Scottish Government
Council seeks views for Highland-wide Gaelic language designation
By Jamie McDonald Council seeks views for Highland-wide Gaelic language designation Highland Council says it is looking to engage with communities on whether to make the entire local authority area an Area of Linguistic Significance (ALS). The Scottish Languages Act allows for an ALS to be established in places where Gaelic is spoken by a […]
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Fàs Building set to reopen after £4m boost
By Jamie McDonald Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is to receive £4 million from the Scottish Government to reopen one of its key centres. The Fàs building, which has been out of use since 2022, will be refurbished to become the new Centre for Gaelic Creativity. The redevelopment will also include a media studio for broadcast training, […]
Salmon farmers back call for inquiry into wild salmon decline
By Jamie McDonald Scotland’s salmon farmers have backed calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the decline of wild salmon. The chief executive of Salmon Scotland, Tavish Scott, says MSPs should investigate how the species is managed and the environmental pressures it faces. The call follows evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and […]
LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 28 2023
Re-opening of Uig Harbour hit by delay The re-opening of Uig Harbour is set to be delayed by five days due to outstanding critical works at the Skye port. The Highland Council announced today – Tuesday 28th November – that the harbour will reopen on Saturday 16th December rather than the scheduled date of Monday […]
LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 22 2023
MSPs to debate housing crisis MSPs will seek solutions to Scotland’s housing emergency during a debate at Holyrood today. The government’s record has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months, with Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnstone stating that housing issues are being acutely felt across the two regions. The Conservative MSP has said […]
LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 8 2023
Second homes face council tax increase Second homes could face double the rate of council tax under new legislation by the Scottish Government The draft plans have been laid before the Scottish Parliament. If approved, local authorities would be able to apply the council tax premium on homes that are not used as a […]
LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2 2023
MSP Forbes “did not use WhatsApp” for Covid decisions Former finance secretary Kate Forbes has said she did not use WhatsApp when it came to making decisions about Covid-19 The Skye and Lochalsh’s MSP comments come amid a request by the UK Covid-19 inquiry for the Scottish Goverment to submit 14,000 WhatsApp messages to […]
LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 31 2023
Council education chair hits out at Dunvegan school funding snub The Highland Council’s education chair has criticised the Scottish Goverment for ignoring the pressing need for a new primary school for Dunvegan by omitting the Skye institution from a key funding award. All four bids from the Highland Council, including for Dunvegan, were rejected […]
LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 27 2023
First Minister presses UK leaders to support Gaza ceasefire Scotland’s First Minister is urging all UK political leaders to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to allow a humanitarian corridor to open. In his appeal, First Minister Humza Yousaf said the abhorrent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on 7th October must be unequivocally […]
LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 26 2023
Highland Council budget: local authority facing “incredible pressures” The leader of the Highland Council has said the local authority is facing incredible financial pressures which could led to job losses amid an unprecedented budget gap of up to £70 million next year. The full council met today to discuss the budget shortfall which could […]