Celebrating Highland as a healthy and vibrant place to live!
NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Partnerships for Wellbeing and Highland Drug and Alcohol Action Team are to showcase and raise awareness of the importance of being healthy at three week-long themed campaigns being staged before the turn of the year.
Council Welcomes News of Eden Court Re-opening
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed confirmation that Eden Court, Inverness, will re-open on Saturday 3 November with an exciting programme of events.
Highland Council site investigation of former aluminium works, Foyers.
The Highland Council has today (Thursday) informed some of the residents and occupants in Foyers, Loch Ness, of a recently completed site investigation undertaken within the area of the former aluminium works.
Award Winning Alness Facility opened
An award winning community facility in Alness officially opened its doors today.
Countdown begins for Scottish Space School mission to Houston
Three Highland secondary school pupils are on countdown to a special mission at the NASA Space Camp.
Alness Business Forges Links With Local Schools
An Alness firm which employs 120 people and has an annual turnover of over £10 million has been working with pupils at three local primary schools in a project linking the business world with education.
Jingle Bells, Tinsel and Gaelic Song
Christmas has come early to the Highlands as Unity Recording Studio at Auldearn has been transformed into Santa's Grotto so Fiona Mackenzie, the Mairi Mhòr Fellow for The Highland Council, and Scotland’s top musicians can get into the festive spirit as they record the first ever Gaelic Christmas Album.
Ranger event investigates climate change through the life of bats
Countryside ranger events which focus on the lifestyles of bats may provide clues to recent climate change effects in the Highlands.
HMIe Report on Tore Primary School
In an HMIe report on Tore Primary School, Area, a range of strengths were identified.
Portree High School Follow-Through Report
An interim follow-through report on Portree High School has just been published which focuses on the progress made since the original inspection in May 2006.
Smoking Enforcement Officers to target taxis and work vehicles
Following the success of the smoking ban in public houses, hotels, restaurants, shops and other workplaces, The Highland Council’s Smoking Enforcement Officers are set to target taxis and works’ vehicles.
HMIe Report on Teanassie Primary School, Inverness
In an HMIe report on Teanassie School, near Inverness, a range of strengths were identified.
Work commences on Fort William archaeology investigations
Local Highland Councillor Dr Michael Foxley will this Thursday (30th August, 2007) welcome a crack team of archaeology experts to the Lochaber town of Fort William as they begin the first stages of a major investigation into the area’s past.
New additions to Highland Doors Open Days 2007
Five lifeboat stations, a castle, private home and the headquarters of a national environmental agency are among the new venues added to the national Doors Open Days event this year.
Young drivers urged to take up Pass Plus Scheme
An extra 295 young drivers will get the chance to take advanced driving instruction through the Highland Wellbeing Alliance’s Pass Plus Scheme this year, thanks to a £40,000 funding boost from The Highland Council’s Community Safety Unit.
Council Appoints Head of Construction
The Highland Council has appointed Mr Gary Westwater from Fife Council to the post of Head of Construction within the newly-formed Housing and Property Service.
Support for Gaelic in the Highlands
The Chairman of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee has been heartened by the support shown for Gaelic at the six recent consultation meetings on the Council’s Draft Gaelic Plan.
Waste Management Strategy in Highland
Highland Councillors have agreed to develop a sustainable waste management strategy for the Skye and Lochaber areas including the option of a small waste to energy plant as a means of disposing of waste in the Skye and Lochaber areas.
Highland Council offers a taste of traditional music
A traditional music open evening and taster session for adults and children in the Inverness area will take place on Wednesday 29th August from 7-9pm in Crown Church Hall.
Council on Line to meet Energy Management Targets
Energy management measures are beginning to pay dividends for The Highland Council and further investments are proposed to meet targets set by the Council’s Administration to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by 15% and increase renewable energy sources by a minimum of 4,000 kw by 2010.
Meeting Demand for Building Warrants
To help meet the increasing demand for building warrants and completion certificates, The Highland Council’s Resources Committee has agreed to create three additional posts of building standards officer.
Gairloch Environmental Improvements
People living in the Gairloch Community Council area are invited to attend public consultation sessions to be held on Wednesday 12th September, from 3-5pm and from 7-9pm.
Repairs To Rail Overbridge
Drivers in Inverness are being advised that temporary restrictions controlled by traffic signals will be in place on Shore Street from 7pm to 7am starting on Monday 27 August.
Council urges young people to apply for allowance
Young people staying on at Secondary schools in the Highlands are being urged by Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service "not to miss out" and to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which could be worth up to £1,500 to each pupil.
Call for National Tartan Register to be hosted in Highlands
The Convener of The Highland Council Councillor Sandy Park is calling on the Scottish Government to consider locating the proposed new National Tartan Register in the Highlands.
It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure Children are Safe
Highland’s Child Protection Committee is supporting the national campaign to raise community awareness of child protection issues by mounting an awareness campaign this week.
Council and NHS celebrate play@home
Celebrations are taking place around Highland next week to mark the 5th anniversary of The Highland Council and NHS Highland’s play@home programme, which promotes active play for very young children.
Nairn Town Centre Redevelopment
Members representing Nairn on The Highland Council are eagerly anticipating work starting on the construction of a new town centre supermarket in Nairn in the spring of next year.
Council Seeks Extra £1.6 Million to Meet Storm Damage Bill
A bid is to be made by The Highland Council to the Scottish Government for a further £1,668,000 of grant aid to fully fund the repairs to council properties/infrastructure and community assets caused by the storm damage of October last year.
Council sets Dates for Inverness Ward Forums
Ward Forums for each of the Inverness City Wards have now been agreed. Each Forum will provide an opportunity for community representatives and the public to raise local issues and scrutinise Council Service delivery and performance. Each meeting has a particular theme and partners will be invited along where required.
New School for Cawdor Pupils
A new £4.7 million primary school at Cawdor opened its doors today (Thursday) to staff and 120 pupils, who were piped from the old school to the new accompanied by members of the community.
Council Attempt to Broker Nigg Deal
The Highland Council is set to step up its efforts to broker a deal to resolve a dispute between the owner and tenant of the Nigg yard in East Ross, which is delaying redevelopment proposals.
New facilities open at Eigg Primary School
A new nursery facility at Eigg Primary School, together with new housing accommodation for the teacher, Mrs Hilda Ibrahim and a new school office, will be formally opened on Thursday (16 August) by Councillor Bren Gormley, Vice-Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
Battlefield expert calls for volunteers to help unearth Fort William’s past.
A major archaeological survey begins at the end of August in Fort William, led by Dr Tony Pollard, Director of the internationally renowned Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow.
Civic Trust Awards
Entry details for the 49th Civic Trust Awards are now available via the organisation’s website (www.civictrust.org.uk).
Top billing for Council Tax Collection
A 10.3% rise in the rate of Council Tax collection over the past 10 years has seen The Highland Council move higher up the collections’ league table in this period than any other local authority in Scotland.
D-Day for Choosing Route for Inverness Trunk Link Road
A special meeting of The Highland Council is set to be held on Thursday 27 September when councillors will be asked to confirm the preferred route for the Inverness trunk link road.
New Session Heralds the Opening of 3 New Primary Schools
Three new schools will open their doors this week as 34,750 Highland nursery primary and secondary pupils begin the new school session.
New Ward Manager of Aird and Loch Ness
Fiona Duffy will join The Highland Council’s team of Ward Managers currently serving the seven Inverness City Wards, as Ward Manager with a remit for Aird and Loch Ness, as of 10 September.
New parking restrictions introduced in Inverness
Measures are being introduced next month to curb a significant increase in uncontrolled commuter parking in Victoria Terrace and Victoria Drive, Inverness.
First Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Tain and Easter Ross will take place at the Seaboard Village Hall, Balintore on Thursday 23rd August at 7.30pm.
Highland Libraries - Opening the Treasure Chest
For the second year in a row, The Highland Council has been successful in a bid to the Scottish Executive’s Public Library Improvement Fund. This year’s successful bid for £29,197 will be aimed directly at improving library services to children.
Drumming Up Interest
A drumming workshop held at Dingwall Leisure Centre certainly hit the right spot with local young people who spent the day beating rhythms on a variety of eye-catching drums.
Education bosses meet Highland probationer teachers
Councillor Bren Gormley, Vice Chairman of the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee and Hugh Fraser, The Highland Council’s Director of Education, Culture and Sport today (Friday 10th August) welcomed 129 probationer teachers, who will be working in Highland schools in the new session, at their induction day in Inverness.
Schools Fund Benefits Highland Projects
Significant refurbishment projects are to go ahead in the Highlands thanks to a £1.7 million Schools Fund grant from the Scottish Government.
Motorists urged to slow down as Highland schools reopen
As pupils go back to school next week across Highland on Tuesday 14th August, The Highland Council and Northern Constabulary are urging motorists to slow down near schools and to observe the speed limits.
Floral Judges to Visit Alness
Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom panel will be visiting Alness on Monday 13th August to assess the town’s entry in the Champion of Champion’s competition.
New Caithness Regeneration Website Launched
A new website focusing on the regeneration efforts in Caithness and North Sutherland has been launched.
Highland's New Young People's Champion
Gillian Slider from Ullapool this week took up her new full-time role as the Highland’s Youth Convener. Seventeen year old Gillian will be the sounding board for youth issues in the Highlands and will have a direct line into policy makers and decision takers and will be a member of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, with full voting powers.
Demolition of properties and remediation of contaminated land 25 - 71 Joss Street, Invergordon
Work begins on the demolition of flats and removal of contaminated soils at 25 to 71 Joss Street, Invergordon on Monday 13th August.
Highland girl wins national bedtime story writing competition
Local schoolgirl Josie Tolliday aged 9 from Ardross Primary School in Ardross, Alness has beaten off fierce competition to scoop Silentnight’s ‘Book At Bedtime’ 2007 award.
Gaelic family learning weeks
A Gaelic learners course held at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Island of Skye this summer attracting families from throughout Scotland has been hailed as a success by members of the Community Learning and Development Gaelic Review Group (CLADGRG).
Have your say on Council's Gaelic Plan
A series of six meetings, seeking the views of the public on The Highland Council’s draft Gaelic Language Plan, commences at the Town Hall, Inverness, on Tuesday 14 August.
20th Anniversary of Telford Centre, Fort Augustus
The Telford Centre Community Care Centre, Abertarff Place, Fort Augustus, celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday (11 August) with a fund-raising garden fete at the centre.
SQA Results 2007 - Highland
Examination results were received by pupils across Highland today (Tuesday, 7 August). The initial analysis of SQA results is based on raw data and will be subject to further analysis and revised once the formal appeal process has been completed in September.
Inverness Goes Car Free
Plans have been announced to help make Inverness a car free zone on 19 September. Organisers of Car Free Day 2007 ‘AlternativeNess’ are putting the final touches to a range of travel options and incentives designed to encourage commuters to leave the car at home for the day.
Progress in Nairn Town Centre Redevelopment
A significant breakthrough has been achieved in the redevelopment of Nairn Town Centre following negotiations between The Highland Council and supermarket operators, Somerfield. All major issues between the two parties have now been resolved and the respective solicitors are currently formalising the sale bargain.
First Ward Forum for East Sutherland and Edderton
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of East Sutherland and Edderton will take place in the lounge at Helmsdale Community Centre at 7.30pm on Monday 20 August 2007. Tea / coffee will be available from 7pm.
First Ward Forum for Black Isle
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Black Isle will take place at Culbokie Primary School on Thursday 30 August 2007 from 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm.
Rangers get active at Woodland Festival
Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers have organised an activities tent at the Anagach Woods annual woodland festival held in Grantown-on-Spey.
Work due to start on Thurso Town Hall refurbishment
Caithness Horizons is delighted to announce that after securing additional funding from its partners and HIE Caithness & Sutherland, Highland Council has awarded the contract for the main construction work to refurbish Thurso Town Hall to local firm O’Brien Construction Ltd. O’Brien’s expect to start work in the building early September.
Olympian opens Highland leisure centre
Craig MacLean, Olympic medallist, World and Commonwealth cycling Champion officially opened the £2.4million leisure centre in Grantown on Spey at the weekend. The centre is named in his honour.
Academy pupils' art on show in the Highland Capital
An all-girl art exhibition by four former sixth year pupils at Inverness Royal Academy is now on show at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Education Culture and Sport Chairman Announces Resignation
Highland Councillor Roddy Balfour, Culloden and Ardersier, has advised the Council’s Administration of his resignation as Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee. He will remain as a councillor.
Switching on residents to energy savings
An Alness community could earn itself up to £10,000 if it gets into the habit of switching off lights and other appliances over a year long trial, thanks to a deal local resident groups have struck with Scottish Hydro Electric.
Second Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum
The second forum for the Dingwall and Seaforth Ward of The Highland Council will take place at the Council Offices, Dingwall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 7 August.
Skye Ward Forum
The second Highland Council Ward Forum meeting for Skye will take place at Tigh-na-Sgire, Portree, at 2 pm on Monday (6 August).