LOCAL NEWS 27 MARCH 2023

Portree Post Office to reopen from Thursday

The Portree Post Office is set to reopen on a two-day a week basis from this Thursday (30th March).

The Skye capital service has been in abeyance since 9th February due to operational reasons.

However, on Sunday, Rob Wilson, who owns the Kyle Mace shop which includes the village post office, announced that he would be bringing post office services back to Portree on Thursday and Fridays.

Commenting to Radio Skye on Sunday night, Mr Wilson said he would be in Portree for the transfer of the service on Monday with the shop due to reopen on Thursday 30th March.

Mr Wilson said that the service would be run on Thursdays and Fridays between 9am and 5pm.

He said that to enable customers to use the service during lunchtime there would be no breaks in service and the post office would be fully operational throughout the eight-hour period.

 

In a statement sent to Radio Skye, a Post Office spokesperson said: “We are pleased to announce that Portree Post Office is to re-open on 30 March at the current location.

“We know how important a Post Office is to a community and a part-time service will allow us to restore Post Office services as soon as possible. The branch will be open on a Thursday and Friday from 9am – 5pm.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by being unable to provide a full-time service at this time. The same range of Post Office services will be available.

They added: “Alternative branches are Struan, Uig, Dunvegan and Broadford and there are outreach branches at Sconser and Edinbane. Customers are recommended to visit postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder to see these locations, opening times and services provided.”

Earlier this month, Radio Skye heard from fellow island services trying to bridge the gap during the pause in service at the Portree Post Office.

Gillian Brown, the resident postmistress in Uig, said that the north Skye shop had experienced levels of custom like that seen at Christmas time, while Megan and Adam MacDonald, who run the Post Office in Broadford, said there had been a five-fold increase in business.

 

Uig ferries suspension continues

The suspension of services at Uig harbour will continue today as the Highland Council seeks to resolve issues with the temporary bridge at the Skye port.

In the meantime, CalMac are instead operating a daily service between Lochmaddy and Ullapool.

The ferry operator took the decision to divert sailings away from Uig on Thursday after it emerged that vehicles greater than 10 metres in length were unable to travel through it.

The closure came just hours Uig harbour reopen from a nine-week closure for vital redevelopment works to prepare for a new linkspan.

CalMac has said it is pressing the harbour authority Highland Council to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that we can resume our services to Uig.

For more information, please visit the CalMac website here.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

Shinty: mixed fortunes for Skye and Lochalsh sides

MacTavish Cup

There were mixed fortunes for the local shinty sides across Skye and Lochalsh this weekend with Skye men’s first team progressing to the second round of the MacTavish Cup, while Shiel men’s first fell to defeat.

Skye Camanachd prevailed in extra-time in a 3-2 away win against Fort William, while Shiel were eliminated by Newtonmore after enduring a 2-0 loss.

Skye opened the scoring thanks to Ross Gordon but the islanders were pegged back five minutes later by the home side who equalised through a Victor Smith penalty.

The scores remained levelled until the 56th minute when Jack Fraser struck to put Fort William ahead. With 15 minutes to play Skye drew level courtesy of James Pringle, whose goal took the game to extra-time.

In the 112th minute Sam Stubbs scored Skye’s third goal to seal their place in the second round.

Skye have been drawn against Beauly this afternoon in the quarter-finals.

Beauly secure passage to the quarter finals with a thumping 5-1 win away to Strathglass.

Kinlochshiel tough start to the 2023 campaign continued at the Eilean on Saturday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Newtonmore.

Craig MacLeod and Craig MacIsaac scored as the Lochalsh side suffered their third successive loss this season.

The other MacTavish Cup ties see Lochaber  take on Newtonmore, while Lovat will entertain holders Kingussie at Balgate.

North Division 1

Skye seconds lost 4-3 away to Kingussie despite a spirited performance in which they came back twice from 1-0 and then 3-2 down.

Ruraidh MacLeod scored twice and Archie Miller was also on the scoresheet for Skye.

WCA North Division 2

Shiel ladies earned a 2-0 away win against Glenurquhart thanks to goals from Lexie MacKenzie and Alaina MacLennan in either half in their WCA North Division 2 clash.

The victory puts Shiel third in the table with two wins from their first two games.

Skye ladies second team endured a game to forget as Inverness ran riot to claim a 9-2 win at Bught Park thanks in large part to four goals apiece from Isla McNeil and Kamryn Hughes.

News by Adam Gordon

You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh at the times listed below by clicking on the banner 👇