Plans to create a spaceport that will launch communications satellites into orbit from the Moine peninsula in Sutherland are set to be unveiled for discussion at public meetings over the next two months. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which is backing the £17.3m project to design and build Space Hub Sutherland, has today (Wednesday 4 September) lodged a proposal of application notice with the Highland Council.
People with a business idea that will benefit their local community or environment will soon have access to a new programme of support, being launched across the Highlands and Islands. Known as the Social Start-Up School, the innovative programme will be delivering four locally focused initiatives.
If you need to raise finance for your project it is usual to seek a ‘self-build mortgage'. Mortgages for self-build houses are a specialist product and many lenders do not offer them.
The owners of land earmarked for the Space Hub Sutherland development on the Moine Peninsula have agreed a lease option with developer, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Representatives of Melness Crofters Estate (MCE) and HIE signed the agreement yesterday (Wednesday 31 July).
The Highland Council is today (17 July 2019) launching an 8 week Common Good consultation giving the Dornoch community until 11 September 2019 to respond to a proposal to dispose (by lease) of an area of Common Good land to East Sutherland Rescue Association (ESRA). The Council is keen to hear the community's views on the proposal and all submissions will be given full regard before a decision on whether, and how, to proceed is made.
The refurbished X Ray Department at NHS Highland's Lawson Memorial Hospital was officially reopened this week (Tuesday 9th July 2019) following a significant upgrade to equipment. The ceremony marks the installation of state-of-the-art direct digital equipment that replaces technology which is more than 25 years old.
Highland Council's Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring algal toxins following routine monitoring in coastal waters at Loch Glencoul, Kylesku area. Eating shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these algal toxins.
Highland and Islands Trading Standards warn householders to ‘be on guard' and reject cold calling ‘home energy' traders on the doorstep. Local Authority Trading Standards Services across the North of Scotland are warning unsuspecting householders to be on their guard if they are approached by individuals wishing to install home energy products.
A question at Highland council meeting today Thursday 27 June 2019. Item 12 - Question Time To the Leader of the Council "The move to consultation on the closure of Stoer Primary School will mean that shortly Highland Council will have shut down 4 Sutherland schools in 3 years.
Several road closures are required for Network Rail, British Telecom and Muir of Ord Gala. Network Rail maintenance works will require the U3103 Dunrobin Glen Road for 100m either side of Golspie Tower Rail Bridge to be closed from 08:00 on Monday 01/07/2019 until 22:00 on Wednesday 10/07/2019 To avoid the road closure an alternative route will be available via - U3116 Sibell Road, A9 Trunk Road, U3140 Nursery Road and the U3166 Backies Road.
Diageo has been granted planning permission to renovate the Clynelish Distillery visitor experience as part of its £150 million (US$215m) investment in Scotch whisky tourism. In April this year, Johnnie Walker maker Diageo lodged planning applications to "transform" the visitor experiences at Cardhu and Clynelish.
Kyle of Sutherland was in the spotlight at an international community development conference this week - May 2019. A short film about the impact of Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust's work on local community life was showcased to the 270 delegates at the Strengthening Communities Conference Scotland ‘19 in Aviemore.
Two Highland communities have had their requests for buildings to be transferred over to them approved by The Highland Council At todays (Thursday 16 May 2019) Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee members agreed to transfer the Bettyhill Visitor Centre to the Strathnaver Museum, creating an opportunity for an enhanced cultural heritage and community "hub" in the far north. Until recently the Visitor Centre with a cafe, situated next to the Strathnaver Museum, was run by Visit Scotland.
The last of 84 offshore wind turbines was commissioned on 15th May 2019 which has been completed on time and under budget after three years of construction. The final 7MW Siemens Gamesa turbine was installed in the Outer Moray Firth, around 13km off the coast of Caithness, bringing the site's total installed capacity to 588MW - enough to provide clean, low carbon energy to over 450,000 homes.
Already leading the way when it comes to providing nutritional school meals, The Highland Council has reaffirmed its commitment to put more local fresh seasonal food on school dinner plates. Catherine Pendreigh, Food for Life Partnerships Manager at the Soil Association gave a presentation at today's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on the accreditation already awarded to Highland Council's school meals and how this could be further developed in the future.
Members of The Highland Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee have welcomed new funding to stimulate economic investments in Highland town centres to help them diversify and flourish. In partnership with COSLA The Scottish Government have provided £50m capital to set up the Town Centre Fund 2019-2020.
See the announcements at https://secure.cbonline.co.uk/supporting-our-customers/impact-assessment. Branches to close are Arbroath Brora Glasgow Largs St Andrews.
Architects have been appointed to design the spaceport that is being developed to launch small satellites from the Highlands. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is leading the £17.5m Space Hub Sutherland project, including a £2.5m grant from the UK Space Agency (UKSA).
When a £1M school improvement project got underway at Farr Primary and High schools in Sutherland, nine pupils in primaries 1 to 3 got the chance to roll their sleeves up and have-a-go at painting their new general purpose room. Councillor John Finlayson, Chair of The Highland Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee said: "I am very pleased that contractor Morgan Sindall has recently completed capital programme works for Highland Council's school improvement programme at Farr in Sutherland.
Police Scotland and the I Am Me charity have welcomed new members to the network of Highland premises which have agreed to make their premises a Keep Safe place for people to go if they feel frightened, distressed or have been the victim of crime. Nairn Citizens Advice Bureau and the Co-ops in Golspie and Brora have joined the initiative, which is delivered in partnership between I Am Me and Police Scotland.
