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.
A new public convenience has opened in Golspie, providing local residents and visitors alike with modern surroundings. The Highland Council has invested £286,000 in the facility on the Main Street that includes male, female, disabled toilet units and an attendant's store.
Members of The Highlands Council's Resources Committee have pledged their support to the development of a UHI Centre for History at Dornoch. Councillors unanimously agreed to commit £200,000 in the current financial year (2008/09) from the Council's uncommitted Capital Discretionary Fund - subject to conditions to be agreed by the Director of Finance and the Head of Legal Services.
As part of the 'Communities Project for Highland Biodiversity,' P4 to P7 pupils from Tongue Primary School in North Sutherland recently (Mon 12th Jan) had fun planting twenty young native trees, complete with deer guards and wooden stakes. The children worked very hard assisted by Paul Castle the Highland Council Planning and Development Countryside Ranger.
A Victorian hunting lodge in Sutherland is to get a £1.5m facelift to allow a variety of uses including use as luxury accommodation and use for corporate events, thanks to a funding package including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) together with the Big Lottery Fund. Community group The Assynt Foundation near Lochinver has been awarded £250,000 by HIE and £785,000 by the Big Lottery Growing Fund Community Assets towards a £1.5 million project to renovate Glencanisp Lodge.
The drive to make Scotland a Zero Waste society today received a further boost with the distribution of almost £18 million to local authorities. The investment, which will aim to improve recycling rates and cut the amount of waste going to landfill, comes from the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Fund for 2008/09.
A joint agreement on flooding reached between the Scottish Government and the insurance industry will give homes and businesses greater protection Environment Minister Michael Russell said today. The Scottish Government and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have agreed to work together to minimise the flood risks and to help people quicker when flooding occurs.
Environmental projects in Sutherland are set to benefit from a £20,000 SNH grant for the Sutherland Partnership which will oversee a new assistance fund. The Sutherland Environmental Fund will operate over three years from spring 2009 with the themes of involvement and biodiversity.
With the Climate Change Scotland Bill now in parliament, it is important that everyone starts thinking how they will contribute to the ambitious world leading targets set out in the Bill. As Scotland's environment watchdog, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has a key role in addressing climate change and has today (19 December) published its climate change plan for SEPA.
A new draft of the Local Plan for Sutherland has been published and is currently open for consultation. The Deposit Draft Local Plan documents - including an accompanying Revised Environmental Report - are available for the public to view at The Highland Council Service Points, Public Libraries and Post Offices in Sutherland throughout the consultation period.
NFU Scotland and the Northern Constabulary have worked together to launch a new initiative "The Caithness & Sutherland Farm Watch Scheme", and details of this scheme have already been circulated to NFU Scotland members in the area. If you have not received any information, or you are not a member of NFU Scotland, then please may I take this opportunity to introduce it to you.
Fountain Road Hall Committee and Community Energy Scotland wish to invite you to an open day demonstrating the new pellet boiler heating system installed in the Fountain Road Hall in Golspie. This installation provides sophisticated low carbon heating for a community led facility.
A £120,500 plan to develop a new pontoon system at Kinlochbervie Harbour is to go ahead following funding approval from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highland Council. Pontoons to berth an additional twelve boats will be built for small yachts, pleasure boats and commercial crafts, helping to regenerate the sparsely populated fishing community.
Women appear to be developing a serious taste for careers in the Scotch whisky industry alongside their growing appreciation of fine malts, according to the country's leading whisky producer, Diageo. In the past 12 months the company, which produces renowned brands such as Johnnie Walker, J&B and Bell's, has received a record number of job applications from women seeking careers at its distilleries.
Basing its business at Durness, Sutherland, in the most north westerly corner of the UK has proved to be no drawback for luxury chocolate manufacturer, Cocoa Mountain. Rather, business is flourishing to such an extent that the company has outgrown its old premises at 19a Balnakeil Craft Village and has just moved into a more spacious and better sited new unit at 8 Balnakeil which has been completely renovated and reconfigured to make it fit for purpose.
The Social Enterprise Academy is holding two taster sessions on behalf of the Kyle of Sutherland Trust. The first is at Carbisdale Castle, on Wednesday 3rd September 2008, 7-8.30pm and a similar event on Saturday 6th September 2008 10-11.30am at Bonar Bridge Community Hall.
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of Education Culture and Sport Committee will officially re-open Sutherland Swimming Pool in Golspie on Saturday 7th June after a £1.2 million refurbishment by The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service. The new facility now provides a first class environment for swimming, health and fitness which is fully accessible to all.
Highland Councillors are set to step up their campaign to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices. A report to be considered by the Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee on Thursday highlights that the Council alone faces an increased fuel bill of £725,000 in the current financial year.
Taxi fare increases in the Highlands have been confirmed by The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee following a period of consultation with the trade and the public. The increases take account of increases in the costs of operating taxis, such as rising diesel, petrol and insurance premiums and recognise that Highland taxi fares are amongst the lowest in Scotland.
