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News Archive - December 2014
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31 December 2014
Wick Street Party Web Cam Will Go Live at 10.30pmOnce again the street party will take place at the car park at riverside due to the ongoing works at Market Square. You wil hear the music as you approach the area. If you know of anyother web cams for Caithness parties let us know.
A few earlier parties
Wick
2014 2008 2006
Thurso
2007
Fast Look At e' Last Groat of 'e Year
29 December 2014
Police appeal for information following report of assault in ThursoParents get cyber-savvy in 2015
New online safety classes for
families.
Parents and carers concerned about keeping their children safe online
will be able to take part in new hands-on training sessions.
The pilot, created in a partnership between anti-bullying service
respectme and the Scottish Government, will guide even the most
technophobic users through the most popular social media sites and how
to make sure their children's pictures and postings are as safe as
possible.
Community IndexImpact Of Welfare Reforms On Households To Be Examined
New research on the impact of
welfare reform on Scottish households has been commissioned by a
Scottish Parliament committee for 2015.
The research for the Welfare Reform Committee will be carried out by
Professors Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill of the Centre for
Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University.
For the first time, the research will aim to measure the impact of the
UK Government's welfare reform agenda on different household types.
Business Index28 December 2014
A Frosty Walk Along Wick River
A few took a bracing, post-festive, walk round Wick's frosty Riverside, today, and one of the dogs that went walkies decided to take the temperature of the water....but not for long.
27 December 2014
Some Thoughts on Castle Varrich, Tongue. (by George Watson)
This article appeared in the
Caithness Field Club Bulletin for 2013.
Perched on a rocky hilltop overlooking the Kyle of Tongue this small
tower was described in 1791 as, "a structure so antient, that there is
no consistent tradition concerning it"i. Subsequent years have had
little to add, forcing visitors to speculate on its origin and history.
Those searching for information are restricted to a few sentences in
the Statistical Accounts, and the remains of the building itself. A
plan of the building, published by MacGibbon and Ross in 1889 ii, shows
a doorway in the south wall of the upper floor, but this is
contradicted in the attached notes, which correctly place the doorway
in the east wall.
Earlier Articles From Caithness
Field Club Bulletins Castles25 December 2014
Rabbits At Ellens Geo, Ulbster
Rabbits at Ellens Geo near
Ulbster. If
you would like to add your rabbit photos to this gallery email them to
bill@caithness.orgHappy Christmas To Everyone From Caithness.org
24 December 2014
A Few Items From 'e Groat - Early This WeekNo Hiding for Those with History of Violence Says Rhoda Grant MSP
Highland and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSP, Rhoda Grant is backing the roll out of an anti-domestic abuse scheme across Scotland following a trial period that was piloted in Aberdeen and Ayrshire in November this year. The Police Scotland "Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme" which allows for men and woman to request information on whether their partner has a history of domestic violence has already received 15 applications in the trial areas and is being tested in Scotland following the introduction of the scheme in England and Wales following the murder of Clare Wood in Salford in 2009 by her ex-partner who has a previous record of domestic violence and abuse.
Caithness and Sutherland Women's Aid
Action to create better conditions for freshwater pearl mussels
Work to create better
conditions for internationally important freshwater pearl mussels in an
area of significant decline is underway.
It follows recent survey work at the River Spey that detected a 50%
decline in the freshwater pearl mussel population.
This disappointing downward trend has been attributed to water quality,
the plant water crowfoot, fluctuating water levels, and wildlife crime.
A new joint initiative urging voluntary restraint on large scale culls of mountain hares has been launched
The move by Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH), Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) and the Game and
Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) should, along with several other
measures, help ensure that future management is sustainable.
Ron Macdonald, SNH's director of policy and advice, said: "We are
asking estates for restraint on large-scale culls of mountain hares
which could jeopardise the conservation status of mountain hares.
Life-saving project gets go-ahead for another year
An event that equips Highland
primary 7 pupils with potentially life-saving skills will again take
place in 2015.
Members of The Highland Council's Community Safety, Public Engagement
and Equalities Committee have given their backing to the "Safe
Highlanders" partnership project which, in 2014, took place at Cameron
Barracks Inverness and also at Portree and Wick.
Back to school in 2015 with free school meals
The Highland Council is advising all parents and carers of Primary 1 to 3 children in the Highland area that they will be entitled to receive free school meals from Monday 5 January 2015.
Rabbits In Caithness
A couple of pictures of rabbits
relaxing in the sunshine at the Coop store in Wick. Have you
any
pictures of rabbits wild or pets that you would like to add over the
Chrismtas period. Send your photos by email to
bill@caithness.org to add to the gallery. If you have even more on web
page or facebook send the links to add to your photo on our gallery.23 December 2014
Talks to be held over Caithness General consultant shortages - BBCThe Highland health board said it was looking at new models for the service that would allow it to continue on a more sustainable basis. Meeting of Health Board and local politicians on 6th January in Wick.
Hillhead Primary School Creates Unique 2015 Calendar
Primary 7 pupils at Hillhead
Primary School have created Christmas cards and calendars with a very
special Wick connection. The primary 7 class have taken hundreds of
photographs of signs around Wick. They have photographed shop signs,
business signs and plaques. The photographs were then cropped to make
letters which they have used to create calendars and Christmas cards.
The cards and calendars both make a very interesting item for anyone
with connections to Wick as it is an intriguing puzzle as to where the
letters come from. For those who get stuck there are the correct
answers on each item.
Keiss School Christmas Concert
Prices at the Pump - Why Are They Falling and Will This Continue?
The price consumers pay for
fuel is strongly related to the price of crude oil, although it is less
volatile and the effect of changes in crude oil prices are delayed.
The most recent data shows the crude oil price falling 25% on the year,
so, are we in line for a big drop in fuel prices?
Well who can guess?22 December 2014
Council welcomes work of Highland Armed Forces Community Covenant PartnershipMembers of The Highland Council
have welcomed the work of the Highland
Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership and endorsed the
partnership's future priorities.
How Others See Us - 269 Sunken Turbines To Make Scotland Home To World’s Largest Tidal Farm
From ClimateProgress
The world’s largest tidal
energy project, capable of powering nearly 175,000 homes in the U.K.
with 400 megawatts of power, will break ground next month in northeast
Scotland. Atlantis, majority owner of the MeyGen project, announced
that its flagship project had met all the conditions required to start
drawing down finance through the U.K.’s Renewable Energy Investment
Fund.
The completed project will have 269 sunken turbines, according to
Atlantis, which expects to have about 60 of these installed and
delivering power by 2020.
Financial close for Wick Campus puts project full steam ahead
The Highland Council is pleased
to announce that 'financial close' of the Wick Campus project was
achieved, Friday 19 December 2014. With financial close, the Design,
Build, Finance and Maintain (DBFM) contract has now been signed off for
the £48.5m project which is due to complete in September 2016.
The Wick Campus project will see a new community campus for Wick
incorporating replacements for the existing Wick High School, a
replacement Primary School (Newton Park Primary School) for the
existing South Primary School and Pulteneytown Academy Primary School.
The Campus will also replace the existing community swimming pool and
community library facilities with new provision.
PHOTO
GALLERYUniversity of the Highlands and Islands launches its first accelerated degree
The University of the Highlands
and Islands is offering its first ever accelerated degree. Applications
have opened for the new BSc (Hons) geography which will be available to
study at Inverness College UHI and Lews Castle College UHI on Lewis
from September 2015.
The course will enable students to gain an honours degree - something
which would normally take four years to complete - in just three years.
Students will undertake two terms in their first year then go on to a
trimester system in their second and third, studying for three blocks
of three months at a time with a month off in-between each. The model
aims to help students enter the workplace more quickly and reduce the
costs of going to university.
More Music Lessons Of High Standard Could Be Delivered By Video Conferencing To Schools
Keep pressure on council over school cuts proposals, councillors told - Press & Journal
Police appeal for information following damage to lorry in Castletown
Police appeal for information following damage to premises in Wick
Police Appeal for Information - Car damaged - Thurso
21 December 2014
New photo contest celebrates Scotland's urban deer
To celebrate one of Scotland's
most
renowned and beloved animals, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has
launched a free photo contest - Scotland’s first Urban Deer Photography
Competition.
More and more deer are moving into urban areas, as new green spaces and
woodlands are created in the Central Belt and in towns and cities
across the country. This means many more people in Scotland are
enjoying seeing wild deer – and have the chance to take some stunning
pictures.
20 December 2014
HIE Buys Pelamis But Jobs Go - re NEWSAtlantis Resources Makes First MeyGen Facility Drawdown
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Good news for Caithness as this weeks newsletter from Eann Sinclair shows the Meygen project getting closer to starting. Check out the very interesting film issued in January about the project.
19 December 2014
Fit's in 'e GroatCourier
15 December 2014
Wick Ward Forum tonight is cancelledThe Wick Ward Forum which was due to take place in Wick Town Hall at 7pm tonight has been cancelled on the advice of the police due to the weather forecast. There is currently a yellow warning in place for snow and ice for the North Highlands. A new date for the event will be arranged early next year.
14 December 2014
Here We Go Again - 10 Years Ago This Banner Was Flown By North Action Group
2004
Maternity Fight - 2014 Surgical Cover Fight BeginsWith
the removal of 24 hour surgical cover from Monday 15th December a
rising voice is being heard calling for something to be done by NHS
Highland and not just to put in place possible transfers to services
over 100 miles away. The
banners are still around - we did not dispose of them and it is looking
more and more that they will need to be unfurled once again.
See the
petition link below with numbers rising fast.
Petition LinkRe-instate and continue to maintain 24 hour emergency surgery services at Caithness General Hospital Wick
Free Meeting Room For Community Groups At Tesco Wick
Shopper at Tesco Wick will have
seen the new look in parts of the store but may not be aware that Tesco
Wick are now offering free facilties to community groups.
Times may be
hard and community groups might want to save money on room hire by
using the new place which is fully furnished and offers free tea and
coffee making facitlties. Booking is easy by phone or email.
The room can
be used for one off meetings or regular weekly or monthly meetings.
Worth
checking out for established groups or new ones looking to get going.Cold In Caithness - Snow In The East On Saturday
The cold weather let a few
children get out to make snowman in their garden in Wick. If
you have any other photos of the snow email them to bill@caithness.org
to be included in this gallery.Caithness Archaeology: Aspects of Prehistory Hardcover – 31 Mar 2015
This long awaited book on
Caithness Archaeology is coming out in March 2015. If you
would like to be notified when it is available go to our local
publishers in Caithness - Whittles Publishing.If you are quick you can still order Caithness and other titles from them in time for Christmas at at www.whittlespublishing.com/
13 December 2014
Christmas Tree Festival 2014
The
Christmas Tree Festival at Wick St Fergus church gave voluntary groups
the chance to place a tree and display someof their information.12 December 2014
Latest Pictures in the Artists Gallery From Robin Cookson
Fit's in 'e Groat
Thurso recycling point at Lidl closed
People in Thurso are being advised by The Highland Council that the recycling banks at Thurso Lidl have been removed until February 2015 due to lack of space in the car park during the store’s renovations.
More Toys For Caithness FM Christmas Appeal
Dounreay Employees Charity Fund
donated over £500 worth of toys and gifts to this year's Caithness
FM
Toy Appeal. In addition a selection of hand knitted toys were
donated
by Mrs Gladys Leith.
The toys and gifts are distributed to children and teenagers in
Caithness.
Dounreay, Caithness Horizons, Caithness FM and Tesco Wick are all collection points for the toy appeal up until 20th December. All gifts should be unwrapped to let volunteers select suiable gifts for each child.
11 December 2014
DOUNREAY FUND's CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHTS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIESSince its launch in 2011, the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund has awarded almost £1m to seventy five community projects and this performance is set to continue....The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund also held its latest grant assessment round which awarded £7,337 to the Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG) towards its Telecom and IT Refurbishment Project.
If You Are In Inverness With Kids 12th - 14th December
Winter Wonderland adds WOW factor. A number of new attractions will take place in Whin Park, Inverness this weekend (Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2014) at The Highland Council's Winter Wonderland event. Traditionally one of the highlights of the year for youngsters from all around Inverness and the surrounding area; this year's Wonderland has been expanded to feature a number of inflatables for families to enjoy; including the first ever opportunity for folk to climb inside giant WOW balls and attempt to walk across the park’s famous boating lake.
FREE ENTRY
Highland Council Distance Learning Course to Become a Primary School Teacher
Part-time distance learning
primary teaching course.
Building on an existing successful partnership between The Highland
Council and the University of Aberdeen, the next Distance Learning
Initial Teacher Education Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
(DLITE PGDE) (Primary) begins on 7 February 2015. Ten places are
available.
Tidal wave causes damage to Thurso riverside wall
A tidal wave, reportedly about
2
metres high, swept up Thurso river yesterday during high tide and the
force tossed part of a concrete wall onto a road.
Fifteen metres or so of the four concrete block high wall next to the
slipway at the Riverside car park was tossed into the air and landed on
the access road causing sea water to flood through the breached wall
onto the surface of the road. During the storms a lot of debris was
deposited on the esplanade and riverside area but sand bags were in
place so it's understood that none of the properties suffered any water
damage.
See
same place after council cleared up
Lightning striking Scotland's most northerly mainland point at Dunnet Head yesterday
Lightning Storm captured from Thurso beach looking over to Dunnet Head. Film by Ann Livingstone.
St Fergus Gallery, Wick - Christmas Craft Market
Saturday 13th 10.00am - 4.00pm.
Noel tunes up for a festive fundraiser
Coffee and carols
session at the Norseman Hotel on Saturday - 10.00 - Noon.
10 December 2014
WANTED - Accredited Testing Company - Concrete Cube Testing WorkCube testing will be required from February 2015 to December 2016 approximately. Collection may be required where a collection fee can be agreed from a fixed point close to Thurso on the A9.
North Councillors give support to Countryside Ranger Service
'Caithness House' chosen as name for new Wick Offices
With staff due to move into the
new council offices in Wick in March next year, one of the items on the
Area Committee today was to agree a name for the building which will
house 140 members of staff.
Local Councillors, keen to have a new name to encompass both the
refurbished original listed building at Market Place and to reflect the
new works to incorporate the adjoining building at Stafford Place put
forward the suggestion of Caithness House which was unanimously agreed
by the Committee.
Fit's in 'e Courier
Police in Wick appeal for information following serious assault
9 December 2014
Weather Warnings Until Thursday - Trains Cancelled - School Closures PossiblePolice
and partner agencies across the Highlands and Islands are reminding the
public to be vigilant following yellow warning reports (be prepared) of
severe gales and storm force winds with gusts of up to 60-70mph from
9pm on the evening of Tuesday 09 December 2014 through to 6am Thursday
morning of 11 December 2014. The winds are believed to be strong enough
that there could be some structural damage associated with them, and
they will also be accompanied by high seas which have the potential to
cause wave overtopping.
Caithness Orchestra Carol Concert - Thurso - Sunday 21st December
See Santa At Dunnet Forest On Saturday 13th December
Check December Whats On For Many Christmas Events in Caithness
No bags in Blue Bins To Improve Recycling
Clean, dry and loose, that's
the simple message that The Highland Council is delivering to
householders where it has been experiencing contamination issues with
the blue recycling bins. Feedback from the MRF (Materials Recycling
Facility) where the mixed recyclables are taken for separation is there
are just too many plastic bags as well as bagged waste in the blue bins
which makes it very difficult to process. Collection crews are unable
to empty bins with contamination and will put ‘No Bags' stickers on
blue recycling bins reminding residents that paper, cardboard, plastic
bottles, food tins and drink cans should be put in loose.
NDA Launches Consultation On New 3 Year plan
Consultation began on
8th December 2014 on the Draft Business Plan 2015 to 2018 that sets out
the key objectives and plans for delivering the NDA priorities over the
next three years.
The total planned expenditure for 2015/16 is £3.31 billion, of which
£2.09 billion will be funded by UK government and £1.22 billion by
income from commercial operations. Planned expenditure on site
programmes will be £2.91 billion, while non-site expenditure is
expected to be £0.19 billion.
7 December 2014
Still Time To Advertise Your Christmas Events In Our What's OnWhatever yor event - Christmas
Fair, Christmas Party, Christmas Menu, Christmas Disco, Christmas Carols
or indeed any event
coming up in December. Remember it is FREE to
advertise for groups and businesses. The Caithness.org "What's On" is the
most comperhensive local listing of what is on around Caithness and
sometimes even Sutherland. Hundreds of events are listed
each month and the listing flows out daily into our Facebook and
Twitter acocunts for even more coverage. The listing also
shows on many pages around the web site and our scrolling headlines
neaer the top of this and other pages. Getting your event noticed is
easy - just complete the 'Submission
Form' in the section. Get your events
listed as soon as you have full details available and get long term
coverage even
years ahead.
Reactor control room moves to a new home
Last week saw the last of the
Dounreay Materials Testing Reactor (DMTR) control room panels shipped
off site and transferred to their new home in local five-star visitor
attraction Caithness Horizons.
The control room panels and control desk have been donated to Caithness
Horizons and reconstructed at the museum to form the basis of a new
permanent exhibition representing Dounreay's significant part in
Scotland's industrial heritage.
The project team have developed a special framework to display the
control room in the newly refurbished exhibition area and a small
amount of restoration work has been carried out ready for display.
6 December 2014
More Photos From The New Wick High School Construction Site
5 December 2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership UpdateStranded Marine Animals - Who To Call
Board Members Needed - Pentland Housing Association
Pentland Housing Association is a key provider of social rented housing in the County of Caithness, but in combination with its two subsidiaries, Pentland Community Enterprises and Pentland Energy Advice, it has a wider remit to support and invest in local regeneration, and help sustain local communities.
4 December 2014
Several Vacancies Added To the Forum at 4.15pm
New Wick High School Construction Site Today
The
new Wick high school site is hive of activity now as the car park is
under construction - no doubt to provide parking
for workers
vehicles as the building works progress as well as for teachers cars
once the project is completed.Caithness FM Annual Toy Appeal
Dounreay, Caithness Horizons,
Caithness FM and Tesco Wick are all collection point for the toy
appeal. All donations greatly appreciated and will help local under
privileged children have a brighter Christmas. All contributions should be
unwrapped and can be sent in until 20th December.
Our focus, your priorities for community safety say Police and Fire Services
Officers from Police
Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be attending
Highland Council Ward Forum Meetings over the coming weeks.
CAITHNESS
(Combining WICK, THURSO & LANDWARD CAITHNESS wards)- 15th
December 2014- Wick Town Hall.
NHS Highland board members furious with scathing audit - Press & Journal
The Crucible - Live From The Old Vic Theatre at Thurso Cinema
4th
and 7th December at Thurso Cinema direct from the Old Vic Theatre,
LondonThe Old Vic's five-star, sold-out production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible directed by Yaël Farber and starring Richard Two performances available at Thurso cinema.
What's On At Thurso Cinema From Friday 5th December
If you live in Thurso Remember to save money for Christmas Cards and Use the Scout Post
See the item inside telling you where you can post your cards and how to pay. Save money and help the Thurso scouts.
3 December 2014
Invite for Businesses Interested In Tourism in Caithness and SutherlandNew Funding Opportunities for Groups and Individuals Added To The Community Pages
2 December 2014
Sinbad - Wick Players Pantomime
2nd
to friday 5th Dec curtains up at 7:30 and Saturday 6th Matinee curtains
up at 2:30. Tickets available from The Flower Patch, River Street, Wick
or at the door £6 flat seating and £8 Tiered seating. Loads of fun
laughter and audience participation also find us on Facebook as Wick
Players. Sinbad and his crew are setting sail out of Wick Harbour!!
Wick & District Pool League - Rockwater Shield Second Leg
More Jobs in Caithness Added To Our Forum at 4.10pm Today
New Noss Primary School, Wick - Animation
An animation has been created
to show how the new Noss Primary school in Wick will look. The new
school is expected to open in 2015.
Latest Photos HERE
Construction Site Photo Gallery From The Start
Several New Jobs - Added at 7.00am Today
Employers can advertise their vacancies completely free of charge in the forum that now receives a very high viewing level. Ads also flow out into Caithness.org Facebook and Twitter for even more coverage.
1 December 2014
Thurso Christmas Cards Can Be Delivered for Just 20 pence to Thurso AddressesThurso Scouts Local Christmas Post Delivery For 20p
Help Thurso Scouts by getting the scouts in Thurso to deliver local cards. See the full item on how to do it.
New Council offices In Wick - Latest Photos
Work progresses inside and out
at the new council offices in Wick with eveing and weekend working to
ensure the time scale is met.Police appeal for information following theft of farm item from a property in Roster, Lybster
Police appeal for information following damage to property in Wick
Are you ready for winter asks Highland Council?
The Highland Council is
supporting the Scottish Government's Ready Scotland Campaign and urges
people in the Highlands to take some time to get ready for winter and
all kinds of severe weather. Search Our Site
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