Caledonian Canal Ceilidh trail wins traditional music award
The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail 2009 has won first place in the Community Project of the Year category of the coveted Scottish Traditional Music Award which were held on Saturday 28 November.
Temporary closure for Invergordon Service Point
The Highland Council is notifying members of the public that Invergordon Service Point will temporarily close for essential maintenance work at 1pm on Thursday 10th December and re-open at 9am on Wednesday 16th December, 2009.
Housing high on agenda at Easter Ross Ward Forums
Next week (9 and 10 December 2009) households from the Cromarty Firth to the Dornoch Firth are being invited to have a say on how The Council and its partners can meet people’s housing needs and deal with housing issues over the next 5 years.
Plockton man helps rescue flood victims in Cockermouth
On November 19th 2009, Paul Burden, volunteer coxswain for the British Red Cross swift water rescue team was deployed to Cumbria to assist the emergency services in the rescue of over 200 residents of the village of Cockermouth. Paul is based in Plockton as Youth Development Officer for the Integrated Learning Community and is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Development Officer for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
Interim Chief Fire Officer for Highlands and Islands appointed
The Highland and Islands Fire Board has announced the appointment of an interim chief fire officer to serve for one year while the Board continues its quest for a permanent chief fire officer.
Future Jobs Fund set to create additional temporary training places at the Council
The Highland Council has made a bid for £1.75 million to allow people - aged between 18-24 years - to get training to help them back into work in the Highlands and deliver benefits to the community.
Disappointment at primary school funding bid
The Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration, Councillor Michael Foxley, has expressed his bitter disappointment at the absence of the Council from the list of authorities to benefit from Scottish Government funding for primary school investment.
Artist excited as artwork to feature in new exhibition
On Saturday (28 November) a new exhibition will open to the public at Inchmore Gallery by Beauly which will include several pieces of art created by Rhona Joan MacLeod, a client of the City’s Corbett Centre and a member of the Highland Print Studio.
Northern Constabulary and Partners Working Towards Safer Communities
The Chief Constable, in his report today to the Northern Joint Police Board, announced an overall decrease of over 10% in serious crime from April – September 2009 in comparison with the same period last year.
Highland Adult Literacies Partnership leads the way in the delivery of a brand-new qualification
Ten Highland tutors have just completed the new Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) first-stage professional development award entitled ‘Introduction to Tutoring English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL).
Highland Trading Standards targets Internet sellers
A new survey conducted by Trading Standards Officers from The Highland Council has found two-thirds of websites failing to comply with laws designed to protect on-line buyers.
Review of Council accommodation needs in Inverness and Dingwall
Highland Councillors are being asked to review the Council’s office accommodation needs in Inverness and Dingwall as it continues to manage its assets more efficiently and effectively.
A'Chuairt Dheireannach de Dheasbad BT Alba 2009
’S iad clann-nighean Phort Rìgh, Anna NicMhullan agus Eilidh NicDhonnchaidh a choinnich caileagan Acadamaidh Dhrochaid an Easbaig, Heather Kindness agus Eilidh Rothach anns a’ chuairt dheireannaich de Dheasbad BT Alba na bliadhna seo aig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ann an Dùn Èideann.
Final of BT Alba Gaelic Schools Debate 2009
The final of this year’s BT Alba Debate competition was held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh between teams from Portree High School consisting of Anna MacMullan and Eilidh Robertson and Bishopbriggs Academy’s consisting of Eilidh Munro and Heather Kindness.
Temporary Road Closures in the City
Details of two temporary road closures afecting drivers in Inverness
Gaelic culture celebration marks Homecoming Finale in the Highlands
Gaelic culture will be highlighted as part of Scotland’s national St Andrew’s Day celebrations and the official Homecoming Scotland Finale programme in the Highlands.
Nairn pupils have fundraising for Malawi visit in the bag
A Malawian baby elephant meets a Scottish Highland cow on bags Nairn Academy’s Dreams and Teams Sports Leaders group are selling to raise money for their visit to their link school in Lilongwe in June 2010.
Granting Power of Attorney is as important as making a will
NHS Highland, The Highland Council, local solicitors and voluntary organisations are launching a joint campaign encouraging everyone in the region to plan now for the time when they may no longer be able to make decisions for themselves.
Illegal dumping of waste at Melvich
A large pile of sub soils and topsoil have been illegally dumped at the closed landfill site at Melvich so the Highland Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are reminding people living in the area, especially house builders or those undertaking other building projects, that anyone caught illegally dumping waste could face prosecution.
Inverness flood relief channel
The Highland Council has appointed AECOM to provide detailed design for the South West Inverness Flood Relief Channel.
Council supports youth pipe and drums band
A youth band of pipers and drummers met with local Highland Councillors Alasdair Christie and Pauline Munro his week to express their thanks for the Council’s support for the band.
Victorian Market model railway returns
Inverness Winter Festival’s smallest attraction, the Victorian Market model railway display, will officially open for the Christmas season at noon on Saturday 28 November.
Natural Christmas arts and crafts in Grantown Square
The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers in conjunction with the Anagach Woods Trust are offering an exciting opportunity to create Christmas decorations using natural materials from local woods in arts and crafts style.
Temporary closure along stretch of B9176 Struie Road
Motorists are being advised that part of the B9176 Struie Road will be closed to all vehicles from 6am on Wednesday 2nd until 6am on Thursday 3rd December to allow essential repairs to be carried out to a retaining wall.
Nairn pupils open Grotto for Santa
There may not be snow in Africa this Christmas time but there will a Santa’s Grotto in Nairn thanks to the Nairn Academy Sports Leaders Dreams and Teams Link with Malawi.
New Kerbside Recycling Collections for Rural Badenoch and Strathspey
The Highland Council is introducing kerbside recycling to 500 of some of the remotest properties in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Tourism seminar to consider recession busting ideas for the future season
The Highland Council will be hosting its annual tourism seminar in the Council chamber at headquarters on Wednesday 25th November. Around 90 delegates from tourism businesses across the Highlands will gather to discuss what the future holds for tourism in the Highlands.
Inverness Advent Calendar Prize Draw Winners Announced
The Inverness Winter Festival Organisers have announced details of the 24 Inverness Charities and Community Groups who will receive an early Christmas present of £100 following the Prize Draw made by six year old Duncan Forbes Primary School pupil Anya Coleman at Sunday’s (Nov 22) Christmas Lights Switch Ceremony.
Highland Youth Voice Conference
The autumn conference for Highland Youth Voice was opened by local MP, Danny Alexander at Badaguish near Aviemore and ran from 20 - 22 November 2009.
Dance and Music Project in Highland Schools
Children from four Inverness Primary schools will be working with professional artists to learn about the effects of different foods on the body.
Inverness advent calendar prize draw winners announced
The Inverness Winter Festival organisers have announced details of the 24 Inverness charities and community groups who will receive an early Christmas present of £100 following a recent prize draw.
HRH The Earl of Wessex Visits Inverness to officially open city school and the Highland Archive and Registration Centre
HRH The Earl of Wessex KG KCVO visited Inverness today to carry out three official engagements.
Scottish approach demonstrates real benefits for children
A new Scottish approach to supporting children and young people, tested in Highland and supported by the Scottish Government, is delivering real results for local youngsters.
Launch of Inverness Inter Faith Group with an inspiring lecture on the new context of spiritual care in today’s NHS
Launch of Inverness Inter Faith Group with an inspiring lecture on the new context of spiritual care in today’s NHS
Christmas lights switch on
An estimated crowd of 5,000 gathered in Inverness city centre on Sunday night (22 November) for the Inverness Winter Festival’s Christmas Lights Switch On Show.
Research confirms new ways of working in Highland demonstrate real benefits for children
The Highland Council and NHS Highland have welcomed the publication of research undertaken by Edinburgh University for the Scottish Government, confirming that new ways of working in Highland have demonstrated real benefits for children.
Highland parents encouraged to seek additional support for their children
Highland parents are being urged to ‘just ask’ for assistance if their child could benefit from extra help at school.
Chief Operating Officer of Social Work appointed
The Highland Council has appointed Bill Alexander to the temporary post of Chief Operating Officer in the Social Work Service.
Highland Libraries issue health and safety warning
The Highland Council’s Libraries Service and Highland Trading Standards are issuing a warning this week to parents and carers of children who have received blue bear soft toys from the Council’s Library Service.
Surveys will Guide Future Transport Investment
Motorists in the Inverness area are to be asked for their help in identifying future transport improvements in the Inverness area by completing surveys on their travel movements.
Inverness streetwork project officer is Employee of the Year
David MacIver, The Highland Council's streetwork project officer in Inverness, has been chosen as the Council's Employee of the year.
Lochaber Dance Platform performs to sell-out crowd
A sell out performance of “Dance Platform 2009” was recently held (12 November) at the Nevis Centre, Fort William.
Children’s charity lights up Inverness
The spectacular sight of more than 100 Chinese lanterns floating across the skies of Inverness will mark a night to remember on Sunday 22 November - and help raise vital funds for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).
Council calls on BBC Trust to broadcast Gaelic TV channel on freeview
The Highland Council is urging viewers and supporters of the BBC Alba Gaelic television channel to back them in their call to the BBC Trust for wider access to BBC Alba by making it available on freeview.
Consumer protection and money advice on the agenda
Consumer protection and money advice are the main topics for consideration at the next meeting of The Highland Council’s Ward Forum for Ward 22 (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) with presentations from two of the Council’s advice officers. The meeting will take place on Monday 23 November 2009 at 6.30pm in the Council Chambers, Lochaber House, Fort William.
Golspie swimming pool re-opened
Golspie swimming pool has re-opened today (Tuesday 17th November) with normal opening hours after the facility was given the all-clear from contractors brought in by the Council’s Housing and Property Service.
Golspie Swimming Pool closed
The Highland Council is advising members of the public that Golspie Swimming Pool was closed this morning as a safety precaution.
Highland young musicians shine
The two days of musical events at Eden Court Theatre held over the weekend to commemorate 21 years of Highland Regional Music Groups was a great success and a fitting tribute to the musical talent and abilities of over 320 young people and their tutors.
Council tenants converge on Inverness for conference
Around 100 Highland Council tenants are meeting in Inverness this weekend (Saturday 21 November) to attend the first Highland Tenants’ Conference.
Inverness Rangers celebrate the Year of Astronomy
Highland Council’s Inverness Rangers will be star gazing this weekend and are inviting people to join them.
Opening of Refurbished Naver Pitch, Thurso
A major refurbishment of the popular floodlit Naver Pitch at Thurso was opened today (Monday).
The Highland Council Framework Agreement
Consultants, contractors and skilled trades businesses are being advised they have until Friday 8 January next year to register an interest in working for The Highland Council on future contracts with an individual value of up to £25,000. The Council is also urging consultants to register an interest by this deadline for future consultancy work for projects of all values.
Fundraising paves way for Poolewe play area
Pupils and parents at a Highland primary school have been fundraising for months to pay for a new play area thanks to the intervention of one of the country’s leading building companies.
Victims of cyberbullying to receive support in the Highlands
Guidance on tackling bullying via the Internet and mobile phones is soon to be distributed to all staff in education, culture and sport establishments throughout The Highland Council’s area.
Nairn and Fort William benefit from town centre regeneration funding
The Highland Council has warmly welcomed success with bids for town centre regeneration funding from the Scottish Government for projects at Fort William and Nairn. The bigger project is at Nairn, where the Council has secured £800,000 towards improvements in the High Street.
Gaelic Primary School education set to expand in Inverness area
Support has been given for the expansion of two Inverness Primary schools to accommodate Gaelic education from The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
Highland school building programme to focus on Lochaber and Easter Ross
Proposals to replace two primary schools in Fort William and three in Easter Ross with two new schools (one in each area) have been approved for submission to the Scottish Government by members of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee today.
Council commitment of free personal and nursing care
Members of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee have confirmed their commitment to the continuing implementation of free personal and nursing care.
Song and yoga workshop
Highland musicians and singers are being invited to improve their breathing techniques by taking part in a song and yoga workshop.
A trip down memory lane
The Highland Council has announced details of an exciting project in Inverness to enable children of all ages to take a trip down memory lane in the city’s Victorian Market.
Fort William Waterfront Consultation Underway
Public consultation for the Fort William Waterfront Development gets underway in two weeks time, with the first formal consultation meeting being held on Thursday 26 November 2009 in the Council Chambers, Lochaber House, Fort William.
Clubs and Societies – Highland libraries need your help!
The Highland Council’s Library Service is inviting the public to take part in an online survey to ensure that local library collections best represent their interests, leisure pursuits and hobbies.
Streetscape works take shape
This week sees completion of new Caithness slab footways on the south side of Dingwall High Street as the first phase of a £947,000 package of town centre improvements starts to take shape on the ground.
Council welcomes new scheme to protect vulnerable groups
The Highland Council Child Protection Committee has welcomed the announcement made today by the Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram about the new scheme for protecting vulnerable groups.
Inverness community benefits from new play park
Local Highland Councillors and community councillors are celebrating this week the installation of new facilities at a public play park in the Castle Heather Park area of Inverness.
Home Composting in the Highlands
This year sees the fifth birthday of the WRAP Home Composting Scheme in Scotland, and thanks to householders all over the country it has been a roaring success. Since 2004 over 230,000 subsidised compost bins have been distributed. In Highland residents have played a leading role in making the scheme such a success by ordering and using nearly 23,447 compost bins in the last 4 years.
Positive Follow through report by Inspectors for Farr Primary School
In an HMIe follow through inspection of Farr Primary and Nursery, it was noted that the school had improved aspects of its work since the original inspection in September 2008.
Highland pupils perform with Scottish Opera
Sixty pupils from Gairloch High School and associated primary schools have rehearsed and performed with Scottish Opera in an opera based on Robert Burns iconic poem The Tam O’Shanter.
Nairn town clock refuses to change to winter time
The Highland Council is this week apologising to locals for a problem with the Nairn Town clock which refused to go back an hour when the clocks changed.
A Short History of Magic and Conjuring - Draoidheachd agus geasan: Eachdraidh Ghoirid
An exhibition giving a fascinating glimpse into the history of stage magic opens at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on 14th November and runs until 19th December.
Record crowd at bonfire night celebrations
The annual Inverness bonfire and fireworks display at the Bught Park, Inverness, attracted a record crowd of 20,000. By popular demand the start of the show was moved to the later time of 7.30pm to make it easier for folk to attend and the delay paid dividends.
Social Work Budget Pressures
Members of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee are being advised that the projected overspend in the Social Work budget can be eased by continuing management action and an injection of funding from central Council funds to meet the additional costs borne by the Social Work budget associated with job evaluation.
Tribute to memory of Caithness teacher
The Head Teacher of Watten Primary School, Linsey MacKay, has paid tribute to teacher, Miss Laura Lawson, who died suddenly earlier this week.
Public asked for views on measures to combat Kessock Bridge delays caused by resurfacing
The public are being invited to comment on the best ways to ease disruption that will result from the introduction of single-lane traffic movement on the Kessock Bridge to accommodate resurfacing work, expected in 2011.
Ross House, Dingwall
The Highland Council is endeavouring to minimise disruption caused by the loss of the use of telephones and computers at its office accommodation at Ross House, High Street, Dingwall.
Chilling Cellos and Spooky Strings
Hot on the heels of Halloween, the Highland Cello day held in Inverness yesterday (Tuesday 3 November) had a definitely ghostly feel about it. Seventy young cellists and bassists from Highland primary and secondary schools gathered together for a day of workshops and master classes all building up to a performance at the end featuring music from the film Ghostbusters.
Inverness pupils plant path for all
To celebrate the construction of an accessible path to Muirtown Primary School – Primary 1 pupils along with local Highland Councillors Alex Graham , Alasdair Christie and Pauline Munro will be planting fruit trees and bulbs around the new path.
Forest harvesting causes Great Glen Way diversion
Users of the Great Glen Way are being advised by Great Glen Way Rangers and Forestry Commission Scotland that due to major harvesting works part of the Way is now closed until 31st March 2010.
Positive report by inspectors for Bridgend Primary School
In an HMIe inspection of Bridgend Primary and Nursery, the following key strengths were identified:• the head teacher and depute’s leadership of improvement; • improvements in attainment in reading, writing and mathematics;• the strong, caring ethos and positive relationships among staff, parents and children; and• children who work collaboratively and responsibly.
Young people to lead Council Ward Forum in Badenoch and Strathspey
The theme of the next Highland Council Ward Forum for Badenoch and Strathspey will be ‘young people’.
Roadworks on A855 Portree to Staffin Road
Motorists are being advised that The Highland Council is carrying out Phase 2 of the works between Portree and Loch Fada on the A855 Staffin road to improve the carriageway to twin track width.
Positive report by inspectors for Farr High School
In an HMIe inspection of Farr High School the following key strengths were identified in a report published this week (2nd November 2009):• the range and quality of young people’s achievements; and• the inclusive approach to supporting the learning of those with additional support needs.
Economic downturn action plan begins to pay dividends
Highland councillors have commended their money advice and benefit maximisation teams for helping the public cope better with the effects of the recession.
Big turn out for opening event of Inverness winter festival
The 2009 Inverness Winter Festival opened in spectacular fashion with an estimated 12,000 visitors to Blackbeard’s Haunted Ness Islands Show on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October.
LEADER funding begins to impact on rural Inverness
Rural Inverness has recently seen its first funding awards made under the Highland LEADER Programme. Beauly Shinty Club have been awarded £10,590 to upgrade their pitch and facilities and Strathdearn Hall will receive £35,000 towards the cost of building a brand new multi-use sports facility for the village.
Consultation on membership of the Cairngorms National Park Authority
The public is being asked for its views on a proposal to reduce the number of members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority from 25 to 19 by October 2010.
Having your say on the future of Highland
The consultation on the Main Issues Report for the Highland wide Local Development Plan is coming to an end on the 9th of November 2009.
Aviemore to host the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit
Aviemore is set to host the world’s largest gathering of adventure tourism specialists at the seventh Adventure Travel World Summit.
Wind turbine for island school
Primary pupils on the Island of Raasay will be able to learn first hand all about energy produced from wind as they now have their very own 15 metre tall wind turbine erected directly outside the school.
Having a safe Guy Fawkes evening
As Guy Fawkes’ Night will soon be upon us, Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) is teaming up with its partners to give local residents tips on how to have a safe 5 November.
Black Isle Messiah – more singers, instrumentalists and an audience wanted
The Black Isle Messiah is a weekend classical music event taking place in Fortrose on 12 and 13 December 2009. Funded by The Highland Council’s Culture Programme, Black Isle Ward Discretionary Fund and LEADER, this unusual weekend will bring together amateur classical musicians and singers from all over the Highlands and beyond for a fun, Feis-style workshop weekend, culminating in a performance of the Messiah on the night of Sunday 13th December.