LOCAL NEWS AUGUST 3 2023

Campaign group calls for freeze on Skye wind farm plans

The Skye Wind Information Group has launched a petition calling for a freeze on plans to site more than 140 wind turbines, some of which measure up to 200 metres in height, which have been earmarked for development across the island.

The pressure group have also called for a full public inquiry into all the proposed new or upgraded wind farms – proposed across the island from Breakish in south to Waternish – and into the Skye Reinforcement Plan for new power lines – which is being lead by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

The Skye Wind Information Group is also campaigning for a programme of support and access to loans to enable communities to build their own small scale wind farms.

More than 130 people have signed the petition so far.

Two potential routes for the Skye Reinforcement Plan powerlines have been submitted to Scottish Minister. SSEN and the Highland Council have stated that the preferred option received public backing during the consultation period.

However, a petition launched earlier this year by the manager of the Glenelg to Skye Ferry, Jo Crawford, against the plan has been back by more than 8,000 people.

Highland Council takes “huge strides” in climate goals

The Highland Council has said its has taken huge strides towards the decarbonisation of its fleet of vehicles as helps to tackle the ecological and climate emergency.

The council says its work led by its electric vehicle (EV) team has accelerated the transition to low carbon transport for the Council and its communities.

Part of that work has seen charge points available within a 30-mile radius across the region.

A spokesperson for the Highland Council said that its EV team has been instrumental in securing £3 million of external funding which has supported opportunities to promote behavioural change across the region.

Over the last five years, the Highland Council says its estate has grown from 19 to 92 electric vehicle charging points.

SQA to provide new support package for students

The Scottish Qualifications Authority is to provide a new support package for students including a direct appeal service ahead of next week’s exam results.

Thousands of young people across Scotland will receive the results on Tuesday 8th August.

This year, in recognition of the continuing impact of the pandemic, the SQA will provide a package of support for students.

This will included modifications to course assessments, an exam exceptional circumstances service, a sensitive approach to grading and a direct appeals service. These measures help to ensure fairness for learners, while maintaining standards and the credibility of qualifications over time.

The SQA say that the measures to ensure fairness for learners, while maintaining standards and the credibility of qualifications over time.

SQA’s Candidate Advice Line will be available on Results Day from 8am to 6pm, then Wednesday 9 August to Friday 11 August from 8:30am to 5pm.

The line can be reached on 0345 279 1000.

Knock Bay event to conclude Skye beach clean project

Emily Johns ( Skye Beach Cleans) is involved in the project 

The final event in a series of beach cleans across Skye takes place today on the Sleat peninsula

The venture is a joint project between Skye Beach Cleans and Loughborough University comparing present-day litter across the island’s beach with a pioneering study carried in 1972.

The project began on Elgol beach this on 23rd July and is set to conclude today with the final clean at Knock Bay on the south of the island from 9am to 5pm.

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