LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 23 2023

Skye bereaved to represent Home Farm families at Covid-19 inquiry

A former Skye councillor, whose 83-year-old father died after contracting coronavirus while living at island’s Home Farm nursing, will attend the preliminary hearing of the Covid-19 public inquiry Scotland next week.

John Gordon lost his father John Angus Gordon to Covid-19 during the first lockdown in May 2020.

Mr Gordon and fellow Skye resident Helen Scott-Danter will represent the families of the 11 people who died after testing positive for coronavirus at Home Farm at the formal opening of the inquiry process in Edinburgh on 28th and 29th of August.

Ms Scott-Danter told Radio Skye that the preliminary hearing would set out what would happen at the substantive hearings of the inquiry which are expected to begin in late October this year.

New Kyle speed limit signs spark “confusion and frustration”

A Skye councillor has accused the Highland Council of sparking confusion and frustration by misplacing a new speed limit sign in Kyle.

Ruraidh Stewart, who is member for Skye and Raasay claims that the sign place at the northward entrance to the village clashes with the existing 30 miles per hour markings which are under Transport Scotland’s jurisdiction.

Councillor Stewart said: “Communities rely on the council’s diligence when carrying out its duties.

“In addition to confusing drivers, this error threatens to undermine public trust and confidence in the road safety scheme. The scheme has been poorly planned and poorly delivered.

“This is an error that should not have occurred, and the council must immediately take action to correct it.

He added: “Failure to execute such a basic and fundamental aspect of the 20mph scheme reflects poorly on the council’s commitment to this programme. The community deserves better than this, and the council must address this issue promptly to restore the public’s trust.”

Commenting to Radio Skye in response to the criticism, Councillor Ken Gowans, who chairs the local authority’s economy and infrastructure committee said: “Installation of the 20mph signage is still ongoing.

“The signage delivery programme is being introduced across Highland in 125 towns, villages, and Inverness city at pace and as such there will be anomalies in terms of signage installation, these are currently being picked up as part of this programme of works and will be remedied at the earliest opportunity.”

Skye Gathering Hall to host wind farm drop-in event

Portree will host the latest in a series of four sessions today concerning plans for a major wind farm development on the island.

The Skye Gathering Hall will play host to a drop-in today between 4pm and 8pm

The public drop-ins are being held by Muirhall Energy Limited, who have submitted a planning application to Scottish Ministers for the Glen Ullinish 2 Wind Farm near Struan.

If approved, the wind farm would comprise 47 wind turbines with maximum tip heights of 200 and replace the existing Glen Ullinish Wind Farm.

Appeal for Skye soft play storage

An appeal has been launched for 20ft container to store soft play equipment formerly situated at the Aros Centre on Skye.

Skye resident Sharon Fenlon took possession of the equipment when the Aros Centre was taken over by the Isle of Skye Candle Company in 2022.

However, now Ms Fenlon is appealing for help to store the children’s attraction so it can potentially be used by the local community in the future

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