Scottish
Roads Weather Problems Bulletin Board
Click for Winter Emergency Numbers, Road Information etc
Bathing Water Quality
Report Out Now
Bathing water quality in Scotland continues to improve with 57 out of 60
designated beaches passing tough European standards.
Dunnet Beach one of the beaches in the monitoring programme continues
to show the water is of excellent quality in most samples takes in 2005
The full results are published in a report by the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) out on 23 Dec 2005. It reveals that of the 60
sites monitored, 23 were of good quality meeting EC 'mandatory' standards
for the season with 33 achieving the stricter 'guideline' standards and
being of excellent quality.
MV Youth Volunteering Award Ceremony
Five young people recently became the recipients of the prestigious Gold
MV Award for volunteering while participating in the Wick Players
production of Mother Goose. The Gold Award is achieved when a volunteer
accumulates 200 hours of volunteering which can take place over a two year
period. The five young people involved with the panto had been in
intensive rehearsals since August and fulfilled their required 200 hours
on the 18th December. This Award is a recognised award of excellence
endorsed by the Scottish Executive and the Gold award is signed by the
First Minister.
HIGHLAND COUNCIL SMOKING BAN
When members of the public visit any Highland Council office or property
in the New Year they will benefit from a totally smoke-free environment.
From Sunday 1st January, 2006 a complete smoking ban comes into effect in
all Council premises and vehicles. As the major employer in the
Highlands, the Council is demonstrating its clear commitment to public
health and to improving the health of its 12,800 employees by implementing
the ban, ahead of the Scottish-wide ban which takes effect from 26th
March, 2006. No smoking signs are being erected at entrances and
throughout all Council owned and leased premises including vehicles; where
appropriate. Smoking rooms will no longer be available. Employees and
visitors will not be permitted to smoke at entrance doorways and
approaches to Council premises.
Tenth Anniversary of the Opening of The Haven.
Friday 16th December saw the 10th Anniversary of the official opening, by
Colin Campbell of 'swaingan' Radio Caithness fame, of Caithness Mental
Health Support Group's Drop In Centre, The Haven, in Bankhead Road, Wick. The initiative to set up the Group came from the Social
Work Dept. of Highland Regional Council which recognised the absence of
any social work provision for people with mental illness within Caithness.
Initially in December 1990 a Steering Committee was formed followed by the
Group in October 1991.
13 December 05
Council Launches Winter Adverse Weather
Web Site For Schools In Highland
Parents in Highland can now log on to their computer to check if their
child's local school is closed by bad weather.
The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service has developed
a new winter weather website,
www.winter.highlandschools.org.uk , which is now operational. Parents
just need to click on to the relevant geographical area for local school
closure information.
The website allows parents to access school closure information on the
internet, thus reducing pressure on the very heavily used school telephone
PIN number system.
12 December 05
Dounreay Seeks Way Forward
On The Particles
The
largest consultation exercise ever undertaken by Dounreay’s operator was
announced today to identify the Best Practicable Environmental Option for
radioactive particles found in the seabed and beaches near the former
experimental reactor establishment.
A newsletter is being issued today
to more than a thousand registered stakeholders, outlining the
results of a £10 million research programme and inviting members of the
public to participate in a preliminary phase of engagement.
Bill Fernie Chairman Of
The Public Consultation Steering Group Wants To Hear All Opinions
UKAEA has commissioned
consultants
Entec UK
to facilitate the preliminary phase of public engagement and the
transparency of the process is being overseen by a stakeholder
consultation steering group chaired by Councillor Bill Fernie, who
represents Wick West on Highland Council. He said: “A considerable
amount of work has gone into looking at how we might present
information to the public that is clear and open. The Steering Group
is looking forward to assisting everyone involved in making the
choices that will decide the future of how we deal with the particles
in the environment. From early in 2006 we will be working to ensure
that anyone who wishes to can contribute their view and I encourage
anyone with an interest to participate.” Other independent
members of the steering group include John Thurso MP and Iain Baikie a
physicist who runs KP Technology based in Wick.
2 December 05
North
School Choir At Somerfields Wick
The
choir from North School Wick were out singing at Somerfields store in Wick
to entertain the customers.