News Archive

Armadale Medical Practice Transferred To Nhs Highland

NHS Highland will take over the responsibility for running Armadale Medical Practice in Sutherland from Friday 1 July 2023.   We have worked closely with Armadale Medical Practice over the last few months to ensure continuity of care and an effective transfer of responsibility.  

Capital Spend, Focus And Skills Moving Overseas As High Taxes Hit North Sea Confidence

A report published by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce points up worries that investment is now moving to other parts of the world.   Government needs to urgently create the conditions which will encourage investment in the energy sector or risk Aberdeen losing its global energy capital status, according to a new report.  

Key Priorities For International Growth - International Scotland Report Sets Out Key Economic Growth Priorities For Scottish Government

International Scotland, an initiative led by law firm CMS and the Fraser of Allander Institute, has launched a new report setting out key business priorities to be addressed to ensure the nation's economy can thrive.   Focused on providing a platform to promote economic growth, International Scotland was launched last year with an initial report setting out the opportunities for growth across key sectors such as sustainable tourism, food & drink, life sciences and renewable energy.  

High Demand And Rising Prices Continue To Limit Access To Scotland's Valuable Rural Land

Scotland's increasingly valuable rural land is only available to a limited few as high demand from forestry, natural capital investment, and corporate estate buyers continues to drive high prices, according to a new report by the Scottish Land Commission.   The Rural Land Market Insights Report 2023 underlines the need for action to ensure that communities, family farms, local businesses, and individuals are not priced out of the rural land market due to sustained high land prices driven by large-scale forestry and natural capital investments.  

New UHI Course Responds To Climate Change And Transition To Net Zero Demands

A new course developed by UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland aims to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to enter the fast-growing and dynamic green economy industry.   Starting this September, the HNC Wildlife and Conservation Management course will focus on important activities such as ecology and ecosystems, species and habitat monitoring, conservation, land management and sustainable wildlife management.  

Construction Begins At Sutherland, The Uk Mainland's First Vertical Launch Spaceport

£14.6 Million Public Investment Package Confirmed for Carbon-Neutral Spaceport Project.   Orbex has announced that construction has begun at Sutherland Spaceport (formerly known as Space Hub Sutherland) in Scotland, making this the first vertical launch spaceport to be built on the UK mainland.  

Highland Councillors Approve Next Steps For Three Council Owner Airfields

Members at today's (4 May 2023) Economy and Infrastructure Committee reviewed and approved the next steps for the future of Highland Council's three airfields.   The report highlights that current resource committed to the operation and maintenance of the airfields at Ashaig in Skye, Dornoch and Plockton is not sufficient to meet all of the maintenance liabilities and legal requirements.  

Highland Council Agree More Cash For Roads - £7.7m - Sutherland Roads

Highland Council today agreed to allocate a further £7.7 million to the roads capital budget taking the total to over £20million.   For the £7.7m strategic allocation, the Service was asked to produce a further list of road surface treatment schemes, utilising engineering judgement and local knowledge to determine which projects were to be included.  

Scottish Government Backs Down On Imposing Marine Protected Areas

Over the last two days, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has made impassioned pleas against the SNP's roughshod approach to imposing Highly Protected Marine Areas on coastal communities.   Even a few SNP members spoke against the government legislation being imposed.  

MSP Calls For Rethink On Postponement Of Naver Bridge Replacement

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has called on Highland Council to rethink the recent decision to defer the replacement of the 140 year old Naver Bridge in north Sutherland.   Mrs Grant has been contacted about the concerns locally surrounding the safety of the current bridge with additional fears that if it is allowed to deteriorate further, any potential closure would adversely affect communities who would face using an alternative route which would be both time consuming and costly for local residents.