council's Care Home Sub-Committee today (Thursday) agreed to recommend that tender documents for future residential care home provision in Mid and East Ross should include replacement homes for Duthac House, Tain, and Urray House, Muir of Ord. The Sub-Committee agreed that they should seek care provision at both locations, rather than ask for one replacement home for 56 places.
New Parent And Child Swim Coaching Sessions
Invergordon Leisure Centre is piloting a new scheme of swimming sessions for parents and children in partnership with Healthways
New Head Teacher For Dornoch Primary School
Ms Jane Mason from Linlithgow has been appointed as the new head teacher of Dornoch Primary School in Sutherland and will take up her post on Monday 27 February
New Bus Services Launched
The Highland Council has awarded tenders for two new bus services which are set to benefit people living in Nigg, the Seaboard villages, and the surrounding area.
More International Recognition For The Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup
As Fort William, in the Scottish highlands, gears up to host the first triple discipline round of the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in May, the UCI (International Cycle Union) has just announced that Fort William (Nevis Range ski area and Forestry Commission Scotland), has won the award for the best Downhill and 4-Cross Mountain Bike World Cup events of the 2005 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series.
Melvich Home: Reopening Ceremony Set For 28 February
The recently-refurbished Melvich Community Care Home in North Sutherland will be formally reopened on Tuesday 28 February. The home has undergone works costing £236,000 to meet Care Commission standards.
Love Is In The Air At Abriachan
Love is in the air at Abriachan on Sunday 12 February during a light-hearted guided walk to explore how people have used plants and animals to forecast their prospects in love and happiness over the centuries
Lochaber Local Access Forum
The Lochaber Local Access Forum is one of six Access Forums established by The Highland Council following the introduction of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act in February 2005.
Lead Artist Appointed To Promote City Centre Streetscaping Project
Inverness City Partnership announced today (Thursday) that they have selected Matt Baker to be the Lead Artist on the City Centre Streetscaping programme. Matt will work collaboratively with the Streetscape Programme designers, Land Use Consultants, and community groups to look creatively at the issues involved and to generate a unique identity for the City Centre.
Kicking The Habit - Young People Asked For Their Views
Young people in the Highlands are being asked for their ideas on smoking and the best ways of stopping
Identifying The Future Of Child Protection In The Highlands
Scots schoolchildren have started 2006 with a new identity as the Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) is rolled out in schools across the Highlands.
HMIe Report On Bower Primary School, Caithness
Bower Primary School, Caithness has received a very positive HMIe report following its inspection in November 2005.
Highland Secondary School Staffing Levels
This coming school session (2006-2007) will see teachers across Scotland spending one hour per week less directly in front of pupils, with 22.5 hours being the maximum class contact time, both in secondary and in primary schools. The impact of these changes is now being realised throughout Highland Secondary schools.
Highland Council Agrees 4.5% Council Tax Rise
Highland Councillors today approved a rise of £49 at Band D for the Council Tax. This represents a 4.5 % increase on last year’s figures.
Highland Celebration Of Learning
Learners, tutors and Community Learning workers from across Highland gathered for the third annual Celebration of Learning Awards ceremony which took place today (Monday, 27 February 2006) at Ross County Football Club in Dingwall.
Former Landfill Site, Castletown
The Highland Council has written to residents in 150 properties in Castletown, Caithness, to advise them of work which will begin next month to identify if gases are being generated in the nearby disused landfill site and if the gases are moving towards the town.
Dunnet Forest Tree Planting
Almost 30 volunteers turned out to help plant trees at Dunnet forest last Saturday. The planting was organised by Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service countryside rangers and Dunnet Forest community forester, Jon Hollingdale as part of the Caithness Countryside Volunteer and Caithness Critter programme of events.
Death Of Former Senior Planner
A former senior council planner, who was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2005, has died following a long illness. John Greaves, OBE, retired through ill health at the end of last month as the Council’s Head of Planning and Building Standards. He was 58.
Council Switches On To Swithing Off
The Highland Council will, on Monday (6 February), launch a poster and leaflet campaign aimed at encouraging staff to become more energy efficient. The campaign, which coincides with the start of the Scottish Energy Advice Week, follows a report which went to the Council’s Sustainable Select Committee warning that unless measures to save energy were acted upon, the Council could be facing an annual energy bill of over £6.5 million by 2007.
Council Asked To Consider 4.5% Council Tax Rise
Highland Councillors will be asked to approve a rise of £49 at Band D, a 4.5 % increase, when it meets on Thursday (9 February) to set the Council Tax for 2006-2007
Convener To Meet Youth Voice Representatives
The Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Alison Magee, is to meet representatives of Highland Youth Voice next week to assure them that pupils wishing to take Advanced Higher courses will still be able to do so.
Consumers Warned To Be Alert
During National Scam Awareness Month, The Highland Council’s Trading Standards Officers have been warning consumers and community groups not to fall victim to marketing scams and passing on useful tips on how to recognise and report on them.
Chairman Reopens Melvich Home
The recently-refurbished Melvich Community Care Home in North Sutherland was formally reopened on Tuesday 28th February by Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work.
Caithness Heat And Power (CHaP)
Work on the pioneering £4 million Community Heating scheme in Pulteneytown, Wick, is due to start in the next few weeks
Burma Star Reminiscences At Cradlehall Primary
A group of Primary 7 pupils from Cradlehall Primary have welcomed the opportunity to take part in a project that commemorates the experiences of those who fought in Burma during World War II.
£489 Million Budget Agreed For 2006-7
The Highland Council agreed savings of £18.7 million today Thursday (2 February) in confirming a budget of £489 million for 2006-7 and were advised that an even more demanding programme of savings may be needed in 2007/8
£240 000 Investment For Ness Islands Enhancement
Inverness City Partnership has taken a major step towards the conservation and improvement of the Ness Islands with proposals for remedial work and enhancement, which will get underway next month.