There was a full house at the new Burghfield Campus of North Highland College in Dornoch last Monday (5 October 2009). The East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum listened to Scott Armstrong from Visit Scotland and Colin Simpson, Tourism Coordinator from the Council talk about the summer 2009 season, which has been very successful for operators in Sutherland.
Jim Steven, head teacher of Invergordon Academy, is to become the interim head teacher at Golspie High School. Mr Steven will take over from Bill Irwin, who is transferring to a senior administrative post with the Council's Education Culture and Sport Service.
The next East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum will be held on Monday 5 October at 7.30pm in the new North Highland College campus at the Burghfield, Dornoch. The theme of the forum is Tourism, so it is appropriate for it to be hosted by the new training hotel which has been converted from the former Burghfield Hotel.
One of Scotland's most ancient landscapes will have a new Geo-Ranger post thanks to funding from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). A Geo-Ranger will be employed by the North West Highlands Geopark which operates under the auspices of the Sutherland Partnership.
"Calluna (the Latin for heather) Country with Hunter's Tweed" has opened its newly renovated classic store at London House in Brora on the corner of the main A9 and Station Square. This is opposite the original Hunters shop and is a welcome return for Hunter's in beautifully turned out premises.
Changes to the determination of local planning applications will be introduced later in the year to speed up the decision-making process and encourage inward investment. The Highland Council has agreed a Scheme of Delegation and establishment of a Review Body, which it has presented to the Scottish Government for approval and implementation by 3 August.
Pupils from Brora Primary will end the term on a high as their school is the first in the North Highlands to be awarded the Scottish Football Association Level 1 Quality Mark in recognition of the high standards continuously maintained by the coaching team. Janitor David Rose and his team of coaches at the 93 pupil school have been coaching football to children for a good number of years and successes have included winning the local schools competition, the Paynter Cup and reaching the last 8 in Scotland for the SFA Soccer 7s national competition.
Today (Thursday 2 July) sees the launch of the new Blog for the Highland wide Local Development Plan. The Blog will be updated regularly with information on meetings and events hosted and attended by the Development Plans team at The Highland Council.
Valuable Statue Of Mercury Stolen From Dunrobin Castle, Golspie POLICE in Golspie are appealing for information after a large garden statue was stolen from Dunrobin Castle gardens, the home of Lord Strathnaver of Sutherland. The statue, which is approx 6ft and weighs approx 440kg, is a high value item, believed to worth somewhere in the region of between twenty to thirty thousand pounds.
Having a holiday in the European Union should mean rest and relaxation, but for the unfortunate few, it could turn into an unlucky break. Breaking your ankle while dancing in a beach club or while mountain climbing is bad enough to deal with, let alone having to cope in a foreign language and even more stressful when you have to worry about treatment procedures.
HIE plans to invest over £220m into local economy over the next three years Plans to invest more than £220 million over the next three years in economic and community development have been published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The enterprise agency’s latest operating plan – its first since transferring business advice services to local authorities on 1 April 2009 – details HIE’s contribution to deliver the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy in the Highlands and Islands.
As part of the inspectorate's new joined-up strategy for evaluating all of the educational provision of local authorities, separate reports are issued today on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Dornoch Academy and community learning and development (CLD) in the surrounding area. In a very positive school report, HMIe highlight well behaved and well-motivated pupils, imaginative and well-planned curricular provision, support for vulnerable young people, commitment of all staff and the leadership of the head teacher as particular strengths.
A Dornoch Academy student is heading off around the world to help her studies after winning £4000 of support from the Royal Geographical Society-IBG's Learning and Leading Gap Year Programme. Seventeen year old Lynn Munro from Spinningdale in Sutherland has been selected to become one of only twelve students across the UK to receive a grant to undertake a geographical themed Gap Year anywhere in the world.
From Tuesday 5 May, 2009, three more schools in the Highlands will have part time 20 mph speed limits in operation for children's' safety. The new limits are being introduced at Tongue Primary, Sutherland and at Bualnaluib Primary, Aultbea and Inverasdale Primary in Ross.
Highland based banks agree to help Caithness companies benefit from new Government funding initiatives Representatives from the main Banks operating in the Caithness area have agreed to share their understanding of the new government initiatives with local businesses at a specially convened event at the Weigh Inn Hotel, Thurso on 8th May from 1pm. Businesses have been suffering from the effects of recession and the 'credit crunch' making life more difficult for those seeking to grow or simply survive.
NHS Highland is continuing to develop the range of services it provides in Sutherland so that more people can be treated and cared for in their own homes. The Cambusavie Unit, at the Lawson Memorial Hospital, in Golspie, was purpose built as a 30 bed long-term facility in 1989, when patients were transferred from the old Cambusavie Hospital.
The credit crunch may be biting but Highland Council has cash grants available to assist with home improvements. Home improvement and repairs grants are available to help people living in owner-occupied or privately rented housing to meet the costs of having their homes improved, repaired or adapted.
Calling all Early Birds - get your discounted tickets for this unique event - the Scotland's Global Impact conference. Organisers of the flagship Homecoming Scotland event, Scotland's Global Impact - how one small nation changed the world! Buaidh Chruinneil na h-Alba - mar a dh'atharraich aon dłthaich bheag an saoghal! are calling everyone interested in our nation's history to take advantage of the fantastic Early Bird discount announced today for this international conference celebrating Scotland's Year of Homecoming.
A new partnership agreement between The Highland Council and VisitScotland for 2009/10 could see the Council contributing up to £445,000 to be used to promote the Highlands as a top tourism destination. Last May Members agreed to support a review of the existing agreement with VisitScotland and although the final report will not be available until the end of the Month at last week's Planning, Environment and Development Committee the Council confirmed its commitment to develop Highland Tourism in partnership with the business sector, VisitScotland, EventScotland and HIE.
Since the launch of the Highland LEADER Programme in excess of £400,000 of funding has already been allocated to 27 successful local projects and plans across the Highlands. Thanks to funding of £3,280 from both the Skye, and the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh LEADER Area Partnerships the Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations is now able to organise, deliver and evaluate a capacity building event aimed at benefiting community groups in Skye and Wester Ross.
