Roy Bridge Primary School
Following a meeting today (Friday) between representatives of The Highland Council and campaigners for the retention of Roy Bridge Primary School, arranged and attended by Fergus Ewing, constituency MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, it was agreed that the financial information regarding the costs of all three options concerning the future of the school should be reviewed by an independent third party, with guidance sought from the Scottish Government.
Consideration of Baillie Wind Farm application deferred
Consideration of an application by Baillie Wind Farm Limited to construct and operate a wind farm at Westfield, Thurso has been deferred by The Highland Council.
Press Statement Issued by Councillor Norman Macleod, Convener of the Northern Joint Police Board.
Northern Joint Police Board wishes to express deep sympathy to the McLeod family for the sad loss of their son Kevin
Culloden Battle of the Bands
Young bands from the Culloden area of Inverness will compete in a Battle of the Bands this Friday 30th November at an event hosted by the SCY Centre.
Inverness Winter Festival musical advent calendar
The Inverness Winter Festival’s Musical Advent Calendar will open for the first time at 1pm on Saturday 1st December in the Victorian Market in Inverness.
Tourism seminar focuses on community initiatives
Highland tourism business operators and community tourism groups will gather on Wednesday (5th December) in Inverness to discuss how they can work together to improve their tourism product and attract more visitors.
Planning for Skye and Lochalsh paths
The Highland Council is urging the public, landowners, advisory bodies and interested parties to have their say on the Draft Core Paths Plan for Skye and Lochalsh which is out for formal consultation until Friday 25th January 2008.
Living on the Geopark edge
Three pupils from Farr High School recently attended a Geopark Conference at Ullapool’s MacPhail Centre.
Council warns motorists to slow down near Sutherland school
Motorists are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions have been introduced at another school in Sutherland for children’s safety.
New Year start for work on A890 Stromeferry Bypass
Urgent remedial works to the rock faces on the south side of the A 890 Stromeferry Bypass, Wester Ross, will commence on 7 January, next year, and continue for an estimated eight weeks.
Poetry In The Library
A special initiative to increase poetry readership and to make poetry more accessible will be running at libraries in Dingwall, Dornoch, Portree, Nairn and Culloden.
Council warns motorists to slow down near Caithness school.
Motorists are being warned that part time 20mph speed restrictions are being introduced at another school in Caithness for children’s safety.
Inverness temporary traffic restrictions.
Motorists are being advised of temporary traffic restrictions involving lane closures on Millburn Road, Inverness to allow for the installation of new traffic data collection equipment.
Ward Forums to discuss Draft Plan for Sutherland’s development
The Highland Council’s Draft Local Plan for Sutherland will be the subject of discussion by Highland Councillors, Community Council and Partner Agency representatives at Ward Forums coming up soon - and members of the public are invited to attend to listen to the discussion and ask their own questions.
Cromarty Firth Ward Forum To Look At Winter Maintenance Service
Winter Maintenance will be the focus of discussion during the next Cromarty Firth Ward Forum which will take place in Evanton on Thursday 6 December.
Union Street Update
Emergency work to make safe two chimney stacks on a listed building at the junction of Drummond Street and Union Street, Inverness, is likely to be completed sooner than anticipated.
Council appoints new Director of Housing and Property
The Highland Council has appointed a Director to lead the new Housing and Property Service, which combines Housing with Property and Architectural Services.
Council Disappointed at Loss of Nairn and Kingussie District Courts
The Highland Council is disappointed that the Scottish Courts Service has confirmed closure of Nairn and Kingussie District Courts from June, next year, when cases will be heard at a new JP Court in Inverness.
Locals urged to have their say on Highland High Street upgrades
Local residents and businesses are being asked to have their say on the upgrading of Dingwall and Nairn High Streets.
Inverness finds new virtues
Invernessians have helped select three new virtues to take the city forward into the 21st century. The new virtues are perseverance, open-heartedness and insight.
Inverness City Centre Road to Remain Closed
Dangerous Building Notices will be sent out today (Wednesday) to individuals with ownership interests in the listed building at the corner of Drummond Street and Union Street, Inverness, which is posing a risk to public safety and has resulted in the closure to all but emergency vehicles on Union Street.
Barriers erected at Inverness Castle entrance
Work began today (Wednesday) on the installation of a fixed barrier at the entrance to Inverness Castle in an effort to stop inappropriate use by some car drivers.
Local Planners bring draft plan to Sutherland communities
The recently-published draft Local Plan for Sutherland is currently open for consultation and over the coming weeks the Council’s Local Planners will be holding a series of events providing people with the opportunity to view the draft plan for future development, ask questions about it and find out how to make comments.
Structural survey identifies safety risk to pedestrians in city centre
A structural survey of building facades in part of Inverness city centre, associated with the Inverness Streetscape programme currently under way, has identified immediate health and safety risks, which requires The Highland Council to restrict all but emergency vehicular access to Union Street and Drummond Street.
Museum's Tourism Award
Staff at the Highland Folk Museum enjoyed a night of triumph at the 2007 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, returning home with one of the top prizes.
BT Scotland Gaelic debate heads for Parliament again.
Four successful teams from the first two rounds of the BT Scotland National Gaelic Schools Debate will be demonstrating their debating and linguistic skills before an audience in the Conference Centre of Edinburgh City Chambers on Wednesday 28 November.
Ross County players perfect their pass.
A 10-strong team of players and staff from Ross County Football Club have signed up this week to take advanced driving instruction through the Highland Wellbeing Alliance’s Pass Plus Scheme.
Highland celebration of achievement.
Over 80 people from across the Highlands gathered for the annual Celebration of Achievement Awards ceremony which recently took place on Thursday 15th November at the Thistle Hotel in Inverness.
Council Ranger service recognised with tourism award
The Highland Council’s Countryside Ranger team received a commendation for outstanding services to the tourism industry in the Highlands at the Highland and Islands Tourism Awards held on Friday night at Inverness.
Peter Pan lights up first Inverness Winter Festival.
The first Inverness Winter Festival will be launched on Thursday (22nd November) when the City’s Christmas lights are switched on and an artificial ice rink is opened in Falcon Square.
Aviemore Winter Festival of Music
Over 150 musicians from Highland schools will provide a weekend ‘Winter Festival of Music’ and entertainment for members of the public and resort residents in Aviemore starting on St. Andrew’s Day, Friday 30th November through to Sunday 2nd December.
Council uses Welsh and Hebrew Language techniques to teach Gaelic.
A new method of learning languages that calls on techniques used to teach Welsh and Hebrew is being put into practise in the Highlands of Scotland to teach Gaelic.
New Head Teacher for Central Primary, Inverness.
A new Head Teacher has been appointed to Central Primary School.
Council improves popular picnic area
Work is due to commence next week (Monday 19th November) on a popular picnic area at North Kessock as part of The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service capital programme of environmental improvements.
Skye Earmarked for Energy from Waste Scheme
Skye and Lochalsh is set to host the Highland’s first energy from waste scheme, linked to a local heating system for 200 – 300 homes.
Three Bin Collection Trial in Easter Ross
100 volunteer households in the Easter Ross/Cromarty Firth area are to be invited to participate in a six-month three-bin collection trial, starting early in the new year.
Christmas Gaelic CD is World First
Schools in the Highlands where Gaelic Medium education is taught will be celebrating Christmas this year to the sound of Christmas songs and carols in Gaelic thanks to the introduction of the world’s first ever Scottish Gaelic Christmas album.
Council opens the doors for people researching family trees
The Highland Council is holding an Ancestry Research Open Day at Registration Offices in Inverness, Fort William and Portree on St. Andrew’s Day, Friday 30th November.
Public Engagement Begins over Site for Highland Gallery and Museum
Over the next eight weeks, the public is being given the chance to have their say on three central locations in Inverness, which have been identified as the site for a proposed new gallery and museum for the Highlands.
Council response to Scottish Government Budget
The Highland Council has welcomed the “vote of confidence” given to local government by the Scottish Government.
New Local Nature Reserve at Merkinch
An area of Merkinch, Inverness is to become the only place in the Highlands to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
Council challenge payment of VAT on encouraging healthy lifestyles
The Highland Council is joining a growing campaign to persuade the UK Government to reverse a decision by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to seek payment of Valued Added Tax for schemes, such as the Council’s High Life Leisure Scheme, which promote active and healthy lifestyles at affordable prices.
Highland Gallery and Museum – the search for a Site
The search for a site for a new Highland Gallery and Museum begins on Wednesday (14 November) with the launch of a period of public engagement over the three city centre options, which have been identified for detailed analysis.
National Consumer Week 12th - 16th November 2007
As part of National Consumer Week, Highland Council’s Trading Standards Officers are keeping on top of auction internet selling by protecting consumer rights online.
Drivers urged to slow down near two more Highland schools
Motorists are being warned that 20mph speed restrictions have been introduced at two more schools in the Highlands for children’s safety.
New head teacher for Smithton Primary School, Inverness
Mrs Aileen Mackay, head teacher at Tarbat Old and Hill of Fearn primary schools in Easter Ross, has been appointed the new head teacher at Smithton Primary School, Inverness. She will take up her new duties on 7 January, 2008.
Highland Youth Voice - All Equal @ Culturedale
Equality is the theme of a conference to be held by Highland Youth Voice, the elected youth parliament for the Highlands, this weekend (16-18 November) at Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland.
Plan drafted for the future of Sutherland
The Highland Council is now consulting the public on the Deposit Draft version of the new Local Plan for Sutherland. The Plan’s intention is to accommodate significant growth in population overall and to enable communities to grow sustainably to meet their needs.
Reviewing Planning Policy to Accelerate Provision of Affordable Housing
The Highland Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee is to review planning guidance to ensure the Council Administration meets its commitment to deliver 2,000 additional affordable homes over the next four years.
Highland welcomes Glasgow’s success in hosting 2014 Commonwealth Games
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed the announcement that Glasgow is to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Seminar for the Management and Development of North European roads
The Highland Council is hosting an important International conference today (Friday 9 November) bringing together 117 delegates from Finland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Scotland to highlight new ways for managing low traffic volume roads across the northern periphery of Europe.
Launch of Inverness Winter Festival
Plans for the first Inverness Winter Festival – aimed at boosting trade for local businesses and putting the city on the Scottish winter festival calendar - were unveiled today (Thursday).
Rhymetimes for Skye children
Parents and their babies will soon have access to free singing and rhyming sessions on the Isle of Skye thanks to a new initiative recently launched throughout the region.
Local Historian to the Rescue
Monies raised by local historian, George Grant, from the sale of his book “Pictorial Memories of Ardersier” are to be dedicated to a local cause - the restoration of Ardersier War Memorial Hall.
Council gives go-ahead to Inshes Primary School extension
Members of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee today (Thursday) agreed to the construction of a two classroom extension at Inshes Primary School, Inverness.
School closures due to high winds
Four secondary schools and nine primary schools in Caithness and Sutherland were forced to close today (Thursday) because of high winds.
North Sutherland Field of Hope Raises Awareness of Marie Curie Charity
Pupils from Melvich Primary School, North Sutherland, today (Wednesday) helped raise awareness of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity by planting a Field of Hope at a viewpoint on a new stretch of modern carriageway being built between Melvich and Strathy
Inverness Teacher Wins Employee of the Year Award
A teacher at Drummond School, Inverness, who introduced an innovative programme to make it easier for senior pupils to adjust to life on leaving school, has been chosen as The Highland Council’s Employee of the Year.
Highland projects line up to win viewer vote and share of £1.2 million
Two young people’s projects in the Highlands out of 24 groups across Scotland are to appear on television in a bid to win Big Lottery Fund good cause cash.
Motorists advised of City Centre Closures as Streetscape Phase 2 Begins
Union Street and the mid-section of Church Street in Inverness will be closed for up to 33 weeks from Monday 12 November as Phase 2 of the Inverness Streetscape Scheme gets under way.
A Day to Remember for Gaelic Pupils
Latha Mòr na Gaidhlig, the Big Gaelic Day, held at Aviemore on Thursday 1 November, proved to be a day to remember for more than 500 Gaelic Medium primary pupils from all over Scotland, who gathered to celebrate the development of Gaelic medium education across Scotland over the past 22 years.
Council Response to Vision for Scottish Housing
The Highland Council has welcomed plans by the Scottish Government to reform housing provision across Scotland to give first time buyers and tenants a better deal.
New Civic Leader for Caithness
The new civic leader of Caithness is the youngest of the Council’s 80-strong membership.
Giant Bonfire at Inverness Taking Shape
Work has commenced on building the giant bonfire that will be the focal point of the 2007 Inverness Civic Bonfire and Fireworks Display being staged at the Bught Park on Monday evening, starting at 7 pm.