Hilton Boy Wins Recycling Competition
Ryan Munro from the Hilton area of Inverness received a visit this week from The Highland Council’s recycling mascot, Compost the Cow and the Chairman of TEC Services, Councillor John Laing.
Story Time In New Library
The first storytime session in the new library at Inshes was voted a great success by all the young listeners who came along on Thursday afternoon to hear popular children’s author Mairi Hedderwick read some of her stories.
Spring Clean Success
The Highland Council has been presented with a quaich by Keep Scotland Beautiful in recognition for the tremendous success of their National Spring Clean campaign which saw 2,100 people in the Highlands participating, the highest number of any local authority in Scotland and the highest number per head of population.
Go Ahead Given For Work on A890 Stromeferry Bypass
During today’s (Thursday 27 September) TEC Services Committee, Councillors gave the go ahead for urgent remedial works to the rock faces of the Stromeferry Bypass as an estimated cost of £250,000.
Draft Flood Prevention Orders to be Published
Members of the TEC Services Committee have approved engineered drawings for three Inverness flood prevention schemes and one Lochaber flood prevention scheme incorporating draft Flood Prevention Orders.
Inverness Trunk Link Road – Preferred Line Chosen
Highland Councillors have agreed to press the Scottish Government for an Inverness Trunk Link road, the central plank of the transport master plan for the city.
First Ward Forum for Landward Caithness
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Landward Caithness will take place in the Ross Institute, Halkirk on Tuesday (2 October) from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm.
Glenurquhart High School’s Irish Visit
26 pupils from Glenurquhart High School are heading across the Irish Sea on Monday (1 October) as the school’s contribution to Highland 2007, the year that Scotland celebrates Highland culture.
Council Welcomes Outcome of HIE Review
The Highland Council Convener Sandy Park welcomed the outcome of the Scottish Government's review of HIE, retaining the core functions of the agency.
Highland Housing Land Audit
The number of new houses built in the Highlands in the first six months of this year has increased by 18% to 802, according to a Housing Land Audit, published by The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service.
Eye-Catching Lorries Promote Recycling Message
Eagle-eyed motorists may have noticed the highly decorative large recycling lorries which have been busy collecting glass from recycling banks all over the Highlands and reminding people to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The Mystery of the Picts
As part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight, local artist Sarah Barnes will be holding a special workshop for 8 to 12 year olds to explore the mysterious world of the Picts on Saturday 6 October at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Bridging the Cultural Gap in the Highlands
A £30,000 fund has been established in the Highlands to encourage greater understanding across cultures in Highland.
Providing For The Needs Of Homeless People With Chronic And Severe Alcohol Problems
The Highland Council, with Communities Scotland and the Highland Drug and Alcohol Action Team, is about to carry out research into the needs of people with chronic and severe alcohol problems who are homeless.
Munlochy Lad Wins Mulch Mower
Sam Mathieson of Munlochy is the proud winner of a brand new mulch mower, which he won by taking part in a competition organised by WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) and The Highland Council at the Black Isle Show.
Holm Primary Win Litter Awareness Design Award
Holm Primary School, Inverness, have won a design competition to highlight the nuisance of litter louts.
Innovative Highland Play Area Wins National Award
An innovative new play area at Abriachan Forest Trust near Inverness has won the Nancy Ovens National Award for Best Community Play Project.
Life of Skye Bardess Celebrate in Style
A very successful three day festival celebrating the life and work of the great Skye Bardess Màiri Mhòr Nan Oran took place in Portree between the 20-23rd September.
Festiveinverness Winter Festival
The Inverness City Committee of The Highland Council today (Monday) released further details of the highlights for the Festiveinverness Winter Festival taking place in the Highland capital from 16 November 2007, when a temporary ice rink opens in the city centre, until 12 January 2008, the beginning of the Old New Year, An t-Seann Bliadhn’ Ùr.
Wick, Pulteneytown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme
The first grant assisted project under the £1.5 M Historic Scotland award to The Highland Council for work within the Pulteneytown Outstanding Conservation Area, in Wick has recently been completed.
Public Invited to Have Their Say on EU Initiative
Members of the public are being invited to help shape a new European Union community initiative - Highland LEADER (2007-13) – which is aimed at promoting economic and community development within rural areas.
Badenoch Library opening hours to change.
The Highland Council is alerting users of Badenoch Library in Kingussie that its opening hours will change from Monday 1st October 2007.
Council Invites Comments on Draft Strategy
The Highland Council has promised to consult fully with residents, their families, staff and stakeholders on the detail of plans to build and operate new care homes in Tain, Muir of Ord, Inverness, Grantown and Fort William and to keep them fully informed of progress as the programme proceeds.
Council Consult with Public over Housing Fair Masterplan
The Highland Council is to hold a public meeting soon to outline the next phase of the planning process surrounding the Highland Housing Fair at Balvonie, Inverness and to hear the views of interested members of the public on the way forward.
Teachers Praised for SQA Performance
Head teachers and staff at the 29 secondary schools in Highland have been warmly praised for the above average performance of Highland pupils in the Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations.
Sutherland readers support sustainable campaign to Read Mòr
A campaign with a sustainable message to encourage people to “Read Mòr” by borrowing from their local library was launched this weekend by a group of leading Scottish authors and a Sutherland community group.
Falling drug and alcohol use by teenagers in Highland
The Highland Council and NHS Highland Board members learned this week that there have been significant reductions across Highland in drug and substance misuse by young people. In particular, there have been significant falls in the number of 13 and 15-year-olds using alcohol or drugs.
£83 million required to build Inverness trunk link road
Highland Councillors will be asked next week to support the Administration’s commitment to work with the Scottish Government and HITRANS to fund the Inverness Trunk Link Road and agree the preferred line of the eastern and western sections of the route.
Provost Opens Ness Islands Enhancements
The completion of the Ness Islands Enhancement Programme, Inverness, at a cost of £440,000 was marked today (Thursday) with an official gathering in the new central arena, where Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of the Inverness City Committee of The Highland Council, and invited guests were joined by the four artists whose work forms a large part of the extensive environmental improvements that were phased over 15 months.
Committee agrees scope of Care Home Project
The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee has agreed the project scope for delivering five new care homes for older people by 2012 and also a consultation and communication strategy for taking forward this project.
MHO dispute settled
Members of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee have been advised that a dispute involving social workers and social work managers who are Mental Health Officers has been resolved after ACAS intervened at the request of the Council.
Council extends IT contract
The Highland Council has agreed to extend the current contract it holds with IT services provider, Fujitsu Services, until June 2009.
Alex’s Car-Free Remedy
Senior access officer with The Highland Council Alex Sutherland is setting an example to his colleagues on Inverness Car Free day with his own personal triathlon journey to work on Wednesday.
Demolition of 25-71 Joss Street, Invergordon
Work has begun this week on the demolition of a block of flats at 25-71 Joss Street, Invergordon by The Highland Council.
Councillors Warned of Budget Pressures
Highland Councillors have been told that the Council is meeting targets and improving services for older people and children - but that this is having an adverse impact on its budget.
Convener’s Upbeat Message for Caithness and North Sutherland
The Convener of The Highland Council has urged the Caithness and North Sutherland communities to harness the enthusiasm of local business leaders for regenerating the area in the wake of the Dounreay rundown.
Highland Council Seek to Assist Local Food Supply
Senior members of The Highland Council yesterday (Tuesday 11 September) met with representatives of the Highlands Local Food Network and the Crofter’s Commission to try to find ways to improve the Highland Council’s use of locally sourced produce.
Beauly Florist Wins Highland Business Awards
A Beauly based young entrepreneur has today (Tuesday 11 September) walked away with a top business award and a cash boost of £600.
Lochaber pupils visit battlefield archaeology investigations.
Around 150 Lochaber pupils will be visiting the sites of the Fort William and Inverlochy Archaeological Project over the next week to learn about their local history.
Caithness Head Teacher’s Money-Saving Idea Sponsors Eco Project
A Caithness head teacher has donated her reward for a money-saving idea in The Highland Council’s staff incentive scheme to fund an Eco Project at her school.
Launch of Fostering Campaign
“me too” is the message of a new high profile fostering campaign in the Highlands which was launched today (Tuesday 11 September) to recruit foster carers for children and young people.
Badaguish Centre to encourage outdoor learning
The Highland Council, in partnership with Northern Constabulary and with funding from the National Lottery, has negotiated the long- term lease of four lodges in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, which will give people of all ages the chance to enjoy the many outdoor activities available in the area.
Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum
The next forum for the Dingwall and Seaforth Ward will take place at the Council Offices, Dingwall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th September.
House Prices in Highland
A briefing note, produced by The Highland Council, confirms a steep rise in house prices in many parts of the Highlands and rises above the Scottish average.
Young People Quiz Cabinet Secretary
Five young people from the Highlands met with Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop in Aviemore last week, to discuss issues affecting young people in the Highlands. Their conversation was filmed, and broadcast to over 200 delegates at the Children in Scotland international conference, "Building Better Childhoods".
Car Free Day In Inverness
Motorists in Inverness are reminded that during Car Free Day on Wednesday 19 September, Castle Road will be temporary closed to traffic at its junction with Haugh Road to it’s junction with Bridge Street between 9am and 5pm.
Climate Change Strategy
The production and implementation of a climate change strategy for the Highlands, which will adapt Council services to cope with the impact of climate change and reduce the Council’s carbon footprint, will be taken forward by a high-powered working group of elected members.
Council to Review Waterfront Go Ahead
The Highland Council has unanimously agreed to review a decision taken in March of this year to select Fort William Waterfront Ltd as the preferred bidder for the Fort William Waterfront Development.
Lochaber Gaelic Stalwart Honoured
The Highland Council today (Thursday 6 September) agreed to make Lochaber Gaelic enthusiast Chrissie MacEachen a Freeman of Lochaber.
Council appoints new West Ross Ranger.
Lindsey Duncan is The Highland Council’s new West Ross Ranger based in Ullapool Service Point.
New Chairman Appointed to Education Culture and Sport Committee
Caithness Councillor Bill Fernie was today (Thursday) appointed chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee.
‘Moch’s mi’g Èirigh …’ A celebration of Màiri Mhòr nan Òran
A three day festival, ‘Moch’s mi’g Èirigh..’, being held in Portree between Thursday 20 and Saturday 22 September, will celebrate the life, work and song of one of Gaeldom’s greatest female songwriters, "Màiri Mhòr nan Òran" (Big Mary of the Songs).
Planting to Plate: Local Schools And Crofters Bring In The Harvest
An inspiring project which has seen schoolchildren in remote Scottish communities working with local crofters will culminate in a harvest celebration in Inverness on Friday (7 September), where pupils will be serving up their own produce to invited guests.
City Literary Evening With Top Author
One of Scotland’s top women fiction writers, Margaret Elphinstone will be visiting the Highlands on Wednesday (5 September) to host a special literary evening in lnverness Library.
Step Into The Past With Highland Archaeology Fortnight 2007
Highland archaeology-followers will be able to step, cycle and four-wheel drive their way into the past during the 14th annual Highland Archaeology Fortnight.
Confirming Lochaber's Place as a Major Events Destination
The UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships taking place this week in Fort William will underline Lochaber's place as a major events destination and confirm its claim to be the Outdoor Capital of the UK.
Royal Opening of Kintail House, Kyle
Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, today (Tuesday) officially opened Kintail House, Kyle – new premises of The Highland Council situated in the centre of the village, which bring together under one roof all Council functions delivering services to the Lochalsh area.
First Ward Forum for Wick
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Wick will take place in the Norseman Hotel, Wick, on Tuesday 11 September from 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm.
Work Starts on £4 Redevelopment of Thurso Town Hall
Works gets underway today (Tuesday) on the £4 million redevelopment of Thurso Town Hall to create a first class visitor centre, museum and community resource.
HMIe Report on Mallaig High School
In an HMIe report on the 135-pupil Mallaig High School, a range of strengths were identified.
A Stroll Through Landseer’s Landscapes
Edwin Landseer is famous for his portrayal of Highland landscapes and its’ wildlife, in particular his famous painting “Monarch of the Glen”. A lot of his inspiration came from walking in Glen Feshie.
Highland leads the way in integrated children’s services
A major report being published this week has found that the major providers of children’s services in the Highlands, including schools, police, social workers, youth action teams, health-based workers and voluntary agencies, are making “considerable progress” in working together.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
Police Officers across the Highlands and Islands will have the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to perpetrators of a range of relatively minor anti-social behaviour related offences from Friday 7 September 2007.
Battle-cry for community groups
The organisers of a historical event in Fort William are inviting local community groups, charities, voluntary organisations and traders to set up stalls to cater for a fifty strong field of battle re-enactment troops and spectators.
Improving Childhood Priorities
More than 200 managers and policy-makers in children’s services will gather in the Highlands this week for a major conference that will bring together international perspectives on how to improve childhoods.