Highland Children’s Book Awards winners uncovered.
This weekend the winners of The Highland Council’s first Highland Children’s Book Awards will be announced at a ceremony held in Charleston Academy on Saturday 30th September to coincide with the 2006 Inverness Book Festival.
Windfarm determinations in Sutherland
Highland Councillors today (Friday, 29 September 2006) determined three applications for the erection of windfarm developments in Sutherland.
Council warns motorists of major traffic disruptions in City Centre
The Highland Council is warning motorists, pedestrians and the general public of a major disruption to traffic in Inverness City Centre which will take effect from Monday 9th October and could remain in place until the end of the year.
New Kerbside Recycling Collections Coming to Inverness
The Highland Council is gearing up for new kerbside collections of food tins, drink cans, paper and garden waste which are due to start in Inverness in November.
Highland 2007 Scottish Parliament Reception
A reception at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh tonight (27 September) sees Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture, continue to roll out its Programme of events for next year.
Council Approve Affordable Housing Plan for Gairloch
Highland Councillors have agreed to relocate a Council depot in a prime site in Gairloch to the former quarry site on the outskirts of the village, freeing the land for much-needed affordable housing.
Highland children get road safety message from DFT Hedgehog
For one day only a Department for Transport Hedgehog will be visiting pupils at Raigmore Primary School, Inverness to spread the word about road safety.
Three Guided Walks to Caithness Heritage Sites
Three guided walks to Caithness sites of heritage interest have been organised by The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers as part of the 2006 Highland Archaeology Fortnight festival which runs from 30 September to the 15 October, giving children and adults something fun to do during the school holidays.
Skye Cave to Feature in Ranger Events During Highland Archaeology Week
The High Pasture Cave at Strath on the Isle of Skye will be the focus for a number of events taking place as part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight which runs from 30th September to 15th October.
Council invites Highlanders to enter Young Consumers of the Year Competition 2007
Young people in the Highlands are being urged by Highland Council’s Trading Standards Service to get their application forms in for the Young Consumers of the Year Competition 2007 by this Saturday (30th September, 2006).
Operational Management Areas Agreed
The Highland Council has agreed the boundaries for three new operational management areas, which take account of the creation of 22 new multi-member wards being created from the Council elections in May next year.
Caithness pupils to walk to Lands End
Children from Caithness schools are this week attempting to walk a staggering 874 miles as part of ‘Walk to School Week’. This is the equivalent of walking from John o’ Groats to Lands End.
Highland Council Launches Home Composting Scheme
Next week The Highland Council launches its Home Composting scheme in Skye and Lochalsh offering residents a lifetime’s supply of free compost if they buy a discounted compost bin for their garden for only £10.
More Kerbside Recycling Collections Coming To Ross-Shire
The Highland Council is gearing up for new kerbside collections of food tins, drink cans, paper and garden waste which are due to start in Ross-shire in November.
Local Children Go For It in Walk to School Week
Children of Aviemore Primary School will “Go for It” and get fit during Walk to School Week (Monday 2nd - Friday 6th October).
Guided Heritage Tours During Highland Archaeology Week
As part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight (30th September – 15 October) The Highland Council’s Heritage Officer Andrew Fergusson has organised three guided tours to examine buildings in the Nairn area.
Broadford Registrar Retires After 40 Years.
A Highland Registrar who registered births, deaths and marriages in her own home for the past 40 years retires this week.
Calendar Boys and Girls
Twelve Highland pupils have won top prizes in an art competition to design the 2007 calendar of Lyreco Office Supplies.
Consultation Road Show by Greeninverness and The Highland Council Core Paths Plan
Working together Greeninverness and The Highland Council are preparing to carry out a City-wide community consultation exercise in October 2006. They hope to encourage people to give their views on their local greenspace and to identify the City’s most important paths.
Council Joins Energy Price Campaign
Highland Councillors are backing a campaign to highlight the impact on low income households of recent price increase introduced by power companies.
Council Approves Full-Time Young Person’s Post
Highland Councillors have agreed to create a full-time paid post for a young person to represent the interests of young people and liaise with Council Services.
Ranger explores Celtic Forts during Highland Archaeology Fortnight
Highland Council’s Rangers are inviting people to join them on a guided walk around two contrasting Celtic Forts on Skye this Saturday (30th September).
Golf Initiative Hits the Target
An initiative in the Highlands to promote golf is proving a big hit with young people.
Badenoch Centre - Ionad Bhàideanaich developments completed.
The second phase of leisure and learning developments at The Highland Council’s Badenoch Centre - Ionad Bhàideanaich at Kingussie were officially opened to the public today by local Highland Councillor Gregor Rimell, Chairman of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Education, Culture and Sport Committee
Guided Heritage Tours in Nairn and Auldearn During Highland Archaeology Week
As part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight (30th September – 15 October) The Highland Council’s Heritage Officer Andrew Fergusson has organised three guided tours to examine buildings in the Nairn area.
Rangers Explore Underground and Overground during Highland Archeology Fortnight
Exploring an underground hide-out, walking to a deserted township or standing near a spectacular waterfall are just some of the activities on offer in Badenoch and Strathspey during Highland Archaeology Fortnight
Drivers urged to go slow in Inverness and Culloden
Motorists in Inverness and Culloden areas are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions will be introduced at two more schools, for children’s safety.
Rangers get wild at the weekend
A weekend of nature exploration has been organised by Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers on Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October.
Council designates first dedicated Gaelic school in Highland
Members of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee today (21 September 2006) agreed to establish a dedicated Gaelic school in Sleat, Isle of Skye, with an English medium department which will be the first school of this kind in Highland.
Prisoners make friendship benches for Highland pupils.
Pupils at Tore and Ferintosh Primary schools have recently welcomed the addition of ‘friendship benches’ made by prisoners in Porterfield Prison into their playgrounds.
Keiss Beach Tidy Up
A group of 19 volunteers took part in this years' Beachwatch at Keiss beach last Saturday (16th September). The clean-up was organised by the Highland Council Planning and Developments’ countryside rangers as part of the national event, the most extensive monitoring programme in Europe for coastal and marine litter.
Drivers Urged To Take Alternative Routes During Loch Ness Marathon Event
Drivers in and around Inverness are warned that temporary road closures will be in place on Sunday 1 October during the Loch Ness Marathon
Council Team Win Top Health and Safety Qualification
Eleven trade union representatives who work for The Highland Council are the first students from a public agency in Scotland, and the first local authority in the UK, to have won a top TUC health and safety certificate after completing two years of dedicated study, involving 480 hours of learning.
Nominations Wanted For Community Awards
People living throughout Ross-shire have the chance to nominate representatives from their local community for the 2006 Ross and Cromarty Civic and Community Awards.
Arisaig Primary School Inspection
Arisaig Primary School was inspected in May 2006 as part of a national sample of primary education.
Rumster Outdoor Centre destroyed by fire
The disused Rumster Outdoor Centre, Caithness has been destroyed by a fire.
Temporary Restriction For Traffic On City Street
Drivers in Inverness are warned that a section of Huntly Street will be temporary closed to traffic from 6am to 6pm from Tuesday 19th September until Tuesday 26th September, although the restriction will not apply on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24th.
Council Finance staff receive training awards.
Six members of Highland Council’s Finance staff recently attended the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV) Scottish Conference held in Crieff Hydro Hotel to receive certificates following examination successes.
Panels promote Skye and Lochalsh Geology
A trail of interpretive panels throughout Skye and Lochalsh was unveiled today (Monday 18th September) by Highland Councillor Bill Fulton. Nine panels along the trail feature illustrated information about the importance of the geology of the area for people and wildlife.
Ranger walks in the Nairn area
Over the coming week, Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers will be holding two guided walks in the Nairn area to search for bats and fungi.
Northern Partnership Welcomes Inspection Report
The Northern Partnership today (Friday) welcomed an inspection report highlighting the positive benefits for communities achieved by criminal justice social work services in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland.
Consultation exhibitions extended for east Inverness and south Nairn development options
Due to public demand, public consultation exhibitions which look at long term growth options for land abutting the communities of Culloden and Nairn have been extended.
Chisholm Approval Heralds Ballot on Highland housing transfer
Plans to transfer around 15,000 homes in Highland to community ownership, with a £450 million programme of investment, took a major step forward today.
‘Biodiversity on the edge’
The Caithness Biodiversity Group are inviting members of the public to find out more about Biodiversity projects happening in the county and work of the local group by coming along to a ‘Biodiversity on the Edge’ evening.
New Teaching Tool For The Three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
In an effort to make young people more aware of what happens to their rubbish, The Highland Council has launched a new pack to help teachers cover the subject of waste and recycling in their classrooms.
Caithness Castle Capers
The Highland Council Countryside Rangers and Caithness Archaeological Trust are organising a special event this Friday (15th) focusing on some of the fascinating East Caithness Castles including the Castle of Old Wick, Sinclair Girnigoe, Old Keiss and Bucholie.
Highland Junior Golf Championship for Spey Valley
The new Spey Valley Golf Course at Aviemore, owned by Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort, is to host the fourth Highland Junior Golf Championship on Thursday 12 October.
Young Alness Man Wins Business Award
Ross-shire young entrepreneur David Skea (20) has won the Highland final of the 2006 Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and Royal Bank of Scotland Business Awards.
Sea Eagles soar on Farr open-air cinema
Highland Council’s Rangers are hosting an outdoor cinema show this weekend (Saturday 16th September, 2006) in Farr.
Council Welcomes Progress in Talks with Scottish Water
The Convener of The Highland Council Councillor Alison Magee has welcomed the progress being made in talks with Scottish Water to improve and extend water and waste water provision in the Highlands.
Scottish Executive Additional Capital for Schools
The Highland Council today (Fri 8th Sept) welcomed Education Minister Peter Peacock’s announcement of £30million extra funding for school building improvement of which £1.344million will benefit schools in the Highlands.
Retiral of Zena, long-serving Council employee
One of The Highland Council’s longest serving employees bowed out today (Friday) after 44 years’ service to local government.
Passing Places / Aite Seachnaidh
A new art project to celebrate Highland 2007, Scotland’s year of Highland culture, Passing Places/Aite Seachnaidh is involving people in around Ullapool in looking at where they live to create a community art project.
Go-ahead for Housing Transfer Ballot
Highland Councillors unanimously have given the go ahead to apply to Scottish Ministers for the ok to ballot tenants over housing transfer to the Highland Housing Association.
Council urges parents to park smart
Parents and carers who drive their children to and from school are being urged to park safely and considerately around Highland schools through an initiative called “Park Smart”.
Council Defers Decision on Amalgamation of Brae Lochaber Schools
The Highland Council has agreed to defer until Thursday 26 October a decision on the future of Roy Bridge Primary School.
Hostel Entitlement at Portree High School
The Highland Council has voted 34 – 31 to confirm a decision by the Education Culture and Sport Committee to remove hostel entitlement at Portree High School from pupils from Kyleakin, Drumfearn, Isle Ornsay, Camus Cross, Teangue, Sasaig and Ferrindonald.
Council takes precautionary measures on Ness Bank.
As a precautionary measure, The Highland Council’s TEC Services is placing sandbags along the River Ness in Inverness City Centre in anticipation of high tides this weekend.
‘Hungry for Success’
The I.C.T. team are not only ‘Hungry for Success’ this football season but some of the team were also hungry for lunch in the school dining hall after some Footworx training at Inverness Royal Academy.
Housing Transfer Exhibition takes to the Road
An exhibition featuring new central heating systems, energy efficiency measures, bathrooms and kitchens takes to the road on Monday (11 September).
Ross and Cromarty Groups Gear Up For Cultural Celebrations In 2007
2007 is set to be a memorable year in Ross and Cromarty thanks to the commitment of a large number of voluntary groups who have risen to the occasion by putting in place exciting ideas for a vibrant programme of events throughout the special year of cultural celebration.
Highland Council’s Fraud Awareness Training System Success
An E-learning system developed by The Highland Council to train staff on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit fraud awareness is such a success that it is now being used by 270 other local authorities across the UK.
Step into the past with Highland Archaeology Fortnight 2006
Programmes for the 13th annual Highland Archaeology Fortnight are hot off the press this week and the event’s organisers are urging archaeology followers to get their copies now.
Temporary Road Closure For Part Of Church Street
Drivers in the City of Inverness are warned that part of Church Street in Inverness will be closed to all vehicles from midnight on Saturday 9 September until 12 noon on Sunday 10 September.
Blas 2006 Blasts Off Successfully
After a successful ‘Blast off’ in Fort William last Friday and more excellent and packed concerts in other Highland venues over the weekend the Blas Festival is now flying high.
Skye footpath gets new lease of life.
Work has begun up-grading one of the busiest footpaths on Skye.
Tenants largest group on Highland Housing Association Management Committee
Tenants largest group on Highland Housing Association Management Committee
Highland schools send computers to Gambia
Schools in Highland today sent 57 computers to Gambia in West Africa.
Council Ranger leads on Night Walks in Strathspey
Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers have organised two guided walks with associated activities looking at the wildlife that lives in the woods of Milton wood, Aviemore and Anagach Woods in Grantown-on-Spey.
Talks Offered on Castle Tioram Action Plan
The Vice-Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley is offering to convene a meeting of all interested parties to consider the repair and conservation of Castle Tioram, allow public access and establish a nearby interpretation facility.
Motorists urged to go slow at Inverness Schools
Part time 20mph speed limits will be introduced at four more schools in Inverness area on Monday 4th September, 2006.
Rents would be over 20% more a week if housing stays with Council
Research carried out by independent advisers has indicated that average council house rents in the Highlands will rise to £83.14 a week in 8 years if the proposed transfer of housing does not take place. By contrast, if transfer goes ahead, Highland Housing Association is committed to an average rent of £68.61 a week.