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30 October 03
Community
Supported Agriculture in the Highlands and Islands - – would it work for your community?
A feasibility study
commissioned by HIE is under way to see if Community Supported Agriculture
can be established on farms and crofts in the Highlands and Islands. This
paper gives a brief outline of how CSA farming works and invites you to
get involved in the study and have your say.
30 October 03
JOBS BOOST FOR BRORA AS SUTHERLAND
ENGINEERING FIRM EXPANDS ITS WINDFARM OPERATIONS
A major investment in specialist equipment to transport wind turbine
components will result in 10 new full-time jobs at Edward Mackay Ltd (EML)
in Brora and help position the company as a national specialist in
windfarm development. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) is
backing the development with a £210,000 financial support package for EML.
The £842,700 project involves the purchase of specialist plant and haulage
equipment in order to transport wind turbine components - which are
classed as abnormal loads - from coastal ports to windfarm sites in
Scotland.
30 October 03
Caithness Youth Conference 2003
The First Ever Conference to be held in Caithness specifically for Young
People- which is being organised by the Caithness Youth Forum - will be
held in the New Weigh Inn on Sunday 16th November 2003. It starts
at 10.30 AM and will finish with live music entertainment at 9PM.
24 October 03
Capture more of Caithness at
www.artsmith-caithness.co.uk
An exciting new website launched today
Local artist Julian Smith offers a dynamic and engaging internet shop
window for a range of high quality prints and original artwork. The
prints which featured in his successful summer exhibition can be viewed
and purchased with ease on this extremely user-friendly site. Some
of the features are quite novel, for instance an 'In progress' page shows
the 'life' of a painting from sketch to finished piece on the easel. This
section, like many of the pages will be updated regularly with
contemporary works. Shortly Julian will have his unique DVD
available for sale on the web site - a combination of his artwork,
animation and music and sure to be a popular gift this year and for some
time to come................
23 October 03
NURSERY NURSES DISPUTE
- STRIKE ACTION FOR NEXT WEEK CALLED OFF
Planned strike action in the Unison Nursery Nurses dispute for the dates
Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th
October has been suspended following a series of meetings over the October
holidays between Unison and Highland Council officials. Although no
formal agreement has been reached, there has been enough common ground
covered as a basis for discussion for a final agreement.............
22 October 03
HIGHLANDS AND
ISLANDS DELEGATION RETURNS
FROM TRAILBLAZING VISIT TO CHINA
A
delegation of Inverness Area Highland Councillors and businessmen from the
Highlands & Islands has just returned from China declaring their visit a
positive step forward in forging strong economic and educational links.
Accompanying Inverness City Provost William Smith were Councillors Jimmy
Gray, Norrie Donald and Bob Wynd together with Chris Claridge, the
Highland Council’s Inverness Area Manager and businessmen from Inverness
and the Western Isles. The businessmen included Duncan Chisholm of
Duncan Chisholm & Sons Ltd., the Kiltmakers, Inverness and Ian MacKenzie
and Roddy Martin of the Harris Tweed Industry.....
21 October 03
Shining Example For Solar Energy
A new Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds scheme designed to encourage people to use
solar energy was launched today. Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis
Macdonald explained that the ‘Going Solar’ initiative, a non-profit making
scheme, offered the first ever ‘solar loans’. It allows people to
install this technology by offering a fixed solar power installation price
and special loans to finance it. It is open to members of the
public. More than one million members of the RSPB will be
specifically targeted. The solar initiative will offer those
participating the potential of saving money on their current bills.
The scheme is being run by the RSPB, solarcentury, a UK photovoltaic firm,
and the Co-op bank who are offering the loans.................
21 October
03
HIGHLAND COUNCIL MOVING TOWARDS OPPOSING
COMMERCIAL GROWING OF GM CROPS
The Highland Council is being increasingly
pointed towards opposing the commercial growing of Genetically Modified
Crops.
This is the view of Councillor Richard Durham, Chairman of the Council’s
Land and Environment Select Committee, who has asked the matter to be
debated when his committee meets next on Thursday 6 November.
Councillor Durham made his comments after noting the results of the
biggest environmental-impact study of GM crops anywhere in the world,
which indicated that the cultivation of GM crops – such as oilseed rape –
reduces biodiversity in wildlife compared to their conventional
equivalents.........................
Coop Stores Ban GM Food
21 October 03
Pentland Brass Get UKAEA Donation
UKAEA
Dounreay recently donated £100 towards the cost of instruments and music
for Pentland Brass Band. The band was formed in February 2003 and this
month they played their music to the public for the first time in aid of
funds for the Highland Hospice at St Peters Church, Thurso. Colin
Gregory, UKAEA is pictured here presenting the cheque to Ricky Mackay and
Colin Turnbull of the Pentland Brass Band.
18 October 03
Wick Caged Bird Society Annual Show 2003
18 October 03
NOSTALGIC RETURN TO DOUNREAY
FOR FORMER FARM RESIDENTS
Guests of honour at opening of £5 million complex.
Two
of the last people to live on a Caithness farm before it was
transformed during the 1950s into a world-leading centre for research
and development of nuclear energy today returned to their former home to
set the seal on a £5 million investment in its decommissioning. The
farm at Lower Dounreay was home to Mrs Elizabeth Nicolson until 1945,
and Mr Morris Pottinger until May 1956. The UK Atomic Energy
Authority acquired the house and farmland from Mr Pottinger and his late
wife Nettie in November 1955 following a Government announcement that
Britain's fast reactor experiment would be sited at Dounreay.
The Dounreay farmhouse dates from 1859. Following its acquisition by the
UKAEA in 1955, it was used variously for office accommodation and storage
of archive material..........
18 October 03
SUTHERLAND WOOLLEN MILL PLACED ON THE MARKET
Sutherland Woollen Mill in Brora has this week been placed on the
market by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The
11,500sq.m.complex, set in 17.5 acres of land, until earlier this year
leased from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) by a textile firm,
is being advertised for sale in property publications and the local and
national press.
15 October 03
SONGS IN TUNE
WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
The
Highland Council’s Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship launched a new Gaelic
song teaching resource at the Royal National Mod in Oban. Entitled “Seinn
o ho ro Seinn”, the venture, which has been funded by the Scottish Arts
Council, is designed to encourage more people, particularly young people,
to sing Gaelic songs.
15 October 03
Halloween Night At Captain's
Galley
The Ice House should make a great setting for dinner with some stories for
Halloween by well known local writer Donald Omand
15 October 03
UKAEA ANNOUNCES PREFERRED BIDDERS FOR CONDITIONED
WASTE STORE
Multi-million Pound Contract Will Create 200 New Jobs
Four companies have been named today as the
preferred bidders to form a design alliance with the UK Atomic Energy
Authority for one of the largest construction projects in the Dounreay
Site Restoration Plan. Atkins
(design integrator), Serco Assurance (building services and safety and
environment), Taylor Woodrow (civil engineering) and Weir Strachan &
Henshaw (mechanical handling) will work with UKAEA to form an
integrated team capable of providing a concept design for a solid
intermediate-level
waste store in 2004 and the detailed design by 2005.
14 October
03
ALL CHANGE
AGAIN AS FUTURE
OF NHS IN THE HIGHLANDS AGREED
Highland NHS Board today agreed the way forward for the
structure of NHS Highland following the abolition of Highland
Primary Care NHS Trust and Highland Acute Hospitals Trust in
April 2003. The Board had published its proposals for the
dissolution of Trusts and the creation of an integrated
healthcare system for NHS Highland in its document Care without
Barriers. Formal consultation on the proposals took place
between 5th August and 6th October 2003 and the Board heard
today of the detail of the 112 responses to that consultation.
The Trusts will be abolished and the Community Health Partnerships
established from 1st April 2004, but the majority of the other changes
will be phased in over the following year.”
In respect of Belford Hospital and
Caithness General: .......more
14 October 03
HIE NETWORK'S TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT NOW
AVAILABLE
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE) has just published
its twelfth annual report, covering the agency's activities during the
period from 1st April 2002 to 31st March 2003. The 104-page document
charts a highly successful year for the enterprise network, which met or
exceeded all of its key targets.
13 October
03
SECOND HOME COUNCIL TAX INCOME
CAN HELP ESTABLISH LAND BANK
The Highland Council has welcomed
the Scottish Executive’s injection of £10 million over the next two years
into the Communities Scotland Development Programme in Scotland and is
ready to play its part in easing the shortage of housing in the area.
In addressing the Convention, Councillor Magee said the Council was
committed to working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Communities
Scotland to establish a revolving land bank fund, building on the
principle of the £1.5m land banking fund provided to the Highland Small
Communities Housing Trust..............
9 October 03
Oscar The Robot Promoting Safety
Dounreay
is enjoying a visitor with a difference this week. The Alstec owned robot
called Oscar is on site for Dounreay European Safety & Health Week that
Dounreay is currently running. This year's theme is making your place of
work a safe and healthy place by preventing risks from 'Dangerous
Substances' at work. The robot has also been out and about in
Caithness and has visited two local primary schools, Miller Academy in
Thurso and Wick South School.
9 October 03
UKAEA Employee Volunteers Finish The Job
UKAEA's help of
financial backing and the use of their volunteer employees ensured that
the final one hundred and twenty metres of the Thurso River Mall was
finished ready for the official opening last Saturday. UKAEA have worked
with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) over the past
three years to make a vast improvement to the Thurso river footpath walk
up to the salmon pool. A 20 strong team from Dounreay, some of whom
are pictured, rolled up their sleeves to tirelessly shovel hardcore and
clear shrub land, finishing the project in two days.
8 October 03
Ainsley at Dunrobin
Dunrobin Castle
provided a magnificent backdrop for a day of culinary events featuring
celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot. Organised jointly by Caithness and
Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE), as
part of the Highland Food and Drink Festival, the day started with a
showcase of local food produce from across the two areas.
Students from the North Highland College had prepared canapés, based on
the winning entry in a competition for Modern Apprentices run to coincide
with the event...................
7 October 03
AEA Battery - First In To New Golspie Business Park
East
Sutherland had a jobs boost with the announcement today that AEA
Li-Ion Battert Recycling will be the first new Business in the
Golspie Business Park. 30 new jobs will be created at the
site. Possibilities for further jobs may appear when
the firm set up new research and development facilities.
It is a major boost for East Sutherland and particularly Golspie.
The Golspie Business Park site has room for other businesses as
the infrastructure is already in place.
M M Miller (Wick) Ltd were the building contractor on the
project.
BSM
SEEKS NEW MOTOR CYCLE TRAINING PARTNERS
BSM
Rider Training, the motorcycle and scooter training arm of driving expert
BSM and part of RAC Group, is looking for ambitious training organisations
and individuals who want to improve rider training standards and develop
their businesses.
7 October 03
DOUNREAY DELIVERS ANNUAL REPORT
ON SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
The UK Atomic Energy Authority today delivered its annual report on
safety and the environment at Dounreay during 2002/03 to the site's local
liaison committee. Dr Guy Owen, UKAEA's head of safety and
environment at Dounreay, said the site continued to be one of the safest
industrial workplaces in the UK but insisted there was no room for
complacency.
7 October 03
HIE
CALLS FOR BALANCED APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHARGING FOR AIR
TRAVEL
The impact on the environment of all flights in the
Highlands and Islands of Scotland each year is less than the
effect of just one day's air traffic between the UK and the USA,
according to a new report by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
HIE is calling for a balanced approach to the introduction of
environmental charging and argues charges should be based on
actual environmental cost, rather than being imposed at a flat
rate. Given the lack of viable alternatives - such
as high-speed rail links and fast and frequent ferry
crossings - HIE believes there is no case for environmental
taxation of flights on routes within the Highlands and Islands
or between the region's 10 airports and other Scottish
airports..........
6 October 03
LIVING PAINT- Fergusson Gallery
Collection
Tours Highlands
Paintings
by the renowned Scottish artist John Duncan Fergusson, will be touring
Highland Council galleries in Kingussie, Inverness, Wick and Thurso this
autumn and winter Born in Edinburgh in 1874, Fergusson is
increasingly recognised as an artist of both national and international
standing. “Living Paint” is a unique opportunity to see a selection of
landscapes, portraits, still life and nudes, which demonstrate his
experimental and varied output. Fergusson is now best known as one
of the Scottish Colourists, along with SJ Peploe, FCB Cadell and GL Hunter.
Although they rarely exhibited as a group during their lifetimes, they
shared a love of colour and paint, exploiting its sensual qualities.
Fergusson in particular also benefited from contact with avant-garde
artists in Paris in the first decade of the 20th century. His
response to this artistic revolution was ahead of any of his British
contemporaries.
6 October 03
UKAEA SPONSORED EVENT GETS THE THURSO
SQUASH CLUB SEASON OFF TO SENSATIONAL START
Yes
it’s that time again, put away the golf clubs, running shoes and football
boots dust down that squash racquet and make your way down to Thurso &
District Squash Club. Over thirty players from the local community did
just recently for the Annual Handicap Squash competition, once again very
kindly sponsored by the UKAEA.
6 October 03
Rugby - Caithness Under 15's In Great Form
Caithness 85 Highland 7
Caithness Rugby Club under 15s travelled to Inverness on Sunday 5 October
2003 with a squad of 19 players to play their third game in the North
Under 15 Development League against Highland at the Bught Park. The
weather was cold and blustery as Caithness kicked off and it soon became
apparent that the Greens were a much bigger, faster and heavier side and
soon had their counterparts under the cosh.....................
5 October 03
John Thurso MP Opens Thurso River Mall Project
John Thurso MP opened the
latest stage of the Thurso River Development Project on Saturday 4th
October 2003 in weather more akin to December or January. Blustery
showers of rain and hail, however, failed to dampen the spirits of those
involved in this project and an opportune break in the cloud at 2.30pm
allowed the ribbon cutting ceremony to go ahead outside. This ceremony
was preceded by a walk around the river by many of those present following
the new Mall paths and crossing the river by the Cemetery and Mount Vernon
Bridges. Thurso Rotary President Paul Hagan introduced Lord Thurso
to the assembled company and invited John Thurso MP, Caithness Convener
David Flear, and Chief Executive of CASE, Carroll Buxton, to address the
gathering.
5 October 03
Match Report - Thurso F.C 5 V Invergordon
0 - Port Services Cup Semi-Final - Saturday 4th October 2003
5 October 03
Caithness.org Inspires Another Web Site In
Guildford
Isabel
Thurley (nee Bruce) has appeared in the Guildford Times stating that
Caithness.org was the model for her new web site for the Holy Trinity
Amenity Group covering the neighbourhood of the town in which she lives.
Isabel is originally from Caithness and often logs on to us in the north.
Isabel is the editor of the group newsletter and lacking space to put
everything in she has gone for a web site which is now growing at
www.htag-guildford.org
5 October 03
Caithness Walking Festival 15 - 23 May 2004
"2004 will go down in history as being the year in which the first
Caithness Walking Festival took place. As a follow up to recent press
trips to the north by journalists from a range of publications, organised
by the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board, the festival will take place
during the week 15th to 23rd May.....................
3 October 03
COUNCIL
AWAIT CONSULTATION BEFORE CONFIRMING STANCE
ON NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DECOMMISSIONING
Highland Councillors have strongly hinted that they will oppose a proposal
to use the Nigg oil fabrication yard to dismantle some of the Royal Navy’s
laid-up nuclear-powered submarines and store the reactor compartments at
the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment site at Dounreay. However,
they are to await the outcome of forthcoming consultation meetings before
confirming their response. The consultations will involve community
briefings in East Ross and Caithness as well as a national forum being
staged at Lancaster University.
2 October 03
DUNNET WATER QUALITY ACTION
The Scottish
Environment Protection Agency, SEPA, has helped to improve the water
quality in the Dunnet Bay catchment area by working with a local business
and farms. Dunnet Bay is officially recognised as bathing water and SEPA's
Thurso office carried out an action plan in 2002 to investigate the
potential impact of industrial and farming activity in the catchment.......
2 October
03
NORTHERN CONSTABULARY APPEAL FOR INTERPRETERS
Northern Constabulary is currently looking for interpreters to assist
non-English speaking communities when dealing with the police and their
partner organisations. The
intention is to enhance the current list of proficient individuals who can
assist the Force and its partners in providing a face to face interpreting
service. The service would be of tremendous benefit to the
Force, Highland Council and the local health service. Northern
Constabulary, in a joint initiative with Highland Council and the NHS
Highland, is appealing for interpreters in any language
2
October 03
MISSING PERSON - Elizabeth Sneddon
NORTHERN Constabulary is issuing a fresh appeal for information regarding
the whereabouts of Elizabeth Johnson Sneddon, who was reported missing
from her home in Edinburgh. The woman, aged 46, lives at Flat 4, 5
Parkgrove Bank, Edinburgh and was seen in the Aviemore area on 12/13
September. She may be anywhere in the Northern Constabulary area and
may have booked into a B&B or hotel. She does not have a car.
The woman is known to have visited Inverness, Thurso and Invergordon and
has been withdrawing money from cash machines.
1 October 03
£9 Million For Digital Hearing Aid
Services
Patients are to benefit from advanced digital hearing aid
technology through a new funding scheme. The money will help ensure
hearing services have the necessary equipment, staff and availability of
digital hearing aids.
1 October 03
Caithness
Explorer Scouts Attend Launch In Scotland
Last
weekend, 9 Explorer Scouts from Caithness Explorer Unit joined more than
500 others from all over Scotland for the official launch of Explorer
Scouting in Scotland.