News Archive - February 2017

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20 February 2017

Looking To The Future, Promoting Caithness As A Cruise Destination
Scrabster Harbour has launched its marketing campaign to promote Caithness as a cruise destination to the global cruise industry. The campaign, which will feature a staged marketing approach, will ensure relevant information is delivered at the critical points during the decision making process, and before and after cruise industry events.



New Council Tax Rates From 1st April
From 1 April 2017 the Scottish Government is changing the basis on which properties are assessed for Council Tax and this will increase the charge for Council Tax properties that are banded E to H. The Highland Council has no discretion in this matter and must apply these increases to the Council Tax charges from 1 April 2017. Households living in properties in Bands A-D are not affected by these increases. In addition to the increase in Council Tax set by the Scottish Government on properties falling within Bands E to H, The Highland Council has been given the flexibility to increase Council Tax on all properties, Bands A to H, by up to 3% from 1 April 2017. Council Tax legislation, set by the Scottish Government, determines any increase must be applied to all Bands in A to H.

MeyGen Update - AR1500 Turbine Deployed in Record Time
Atlantis, a global leader in the tidal power sector, is delighted to announce that the first AR1500 tidal stream turbine has been deployed and energised at the MeyGen project site in the Pentland Firth, Scotland. The Atlantis AR1500 tidal stream turbine was successfully deployed in less than 60 minutes following earlier connection of its proprietary wet mate connection management system, which allows for rapid deployment and retrieval of the tidal stream turbine. This follows the announcement in November 2016 that first power had been delivered to the grid from the first of the three Andritz Hydro Hammerfest tidal stream turbines.

19 February 2017

Pedestrian killed in John o' Groats road collision  - STV

14 February 2017

Additional £1.174m Funding To Nhs Highland For Adult Care To Be Proposed
The Highland Council's Administration will be proposing an additional £1.174m to NHS Highland for adult care, as part of the 2017/18 budget which will be considered on Thursday 16 February 2017.
Wick Councillor Bill Fernie who is chairman of the Resources committee and Budget Leader for the Independents Administration said,"This has been our most difficult year since I joined the council but I feel that we are able to make thie significant commitment to ensure in partnership wiht NHS Highland wecan deliver Adult Care service to our poele who need it."

Schools Budgets To Be Protected In Highland Budget Proposals
In another challenging financial year, the Highland Council Administration has pledged to protect education services in the 2017/18 budget. The Highland Council will consider next year's budget at its meeting on Thursday 16 February. School budgets, which fund teachers and school support services, have been protected by the Council Administration, and there are no proposals to make savings in these areas.

Improved Safety Measures For Miller Academy
Member of the Caithness Area Committee have given the go-ahead to a project to improve the safety of pupils walking and cycling to and from Miller Academy in Thurso.

Beatrice local Community Fund  - Information Evenings
SSE would like to invite members of the public form the five community council areas listed inside to attend an information event in their local community where they will learn more about the Beatrice local Community Fund. They are also looking for volunteers form each community to join the decision making panel and a ballot will be held at each evet to appoint the community panel members.

12 February 2017

A Turriff-ic result for United - Wick Academy 0 Turriff United 1
On another day, Richard Macadie's first-half rocket would have dipped in under the crossbar and stretched the netting instead of rebounding off the woodwork. On another day, Steven Anderson's well-aimed strike would have found its mark instead of being diverted by the keeper's finger tips. On another day, one of the Academy players involved in a free-for-all, second-half stramash on United's doorstep would have got a telling touch to the ball before it got a panic clearance.    PHOTO GALLERY

6 February 2017

WASPI Continues The State Pension Fight For Women - Check This Out
The Caithness WASPI group are keen to reach out to more 1950s women who are unsure of when they will get their State Pension and how much they will receive. They also want to update people on what's happening with the WASPI campaign which is very exciting! WASPI have raised over £100K to appoint top London law firm Bindmans to help challenge the Government on this important issue. There will be a mass demonstration in London on Wednesday 8th March which is also International Women's Day and there will be representation from Caithness and Sutherland WASPIs. Local WASPI Co-ordinators Aileen and Lorna have organised meetings on Monday 13th February 2017 at 6.30 pm in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso and Thursday 16th February 2017 at 6.30 pm in the Norseman Hotel, Wick.

5 February 2017

Honours even as weather fails to rain supreme - Wick Academy 2 Forres Mechanics 2
THIS was a day more suited to those with webbed feet rather than footballers but both sides defied the elements and gave their fans their money's-worth. The Scorries, building on their return to form, but without key personnel, Alan Farquhar and Davie Allan, drew first blood early in the uncompromising wind and rain... with a little help from an opponent. Steven Anderson homed in on the visitor's goal in a fine solo run down the left in the opening minutes. His strike looked as if it caught a deflection on the way but it ended up in the net and the scorer deserved the credit.    PHOTO GALLERY

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