Death of Highland Councillor Jimmy MacDonald
Long serving Highland Councillor for Inverness, Jimmy MacDonald, has died after a long illness at the age of 60.
£300,000 Invested in Thurso Precinct
The Highland Council has agreed to accelerate its spending on the facelift of Thurso pedestrian precinct to complete the £300,000 project by Easter.
Telford lade gets tidied up
Caithness Countryside Volunteers turned out in force on Sat 24th January, to give part of the Telford Lade in Wick a thorough clean out.
Highland High Life scheme receives healthy community accolade
At a recent APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Healthy Community Seminar, The Highland Council’s High Life leisure access scheme was highlighted as a best practice example of how Scottish local authorities are trying to tackle obesity.
Holm Primary Switched On To Harness The Sun
Pupils at Holm Primary will be able to monitor how much of the energy they use is powered by the sun now a new photo-voltaic system has been installed on the roof which will generate clean and free renewable energy to the school.
Warning to Dog Owners
Dog owners from Tain to Alness are being warned they could be £40 out of pocket sometime in the next month if they don’t pick up after their pets.
Beauly Pupils Benefit Now Safer Routes To Schools Project Is Completed
The completion of two new footpaths and other road safety measures are encouraging more pupils at Beauly Primary to walk to and from their school.
New speed limits in place at Strathpeffer School
From Monday 2nd February, 2008, Strathpeffer Primary School will have permanent and part time 20mph speed limits in operation for children’s’ safety.
An Essential Guide to Benefits and Money Advice
An essential guide to benefits and money advice has been produced by The Highland Council.
Development of Accommodation at Nairn Academy
The Highland Council will present a progress report to Nairn Academy School Parent Council on Thursday night of its proposals for a £1.8 million development of the school accommodation in the form of a new Library and Science Faculty.
100th Birthday bash at Wick Library
On Saturday, (24 January) over 50 children and their parents came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Crocodile, a unique resident of their local library in Wick.
Update on An Aird Ground Inspection
More than 100 homes and 10 businesses in the An Aird area of Fort William will receive a newsletter this week updating them on land investigations being carried out in the area.
Budding Young Chefs Start 2009 with a Bang
2009 has started on a high note for budding young chefs Caitlin Grainger and Leanne Maitland from Charleston Academy. The two young Highland chefs, who won the coveted title of Highland Feast Junior Chefs 2008, can take pride in their culinary talent as they see their own recipe published on 7,000 recipe cards distributed in local Tesco stores.
Lower Foyers - Masonry Arch Bridge
For reasons of public safety, the masonry arch bridge at Lower Foyers, by Loch Ness, has been closed to pedestrians.
Blas Festival Announces 2009 Programme
The Blas Festival is set to play a role in attracting tourists to the Highlands as it launches its new programme for 2009.
Highland children project their meaning of Homecoming
Artwork of around 80 children from 17 Highland schools will be projected onto the outside of Eden Court Theatre, Inverness this weekend (Sunday 25th January) to celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Support To Continue For Highland Social Enterprise Waste Projects
In recognition of the valuable work Social Enterprise companies in the Highlands do in diverting waste from landfill sites, The Highland Council today has confirmed its continued support by allocating over £1.1 million of grant funding for the next two years.
Plans for Upgrading Wick High School
Plans for a £1 million upgrade of Wick High School have been unveiled to staff and parent representatives.
Work To Start On Upgrading Fort Augustus Toilets
Visitors and locals in Fort Augustus will soon be able to benefit from new public toilet facilities with the green light also given to start replacing the public toilets in Thurso.
Council To Take Over Responsibility For Islands' Harbour
The Highland Council has agreed in principal to take over the role of Harbour Authority for the Isle of Rum making it responsible for all operations and future maintenance.
Introduction of Household Waste Charges in April
A decision by The Highland Council to introduce charges for bulky uplifts of household wastes is to be implemented from the start of the new financial year on 1 April.
Public’s views sought on new open space guidance
Communities and developers are being invited to have their say in shaping future policy aimed at improving open space in new residential developments in the Highlands.
Tongue School tree-mendous planting effort
As part of the ‘Communities Project for Highland Biodiversity,’ P4 to P7 pupils from Tongue Primary School in North Sutherland recently had fun planting twenty young native trees, complete with deer guards and wooden stakes.
Visitors to Victorian Market Tune in to Radio VM
Visitors to Inverness Victorian Market are invited to tune in to Radio VM – a new audio feature that will greet them at the city shopping precinct between 11 am and 4 pm tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday (23/24 January).
Highland Youngsters Have More To Smile About
Pupils at selected primary and nursery schools in Inverness and Caithness will be the first in Highland to have their teeth painted with fluoride varnish as part of an exciting national oral health improvement programme called Childsmile.
Artist Rooms exhibition comes to Inverness
Inverness is one of only four venues in Scotland to house a major new modern art collection, which is being launched at the Tate Modern, London on Thursday (22 January).
Crocodile Tales To Celebrate Centenary
Gavialias Gangeticius or the Crocodile as he is known in the community and to visitors has been a resident of Wick Library for 100 years so the Highland Council is hosting a special celebration to mark the replica reptile’s centenary.
Go-Ahead Given For Ness-side Commercial District Centre
Tesco Stores Ltd’s application for the development of a Commercial District Centre on land at Ness-side, which will include retail stores, a doctor’s surgery, a community building and a petrol filling station, was approved today by The Highland Council’s Planning, Environments and Development Committee.
Transport issues back on agenda of Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum.
Following a meeting of The Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum on the 19th of November at which many travel issues were raised by local people, the Council is organising a ‘Transport Forum’ on 29th January to look specifically at public transport issues affecting the Ward and surrounding communities.
HMIe confident in Caithness school’s ability to continue improvement
In a report published today on Lybster Primary School and Nursery, HMIe said they would make no further visits in relation to their November 2008 inspection. The progress made by the headteacher, Mrs Carol Grant, in improving the leadership and ethos of the school, and the hard work and commitment of staff to improving pupils’ learning experiences were at the heart of this decision.
HMIE Report on Raigmore Primary, Inverness
In a HMIe report on Raigmore Primary, Inverness the inspectors judged the work of the school to be good or very good practice and noted a number of particular strengths of the school.
Council expresses concern over Electric Meter Switch
The Highland Council has written to Scottish Hydro Electric to express its concerns that they are ceasing selling tokens for electricity meters before completing the switchover to new key meters in some parts of the Highlands.
New Highland Youth Voice Chair and Vice Chair
The two new leaders of Highland Youth Voice, the young people’s parliament for the Highlands, were introduced at today’s meeting of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
Council to review Fort William school provision
Highland Councillors are to review the future needs for pre-school and primary education provision within the Greater Fort William area.
Highland school-build to share site with emergency services
A new primary school in the remote community of Lochaline, Morvern, is to incorporate accommodation for local fire and coastguard staff.
Concessionary Fares Scheme
Holders of National Entitlement Cards in Caithness as well as Lochaber and Skye, who are eligible for free travel, will need to alter the way in which they confirm their entitlement as the result of the introduction of new electronic ticket machines in these areas.
Highland Pupils’ Designs Adorn Office Calendars
Twelve Highland pupils have won top prizes in an art competition to design Lyreco Office Supplies 2009 calendar.
Council backs funding repairs for Queens Park Athletics Stadium, Inverness
The first phase of a £125,000 funding package to return Queens Park Athletics Stadium, Inverness, to regional athletics competition standards was approved today (Thursday) by The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
Kingussie Pupils Petition Highland Council on Renewable Energy
Three Secondary 4 pupils from Kingussie High School presented a petition signed by fellow pupils and staff to The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee today (Thursday) urging the Council to improve renewable energy and fuel consumption at the school.
Council Funds Poolewe Swimming Pool Repairs
The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee has agreed to provide £24,000 funding to enable emergency repairs to be carried out at Poolewe Swimming Pool.
Newspaper of the Year Award Goes to Inverness Courier
The Inverness Courier has been chosen as the Newspaper of the Year by the Highland and Islands Media Awards' judging panel.
Care Commission report published on Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis
The first Care Commission Report for the pre-school care service provided at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis - Scotland’s first purpose-built all Gaelic school - is extremely positive with ‘very good’ gradings awarded to the service for all four themes inspected.
High Loan Debt Rules Highland Council Out of House Building
Highland Councillors have stressed their wish to build council houses again. However, they say that it does not make financial sense at this time to take part in the Scottish Government’s initiative to encourage new council house building.
Council Budgets to Improve Council Houses
The Highland Council has identified the need to spend around £88 million over the next six years to bring its stock of Council houses up to Scottish Housing Quality standards by carrying out upgrading work including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and energy efficient measures.
Removal of Postal Address from Rural Properties across The Highland Council Area
The Highland Council has written to Royal Mail to express its concern at the deletion of a number of postal addresses from second homes across The Highland Council area.
Rural Kerbside Recycling – Blue Wheelie Bin Roll Out begins
Over the next few weeks residents in the rural parts of East Ross, Edderton, Mid Ross, the Black Isle, Inverness and Nairn which are not part of the blue box scheme can expect to take delivery of a new blue wheelie bin for their recycling waste.
Training Day To Promote Musical Skills
The Highland Council, in association with the National Youth Choir of Scotland, will be holding a training day to provide primary and secondary school staff the expertise to teach musical skills to young pupils. There are also places available to anyone interested in learning more about the Kodàly approach to music education.
Members Give Go Ahead For Inverinate Lodge Development
At a meeting of the Ross, Skye and Lochaber Planning Applications and Review Committee held in Portree today, Members approved the application submitted by Smech Management Ltd for the erection of a retaining wall, a new 16 bedroomed lodge and an electricity substation on land at Inverinate Lodge by Kyle of Lochalsh.
Freeman of Skye Honour For Portree Man
In recognition of his outstanding service to the community, Mr John Nicolson from Portree was granted the Freedom of Skye at a special ceremony held on Friday evening in the Skye Camanachd Social Club.
Enterprising Pupils Raise Money For Moray Firth Dolphins
The Primary 6 class at Kirkhill Primary School have been busy raising money for the Moray Firth Dolphins.
Busts Of Twelve Scottish Poets To Be Unveiled
An exhibition of twelve sculpted portrait busts of Scottish poets opens this weekend at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Applications Invited for Highland Cultural Programme
The Highland Council is inviting applications from event organisers to the Highland Culture Programme, which has been established to provide an annual fund of £500,000 in grants for projects and events building upon the success of Highland 2007.
Focus on Dog Fouling in Ness-side Ward
Council officers will be targeting the Inverness Ness-side Ward during January in a bid to tackle the persistent problem of dog fouling.
Work Underway To Get Leisure Pools Reopen
Management at Inverness Leisure have now had an opportunity to discuss the re-opening of the Leisure pool and features at the Bught Lane facilities following the fire in the plant room in September last year.
Update on Highland School Closures
Six Primary schools and three nurseries throughout the Highlands remain closed or partially closed today (Tuesday, 06 January 2009) for repairs to burst pipes and heating problems.
Highland Council ranger events for January
From the Moray Firth to Laggan - Highland Council’s Rangers are inviting people to get their “first foot forward” on a choice of three guided walks in January.
School closures in the Highlands
Fifteen Primary schools throughout the Highlands are closed or partially closed today (Monday 5th January, 2009).
Dingwall High Street Improvements – still time to have your say!
Members of the public are being reminded that there is still time to voice their opinion on various options for Dingwall High Street improvements.
Collecting Recycling Ideas
Residents in the Tain and Easter Ross area can get support next Thursday (15 January 2009) to help keep their New Years resolution.
Beat the winter blues with Highland Council Rangers
A New Year guided walk and nature ramble is being organised by The Highland Council’s Rangers around Boat of Garten to help people shrug off the winter blues.
Inverness Hogmanay Party Attracts 10,000
An estimated 10,000 people attended the Inverness Hogmanay celebration, which ended the six-week Inverness Winter Festival run by The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee.