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 significant proportion of the population, or where there are important historical and cultural links.

But critics argue that applying the designation across all of Highland would weaken the purpose of the legislation, which was introduced to support communities where language remains strongest, such as Skye and Raasay.

Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee met this week. It agreed to move forward with a framework to hold a consultation in September.

Màrtainn Mac A’Bhàillidh from Comann nam Pàrant Port Rìgh is among those who have raised concerns. Speaking to Radio Skye, he said:

“It essentially duplicates something we already have which is a Highland-wide Gaelic language policy. We’ve had Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in the Highlands for 40 years. We’ve had the Gaelic language plan in place since 2005/6. They’ve taken a Highland-wide approach to date.

“The whole idea of introducing the Scottish Languages Act and Area of Linguistic Significance was to make policy more granular, to support the Gaelic speaking communities and do more where more can be done. We see this as making a total mockery of the Scottish Languages Act.

“We’ve all wasted four years getting to this point. If Highland Council goes ahead and duplicates their existing Gaelic Language Plan then we’re just no further forward. We’re back to where we started.”

There are 18,552 people in the Highland Council area with Gaelic skills, according to the latest census. 

Eilean a’ Cheò (Skye and Raasay) is the only electoral ward within the Highland Council area which has over 20 per cent of the population with Gaelic skills.

Skye Councillor Drew Millar is the Chair of the Gaelic Committee. He told Radio Skye:

“Here on Skye we have already ticked all the boxes that the Government want to see in an Area of Linguistic Significance. What we’ll do with Skye is keep supporting and promoting Gaelic and trying to encourage more people to use the language, not just in schools but for use in the whole community. We’ll be looking at how we can boost the economy here in Skye too.

“The consultation process doesn’t start until September and will run for 12 months. We’ll be talking to Comann nam Pàrant, working together consulting with the general public, and hopefully we’ll come to a very amicable solution that will be accepted by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and by the Scottish Government, and will allow Skye to move forward.”

Gaelic and Scots were recognised as official languages by the Scottish Government last November. Former MSP for Skye, Kate Forbes was one of the main advocates for the legislation which came into effect in 2025.

Raasay Councillor Chrissie Gillies also sits on the Gaelic Committee. Speaking to Radio Skye, she said: 

“This has been misunderstood, which is really unfortunate. This is not the Highland Council saying, ‘we are doing one huge big area’. That is not what is being proposed at all.”

Councillor Gillies went on to say the local authority is considering all options.

“Everything is on the table. The whole point of this paper which went through was to say, ‘right, we’re going to look at all of Highland’ because it all counts and let’s hear from everybody and see what everybody is wanting to have happen moving forwards.”

Councillor Gillies says she has receieved online abuse in the past week.

“Whether it is misunderstanding or misinformation, it doesn’t matter, the outcome is the same. It’s not actual discussion. It’s got to the stage of being really, really abusive and harrassing. I have absolutely no intention of being trolled online.

“This is why I blocked accounts. I’m not engaging like that. I will talk to everybody, I think everybody is aware of that. It’s having a discussion or a debate, whatever you want to call it, to look at what’s going on. For the council, this is the starting point.”

Responding to Councillor Gilles’, Màrtainn Mac A’Bhàillidh said:

The Council says it will begin to take views on the recommendations made to the Gaelic committee later this year.

The local authority says a consultation will follow if the Council decides to proceed with a proposed designation.

A Highland Council spokesperson said:

“It’s important to note that no decision on ALS designation has been made.

“The report before the Gaelic Committee this week sought agreement to take forward a framework for public engagement and consultation. The purpose is to gather the views of all our communities, their specific local context and their needs relating to Gaelic.

“The outcome of community engagement will inform the final approach to designation and that will then be submitted to the Scottish Government.

“Formal consultation and structured engagement will begin when the statutory consultation period begins in September 2026.

“The forthcoming consultation will provide a consistent, transparent and equitable opportunity for all stakeholders to consider and respond to the proposals.”

The Scottish Government has put forward £1.5 million to support the ALS process across the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said:

“The Scottish Government welcomes Highland Council’s interest in and engagement with the provisions of the Scottish Languages Act. We also note the high level of positive community interest in the issue of areas of linguistic significance.

“We recognise this is a process with key steps for authorities, for Bòrd na Gàidhlig, for communities and for the Scottish Government. We are committed to working with all partners to ensure this process is implemented in a way that supports and strengthens Gaelic communities across the Highlands.”

Listen to the full interview with Màrtainn Mac A’Bhàillidh below.

Listen to the full interview with Councillor Chrissie Gillies below.

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, the Fàs Mòr nursery, and a space for community activities and businesses.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“The Fàs Building is at the heart of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the renovation of this building will enable the college to expand its support for and promotion of Gaelic in Skye, in Scotland and beyond. One of the most important things we can do for Gaelic’s future is train and support more Gaelic medium education teachers, and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the Fàs building has a key role in this. This is about more than a building, it is a commitment to Gaelic at a critical moment for the language, backed by investment and a determination to see Gaelic thrive for generations.”

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Principal Dr Gillian Munro welcomed the announcement. She said:

“Regenerating Fàs supports our work expanding and modernising our curriculum, digital learning opportunities, research capacity, and our work with the community. Gaelic deserves institutions that operate innovatively – and this investment ensures we can continue to do that for our students, the local community, and for all of Scotland.”

The college, which has over 1,600 full time and part time students, has been Scotland’s national centre for Gaelic language and culture for more than 50 years.

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 Islands Committee, where the chief executive of Fisheries Management Scotland, Alan Wells, said he would welcome further investigation into how wild salmon are managed in Scotland.

Wild Atlantic salmon in Great Britain were recently reclassified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Figures published by the Scottish Government show wild salmon catches fell by around forty per cent last year, continuing a long term decline in stocks.

The issue is also being felt locally, according to the Skye and Lochalsh Rivers Trust.

Biolgist Charlotte Eadie told Radio Skye:

“Wild salmon and sea trout populations in Skye and Lochalsh have been in decline for years. This is a similar trend to what is currently being observed across Scotland. Anyone that is interested in looking at the rod and line catch data for rivers in the Skye and Lochalsh area can find them on the Marine Directorate website by googling ‘Scottish salmon and sea trout fisheries statistics’. There are multiple overlapping factors that have contributed to this decline over time, including, but not limited to, the loss of habitat and food resources in both freshwater and marine environments, overfishing, climate change, and increased risk of mortality related to increased parasite densities and disease associated with the presence of salmon aquaculture.

“As an organisation that monitors wild salmonid populations (salmon and sea trout) and has been involved in multiple academic and government led research projects aimed at understanding the pressures our local salmon and trout populations face, SLRT supports any inquiry into how the government and fisheries stakeholders are able to better conserve and protect those populations.

“SLRT is in the beginning stages of creating a catchment wide restoration and enhancement programme that would benefit rivers and local salmonid populations and we look forward to being able to share more information with the public as this project develops.”

Salmon Scotland chief executive Tavish Scott said:

“We agree with Dr Wells that the next Parliament should carry out a full inquiry into the future of wild salmon in Scotland’s rivers. We also support his call for a rod licence to be introduced to help improve data and support conservation

“Wild salmon numbers have been declining for decades, with climate change, damaged river habitats and pressures at sea all taking their toll. Scotland’s salmon farmers are already playing their part in finding solutions, from funding river restoration projects to supporting research into wild salmon migration.

“We want wild salmon to recover so more money generated by angling needs to be invested in conservation. Rod licences used in other salmon fishing nations could help improve catch data and support conservation.”

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said the Scottish Government is already investing in efforts to restore wild salmon stocks.

She said:

“The Wild Salmon Strategy and Implementation Plan responds to the long-term decline of wild Atlantic salmon, identifying the key pressures on the species and setting out collective actions to address them.

“We are committed to delivering on these actions – investing over £5.5 million through the Marine Fund Scotland since 2021 to benefit wild salmon, including the control of invasive non-native pink salmon and using technology and tools to provide more accurate assessment of stocks. In addition to this more than £8 million of the Nature Restoration Fund has gone towards projects improving Scotland’s freshwater environment and the Water Environment Fund has spent over £12 million on 32 fish barrier removal and easement projects.

“The Government recently received recommendations on a modernised framework for Scotland’s wild fisheries, which included the introduction of a rod licence, and we will consider and respond in due course. It would be up to the Scottish Parliament and the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee to decide on whether to take forward an inquiry, which we would support as we would with any parliamentary inquiry.”

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 11th December.

The council have said the decision was taken in consultation with its contractor RJ McLeod, and partners Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), Transport Scotland and CalMac.

The local authority said that the progress of the redevelopment had been hampered by Storms Ciaran and Debi which has resulted in delays to the removal of the existing fender system and installation of the new fenders.

The chair of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “While alternative plans require to be extended for a further short period, this will enable the works to be completed safely and to a high standard.”

Dunvegan play park bid receives £30,000 boost

A community project to build a new play park in Dunvegan has received a significant boost through £30,000 allocated by Highland Councillors in the Eilean a’ Cheò ward.

The Dunvegan Community Park project is being led by a sub-committee of the Dunvegan Community Trust.

The play park group said it was delighted to receive the boost to go towards its fundraising efforts which moves it a step closer towards its goal.

To date it has fundraised £4,000 through events and community support, while the group is set to launch a crowd funding campaign this week. The Dunvegan Community Trust has made an application to the Community Regeneration Fund.

The total cost of the park is estimated at around £180,000,

Skye school worker questions Unison pay deal

A pupil support assistant on Skye has expressed her disappointment with Unison’s acceptance of a pay deal from COSLA and said she was prepared to fight on for a fair offer.

Unison member Amy McNab (pictured left) works as a PSA at Portree Primary School. She has been one among hundreds of school and nursery workers across the country who has taken strike action in protest at the pay offer to non-teaching staff by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

However, on Monday the Unison union announced that more than two thirds of its members had voted to accept to accept the latest pay deal.

The pay package, which will increase the wages of its lowest paid employees by £2,000 a year, is materially the same offer as proposed before the strike action which took place in September and November.

However, it now includes the backdating of a pay rise to April for all staff rather than some, and a firm committment to achieving a minimum rate of pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers by 1st April 2026,

Reacting to the vote, Skye PSA Amy McNab told Radio Skye – full comment below – that she was frustrated at the outcome and had voted against the offer.

Meanwhile, COSLA resources spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Throughout this challenging process, we have listened carefully to our trade unions, met all their asks, and worked with Scottish Government to put an incredibly strong half a billion pound pay package forward.

“For the sake of everyone in our local government workforce, who are delivering essential frontline services, I am pleased that the pay offer has now been accepted by all of our trade union colleagues.”

Highlands MSP to “keep up pressure” on NHS Highland

Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has pledged to keep up the pressure on NHS Highland until services are fully restored at Portree Hospital.

The Highlands and Islands representative’s comments follow NHS Highland’s announcement that the urgent care service at the Skye capital facility will extend to seven days a week from the first week in January 2024.

Reacting to the news, Mr Halcro Johnston said: “I raised the lack of seven-day-a-week urgent care cover at Portree only last week with the heath secretary, and so I welcome news that some progress has been made.

“This is a step in the right direction, however, making a promise is not the same a delivering on it. There can be no complacency.”

He went on to stress: “The campaign has experienced too many false dawns already, and so I will keep up the pressure until I see services fully restored and the community’s needs are met”.

Gaelic language plan “vital” says health chair

The chair of NHS Highland has said its news five-year Gaelic language is crucial to the communities across the region.

Under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, NHS Highland has a statutory duty to play its part in promoting the language.

NHS Highland Chair, Sarah Compton-Bishop, said: “It is vital we raise awareness for the Gaelic language as it is an intrinsic part of the rich culture of the Scottish Highlands.

“As the biggest employer in Highland, Argyll and Bute there are many opportunities and benefits to promoting the Gaelic language across our area.

She added: “The plan will enhance patient experience for our Gaelic speakers across NHS Highland, as well as the patients we serve from the Western Isles.”

Dunvegan and Glengarry elect new community councillors

Eight candidates has been selected to serve on Dunvegan Community Council following the results of an election which was declared on Monday by the Highland Council

In total 224 postal votes were returned from an electorate of 503, which represents a 44.5 per cent return.

The members who were voted in are: Mandy Boswell, Donna Campbell, Sarah MacAskill, Lana Macintosh, Phillipa MacRae, Sylvia Meyer, Laura Shirley and Tim Wallis.

Meanwhile, Glengarry’s community council has also be established following a postal vote.

Overall, 211 votes were returned from a possible 341, which accounts for a return of 61.9 per cent.

A total of eight members were elected with Kevin Sutherland polling the highest number of votes at 150.

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

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 the housing crisis is depriving rural areas of young people to be able to live and work locally, and their active participation in community life is vital.

The Scottish Government has committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 – with at least 10 per cent in remote, rural and island areas.

While through its Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan the government’s pledges include:

• Supporting affordable and community-led housing delivery
• Bringing more empty homes back into use
• Providing more homes for key workers
• Commissioning research on affordable home ownership in rural and island areas

However, Labour MSP Mark Griffin who is leading the debate has asked that the government set that an interim target for 5,500 houses to be completed in rural areas by 2026.

Winter jags: drop-in clinics announced

NHS Highland has announced further drop-in clinics for winter vaccinations across Skye and Lochalsh and the West Highlands.

Drop-in clinics will take place at Portree Community Centre this week on Thursday 23rd November and Friday 24th November between 10am and 12pm and 1.30 and 4.30.

And on Wednesday 13th December between 5pm and 6.30pm

Drop-in clinics will also be held at Applecross Community Hall on the morning of Tuesday 28th November from 9.30 to 11.30 and, at Torridon Community Hall, also on 28th November, from 2pm to 4pm.

Appointments are not necessary for any of the drop-ins clinics.

Council tenants’ input “vital” in rent consultation

The Highland Council is asking all tenants to share their views on the rent they will pay next year as part of a consultation.

Last year it was agreed to keep the rent increase at four percent which was significantly below the level of inflation.

This year amid ongoing challenges brought by the cost of living crisis, the council has produced an information sheet for tenants detailing the options being proposed for the year ahead.

The local authority has said it is vital that they gather views from tenants especially as they may have been affected by the council’s suspension of non-essential repairs

The rent consultation will run in Highland until 11 December 2023, and the feedback received from tenants will inform a report for the Council’s Housing and Property Committee to consider when they set the level of rent and service charges in January for council tenants for the year 2024/25.

You can take part in the survey here.

Skye talents to open Beat the Drum show

Young Skye talents Ali MacFarlane and Iain Cormack will take the stage at the Portree Community Centre tonight in support of leading Runrig tribute act Beat The Drum.

Ali MacFarlane starred at this year’s Skye Live Festival and was awarded the Provost of Falkirk medal at the Royal National Mòd in Paisley.

She will be join by fellow islander Iain Cormack who made headlines with his performance at the Mòd as he claimed the coveted men’s gold medal performing Fàilte don Eilean Sgitheanach – forty years on from his father Arthur Cormack’s success with the song at Gaeldom’s premier cultural festival.

Skye’s Edinbane Lodge named among world’s elite eateries

Award-winning Skye eatery Edinbane Lodge has been included a list of top restaurants across the globe.

The north Skye establishment features in the La Liste 2023, which charts the top restaurants across the world through more than 300 sources from travel guides to press and consumer reviews.

Edinbane Lodge has been ranked as the third best restaurant in Scotland and among the world elite.

In June, Calum Montgomery, the chef-proprietor of Edinbane Lodge, was selected as the nation’s top chef at the award ceremony at Platform in Glasgow on Monday.

Calum claimed the Scottish Chef of the Year accolade at the Scotsman Food and Drink’s Scran Awards.

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

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 main residence.

A second home Is classed as any home that is not used as someone’s primary residence but that is occupied for at least 25 days in a year.

As of the end of September 2022, there were 24,287 second homes in Scotland

Data Published by the Scottish Goverment in 2019 showed that the city of Edinburgh and the Highlands accounted for 50.5 per cent of active Airbnbs across the country.

In the report, Skye was third only behind Edinburgh City Centre and Leith Walk for the number of Airbnbs by council ward with 1,083 of 5,813 dwellings listed as holiday lets.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer, and Lochalsh was the sixth highest with 725 from Its 6,756 dwellings.

Raasay power outage: working ongoing says SSEN

Work is ongoing to restore the main supply of electricity to Raasay whose residents have been effected by a power Cut since 5pm on Monday.

The island’s 192 properties have been impacted by a network fault.

Mobile generators supplied by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have been in operation since Tuesday lunchtime and have restored power.

A spokesperson for SSEN Distribution told Radio Skye that its teams are continuing to investigate the cause of the outage.”

New NHS scheme to support armed forces and veterans

A new health care initiative to support armed forces personnel and veterans has been launched by the Scottish Government

NHS Highland was involved in the development of the training programme and one of our GPs was one of the first to test it out during the trial phase.

The scheme will also advise on how to use the Armed Forces Covenant most effectively.

A spokesperson for NHS Highland said that Armed Forces and Veterans community – from serving personnel and their families in to our veterans and their families were very important and they are proud to serve those who serve and have served.

Skye resident Jack MacFarlane served as Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF), speaking to Radio Skye as part of programme for Remembrance Sunday, he said the number of veterans across the island has been greatly underestimated by the local health authority.

NHS Highland have advised people to inform their medical surgery if they or a family member have served in the armed forces so that the person in question’s medical note can be amended.

The spokesperson added that that it was important GPs were aware of this information so they may be better able to use the Armed Forces Covenant to support access to treatment for injuries or conditions that are linked back to military service or provide advice on organisations that may be able to provide support for those that require it.

Balmacara’s Old Mill Hall gets £1,300 fashion show boost

A charity fashion show has helped to raise more than £1,300 towards the renovation of a historic building in Lochalsh

The event was a collaboration between the clothes and household boutique shop Home in the Highlands and the Friends of the Old Mill Hall and the Balmacara Community Trust.

The fashion show was held at the Balmacara Hotel in aid of the Village’s Old Mill Hall.

The Friends of Old Mill Hall thanked everyone for their involvement and said the funds raised were another positive step as the group works towards saving the important heritage building.

Competition to design new football club kit

Skye and Lochalsh Female Football Club has launched a design competition for its logo and strip.

The club which formed in October is seeking entries for its first-ever kit with a signed Inverness Ladies football top and a ball on offer for the winning designer.

primary pupils can submit entries using the design kits supplied to their school, while Portree High pupils can collect a design kit from Roddy Macleod at the school.

Other entries can be submitted through the Skye and Lochalsh Female Fc social media page or by emailing Slffc@hotmail.com by Thursday 16th November.

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

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 the investigation.

The Scottish Government had been asked to disclose private messages containing discussions on key decision-making through
a legal notice under the Inquiries Act 2005. Under the notice individuals are instructed to hand over evidence, with those who refuse facing jail or a fine.

Kate Forbes was appointed as the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy a month before the first UK lockdown in March 2020. She held the role until March 2023.

In a statement sent to Radio Skye, a spokesperson for Ms Forbes said “Kate has fully participated with the Scottish Covid Inquiry, and has already made an extensive initial submission.

“Kate has retained and submitted all relevant correspondence about decisions made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“She did not use WhatsApp messages to make decisions about Covid-19.”

At First Ministers Question, the leader of the opposition, Conservative MSP Douglas Ross claimed that the Scottish National Party brought in an auto delete policy, not just after being told not to do so by the UK Covid inquiry, but after Nicola Sturgeon had set up a separate Scottish inquiry.

First Minister Humza Yousaf told the parliament that the Scottish Goverment were in the processing of sending all 14,000 WhatsApp messages to the inquiry, and defended his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon who has said has been transparent throughout her tenure as leader.

On Monday, Tuesday Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Sturgeon said she did not “manage the Covid response by WhatsApp” that she has got nothing to hide”

Portree to host Skye and Lochalsh local democracy event

People across Skye and Lochalsh are being invited to have their voices heard at a local democracy event on the island

Democracy Matters 2 event which will take place at the Portree Community Centre on Tuesday 14th November from 12pm to 2pm.

The session will be hosted by Skye and Lochalsh Council of Voluntary Organisations and Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) and is part of national Local Governance Review which is looking across all of Scotland’s public services to consider how power and resources should be shared between national and local government.

The discussion will be facilitated by the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC). A light lunch will be served at 12.00noon and the discussion will take place between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

Scottish Goverment pledges £250,000 to support people in Gaza

Police highlight risk of daily scams

The Highlands and Islands Police are asking people to keep vigilant for frauds and daily scams by issuing advice on what to look for.

Police Scotland says it receives reports of Frauds/Scams daily, with phone scams proving an easy way for criminal to con people out of their money.

The police have asked the public to be aware of banks scams where a scammer may ask for you pin number of tell you to give your bank card to a courier – this something your bank would never do.

Scammers may also pretend to be a member of the HMRC and claim that there is an issue with your tax refund or an unpaid tax bill – they may leave you a message and ask you call and also ask you to reveal personal financial information – which the real HMRC would not ask of you.

The Police say no to any request if you are unsure and contact the real service in question later.

Five-a-side tournament for girls 

Skye & Lochalsh Female Football Club are hosting a girls only indoor football tournament in Portree this month

There will be two competitions within the tournament – one for 10 to 13 years and – and another for 14 to 18 year olds – both will be contested in five-a-side format.

The tournament will be held at the Fingal Centre in Portree on Saturday 18th November.

Anyone who would like to get involved can email slffc@hotmail.com

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

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 by the Scottish Government in its latest round of the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme, which was announced on Monday.

As well as plans for a new primary school the proposal for Dunvegan also includes new housing and a community sports pitch.

In announcing the awards, Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said she was determined to deliver excellence and equity across Scotland’s schools, and ensuring that pupils are educated in modern, state of the art facilities is an important part of that.

She added that every Scottish local authority which submitted a bid has now received funding for a project across the three phases of LEIP funding.

However, speaking to Radio Skye following the decision, Skye and Raasay Councillor who chair the Highland Council’s education committee, questioned the Scottish Government’s judgement.

He said: “What is very galling is the fact that a strong bid was put in for Dunvegan, and the bid was accepted as being strong by the Scottish Goverment.

But the outcome within LEIP 3, seems to now suggest that councils who had not got funding in round 1 or 2, were given funding this time round. So in effect, the condition of schools, the need for replacements, the strength of bids was ignored in favour of every authority getting an allocation…”

He added: “This is some way undermines the whole process.”

The cost of the project has risen from £12.5 million when the plans were approved by the council in 2019 to £23 million in 2023.

However, councillor Finlayson contended that the project was not dead and buried despite the significant set back.

“Personally, I’m very, very disappointed at the outcome, especially for Dunvegan…I also feel that governments of all colours (politically) need to try to understand the challenges that rural areas and islands face in terms of many issues including education.

“I am still committed to and convinced that a new school, housing and a pitch will be in place in Dunvegan, even though it will take longer than I or the community had hoped it would.”

Fellow Skye and Raasay Councillor Ruraidh Stewart argued that the council was not blameless and said that communities of Highland has found themselves let down by the Councils SNP and Independent administration, which he claimed had consistently failed to prioritise the needs of our school communities.

He also criticised the SNP/Green administration in Holyrood for what he has called an “abandonment of our school communities”.

He concluded by saying that that the absence of LEIP funding did not negate the urgent requirement for investment in the Dunvegan, Beauly, Park, and St Clement’s  schools, and pledged that he and his colleagues would continue to press the administration to invest in the learning estate and prioritise the well-being and future of Highland’s young people.

Breakish group to hold wind farm event

A Skye campaign group who standing against plan to site a wind farm in Breakish are hosting a public exploring community-owned alternatives.

The Breakish Wind Farm Action Group comprise of local community members who are in opposition to Swedish Developer Arise AB’S plans to site 16 wind turbines 180 metres in height in the south Skye settlement.

This Wednesday the group are hosting an event where a presentation will be given by Faye MacLeod of Campbell Stewart MacLennan and Co. Chartered Accountants.

The event will be held on Wednesday (1st November) at 7.30pm upstairs at Broadford Village Hall.

Green MSP backs  Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to be granted university status

A Highland MSP is leading a campaign for Skye’s Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to be granted University Status as Scotland’s First Gaelic University.

Scottish Green MSP Arianne Burgess introduced a motion to support full degree-conferring powers to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig which passed by an overwhelming majority.

Speaking to the National newspaper Ms Burgess said granting the centre university status would place the Sleat-based institution it on the international stage and attract more people to the Gaelic language.

The Green MSP will now take the campaign onto the Scottish Parliament.

Voting open for Dunvegan and Glengarry Community Councils

Ballot papers have been sent to voters in Dunvegan and Glengarry to determine the make-up of their local community councils.

Postal ballot papers for ten contested Highland community councils have been mailed out today (Tuesday 31 October 2023).

The ballot papers need to be completed and returned by the deadline of 12 noon on Monday 27 November 2023.

Candidates were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy and these statements are now published online at the community council elections section of the Council’s website

The counting of the votes for the ten contested Community Councils will take place from 12noon onwards on Monday 27 November 2023 and the count process will be broadcast live on the Council’s social media channels.

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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 condemned.

He added, though, that since those attacks the loss of life had escalated with more than 1,400 Israelis and 5,700 Palestinians are reported to have been killed, while More than 1.4 million Palestinians have been displaced, while more than 600,000 people are sheltering in UN-run facilities.

The First Minister said that many British citizens are trapped in a warzone with nowhere to go, under intense daily bombardment of the Gaza strip.

He added that food, water, fuel, and medicine were all being restricted, with limited humanitarian supplies, while the largest humanitarian agency working in Gaza has warned that unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, the agency will be forced to halt all operations as of today.

Skye DJ in race to top iTunes chart

Struan Community Council seeks view of under-40s

The Struan Community Council is seeking views from people aged 40 and under in a survey to attract younger generations to live in Skye settlement

The survey which will run until 12th November is looking to gauge the opinions of people 40 or under Currently living in Struan; or have lived there; or you haven’t but would like to?

A spokesperson for the community council said: “We want Struan to be a vibrant community for all ages.

“We are aware of the challenges facing younger people and families accessing suitable affordable homes in Struan, who as a result are considering moving away or have already left.

They added: “We are also aware that a lack of other local facilities and services may also be a contributing factor to these choices. We have developed this survey to understand the current and future needs of this particular group.”

Glenelg ferry team wins national award

The Glenelg to Skye Ferry company have been chosen as the Social Enterprise of the Year at a Nationwide ceremony at the Holyrood.

The Isle of Skye Ferry CIC (community interest company) which operates the famous turntable vessel was awarded the accolade (below) at the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards on Thursday night.

The ferry company were selected ahead of the Shapinsay Development Trust, Point and Sandwick Trust, and children support charity Kibble.

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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 be as much as £100 million between 2024 and 2027.

Members have a legal obligation to set a balanced budget and proposals will be developed and presented to Council for agreement at the end of February 2024.

Leader of the Council Raymond Bremner said: “While we understand the cost of living crisis for our communities, local authorities are also facing incredible cost pressures in the shape of inflation, high rates of interest and the need to fund pay settlements.

“We anticipate we will have an unprecedented budget gap next year of around £60-70m and a shortfall of around £100m over the next three years has been forecast.

He went on to add that without adequate funding, the council will have a choice of making service reductions or increasing income or a mixture of both.

Councillors Bremner said that service reductions would also mean job losses and that is something we are doing everything possible to avoid, as this would be disastrous for communities and our economy in the Highlands.”

The council is facing considerable uncertainty until the end of December around what the grant will be from the Scottish Government for 2024-25, and the funding to implement a Council Tax freeze.

Skye and Raasay member First Minister over council tax freeze

Skye and Raasay Councillor has slammed First Minister Humza Yousaf for running a “horse and coaches” through a key agreement with Scotland’s councils by placing a freeze on council tax

Speaking during today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the full Highland Council, Skye and Raasay member Ruraidh Stewart contended that First Minister has undermined the verity house agreement between Scottish Local Authorities and the Government by announcing a freeze on rate in the next financial year.

Councillor Stewart said the First Minister has in essence closed the door on one of the few tools that local government has to release the budget pressures on us.

Humza Yousaf announced the decision to freeze council tax rates for the next financial year at the SNP autumn conference earlier this month.

Councillor Derek Louden, who chairs the Highland Council’s resources committee said: “Last year we set one of the lowest The council tax rates set last year by the Highland Council were one of lowest in Scotland in recognition of the cost of living crisis in our communities.

“Council tax freezes have a long term negative impact on local authority budgets and effectively widen the budget gap in the coming years.

“We will continue to work with our COSLA colleagues, to get clarification of the Scottish Government’s plans and how the cost of any freeze would be funded, both for next year and mitigation of the impact on future years’ budgets.”

Scottish Government £1 billion overspent on pay deals finds new report

The Scottish Government is facing a £1 billion hole due to significant challenges in managing the public sector workforce.

According to a new report by Audit Scotland, the Scottish budget and workforce numbers have grown significantly since devolution. But Scottish Government projections suggest it cannot afford to pay for public services in their current form.

The report found that pay deals agreed for 2022/23 and 2023/24 were £1.7 billion more than initially planned and these pay rises are locked into future budgets.

The Scottish Government has begun working with its public bodies to better understand how workforce reforms will impact services. But it needs better data on the size, cost and skillset of the workforce in over 100 of its public bodies to help support this process.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Significant reform of the public sector – including its workforce – is needed to protect services over the long term.

“That means better workforce planning and wider changes to how staff work within and across organisations.”

He concluded: “An approach to reform purely focused on controlling workforce numbers will not address workforce pressures and is unlikely to balance the public finances.”

Peat and Diesel to play ‘Black Isle Belter’ shows

Western Isles stars Peat and Diesel are set to play at the Black Isle Showground over two days next May along with other star acts.

The ‘Black Isle Belter’ shows which will be their only outdoor gigs in the Highlands next year will be held over the bank holiday weekend of Saturday 25th May & Sunday 26th May 2024.

On the Saturday, Peat and Diesel will be join by the View for their First Highland show in years, while on the Sunday, which will be a family day they will be accompanied by chart toppers The Feeling.

Sunday’s show will a family day and in conjunction with Peat and Diesel’s main sponsor Highland Industrial Supplies, and charity partners MFR’s Cash for Kids and Mikeysline.

Tickets were set to be on sale from 10am this Friday via the Peat and Diesel website.

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