LOCAL NEWS JUNE 27 2024

Council leader to face questions over major energy projects

The leader of the Highland Council is to face questions today over proposed energy infrastructure projects by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Members of the public are set to raise the matter of proposals put forward by SSEN which would be deliver across large areas of the Highlands.

Highland Councillor Leader Raymond Bremner will be asked What steps has the council taken to measure and mitigate the impact of the proposed new electricity supply infrastructure including the multiple new overhead pylon lines and new substation proposals, on the communities affected.

The Skye Reinforcement Line replacement proposed between Skye and Fort Augustus has been rejected by the Highland Council’s planning committee and will be determined by the energy consents unit.

Skye Reinforcement Project which seeks to replace and reinforce the existing 132-kilovolt overhead line between Ardmore on Skye and Fort Augustus.

The current overhead lines were built in the 1950s and SSEN contends that the structures are fast reaching the end of its operational life and require replacement to ensure security of energy supply.

Candidates confirmed for Radio Skye general election event

Five of the seven candidates standing for election for the newly formed constituency of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire are set to take part in a general election hustings this Thursday.

Drew Hendry of the Scottish National Party, Angus MacDonald of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Peter Newsman, Scottish Green Party, Michael Perera of Scottish Labour, and Ruraidh Stewart of the Scottish Conservatives have all confirmed there attendance for the event which will be held at the Skye Gathering Hall in Portree on Thursday evening.

Socialist Equality Party candidate Darren Paxton today confirmed that he will not be able to take part in the hustings, while Reform UK candidate Dillan Hill has yet to respond to the invitation to the event.

The hustings will be held at 7.30pm at the Skye Gathering Hall in Portree.

Parliament back short-term lets changes

MSPs have backed change to to the short-term lets licensing scheme in response to engagement with accommodation operators.

Licensing was introduced in 2022 to provide assurance to guests on safety and quality, such as gas and electrical safety compliance and the suitability of hosts.

The regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament include changes that will now enable:

• licences to be transferred to a new host, such as when accommodation is sold
• prospective hosts building a new short-term let to apply for a provisional licence before construction is complete
• hosts to apply for a maximum of three licence exemptions totalling six weeks in a calendar year

Minister for housing Paul McLennan said that short-term let accommodation is vital to Scotland’s tourism sector and wider economy.

Skye road closed after caravan incident

The main road on Skye, the A87 was closed for several hours on Thursday following a incident involved a caravan.

Police were called out at around 2.20pm on Thursday afternoon following reports of a vehicle towing a caravan having toppled due to high winds on the A87 near Sconser.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told Radio Skye that emergency services attended and there were no reports of injuries.

The road was closed to several hours to allow for vehicle recovery.

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