Praise for Highland students after exams results
The chair of the Highland Council’s Education Committee has praised the efforts of students across the region on exam results day.
The Skye and Raasay Councillor comments came as more than 1.600 pupils across the Highlands achieved five or more National 5 qualifications – which marked a two per cent increase on 2022.
Statistics provided by the Highland Council show that 67.4 per cent of S4 pupils achieved a National 5 English award and 47.5% achieved a National 5 Maths award.
Nineteen percent of S5 pupils achieved 5 or more Higher awards (A-D pass), an increase of 1.7% from last year, while 4.8 per cent of S5 pupils achieved five ‘A’ grade Higher awards.
Speaking to Radio Skye, Councillor Finlayson commended the hard work shown by pupils in achieving their results.
Visitor levy bill under scrutiny in new local survey
Skye Connect has launched survey to gauge local business owner and operators view on the Scottish Govenment’s visitor levy bill.
If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill will give councils the power to apply a levy on stays in overnight accommodation based on a percentage of the accommodation cost.
The bill will come into effect in 2026 if it is passed by parliament.
Speaking to Radio Skye, Skye Connect communications director Simon Cousins said the group had concerns over the bill and urged local operators to give feedback through the survey.
Skye Connect will submit the survey results to local councillors by the 17th of August and to the Housing and Local Government Committee by early September.
Sell out Flannan Isles play sailing to Skye
A hit play centring on the Flannan Isles mystery is coming to Skye next month as part of a coastal communities’ tour.
Izzy Gray’s Keeper of the Light – will be performed at the Skye Gathering Hall in Portree on Thursday 14th September.
The work is inspired by the enigmatic disappearance of three keepers from their post on the Flannan Isle Lighthouse in December 1900.
Fresh from its sell-out run in 2022, Keepers of the Light is an old mystery told through a modern lens, the play combines traditional storytelling with contemporary staging, movement direction by Ana Norrie-Toch and an original score by Ewan Watson.
Evening entertainment in Somerled Square
The Isle Skye Pipe Band will lead much a pre-games Ceilidh this evening in Portree ahead of the main competitions of the Isle of Skye Highland Games tomorrow.
The pipe band, who perform weekly during the summer season which put on a special show for the much-anticipated event.
They will be joined by the Isle of Skye Youth Pipe Band, Dannsairean an Eilein Sgitheanach and the band’s own drummer and singer Ali MacFarlane, who stole the show at this year’s Skye Live Festival.
The special show starts at 8pm tonight at Somerled Square in Portree, and all proceeds will be gifted to local charities Skye community nurses and the Skye branch of Cancer Research UK.
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Urgent care centre plans “totally unacceptable”
The chair of SOS-NHS Skye has described new plans to extend urgent care at Portree Hospital as unacceptable and argued that the group were not consulted as part of the process.
Urgent care at the Skye capital hospital is currently provided at weekend and bank holidays only.
However, NHS Highland recently confirmed to Radio Skye that urgent care will be delivered from Portree Hospital four days a week from August and then extended to seven days a week from November.
Speaking to Radio Skye following an SOS-NHS Skye meeting on Monday night (26th June) chair Fay Thomson said: “I think the overall feeling is one of great disappointment and frustration.
“Certainly there was unanimous agreement that the proposals for urgent at the Sir Lewis Ritchie steering group meeting were just totally unacceptable, and there is real concern that there was no consultation whatsoever with the community before the proposed times of urgent care were announced.”
Radio Skye asked if the proposals were not the best viable solution, given the recruitment challenges faced by NHS Highland.
Ms Thomson said: “That is certainly not our observations…the basic fact is there was a service in 2018 from 8am to 11pm, and presumably some on-call overnight, so it is something that was provided in Portree for many years.”
Louise Bussell, NHS Highland’s Senior Responsible Officer for the Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross redesign commented to Radio Skye after the meeting on Skye, where the proposal were announced.
She told that station that there was a general feeling of positivity about moving forward and she thanked the local communities for working with NHS to develop sustainable services in the area.
Views sought on new tourist levy bill
The Scottish Parliament is seeking views on a new visitor levy bill that would empower local authorities to introduce a small additional charge to overnight visitors.
Holyrood’s local government, housing and planning committee have open up a online forum for people to share their views on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill.
In February, Councillor Ken Gowans who chairs the Highland Council’s economy committee, said the levy would bring in an estimated £5 to £10 million per year of revenue to the council to support the tourism sector, and improve infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience.
If approved the bill would not be implemented by the Highland Council until 2026.
Councillor Gowans said the council would use that time to undertake extensive consultation with its partners, communities, and stakeholders to assist in the Levy’s introduction across the Highlands.
New study finds Lochalsh bays among most polluted
Balmacara Bay has been ref flagged as one of most polluted areas according to an aerial photo study of Scotland’s waters.
Scotland’s Coastal Rubbish Aerial Photography (SCRAPbook) used aerial photography collected by light aircraft to identify visible macro litter on the coast.
A team of citizen scientists assessed the images for data intensity and litter types.
The Lochalsh Community Council has reported that the evidence show its coastal area, particularly Balmacara Bay and areas of Kyle, as some of the most polluted shores with marine litter registering a score of five – the highest on the intensity scale
The Moray Firth Coastal Partnership will be in the area for a week over August to help clean up our shores.
Images below taken by the SCRAPbook project detail the intensity of the pollution found.
SEALL appoints new creative director
Skye-based cultural body SEALL has announced the appointment of a new creative director
Jamie Sutherland is currently the Music Programme Manager at Edinburgh’s Summerhall Arts Venue and will take up the post in September.
Gareth Morgan, Chair of the SEALL board, described Jamie as an outstanding individual who he said will bring innovation, creativity, and leadership to SEALL in this key role.
Commenting on his appointment, Jamie Sutherland said he was thrilled and delighted to take on the role of Creative Director at SEALL.
He added: “The opportunity to move up to this beautiful part of the world is one my family and I couldn’t pass up! I look forward to meeting and working with the brilliant team and board at SEALL.”
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Niteworks to close Royal National Mòd
Skye band Niteworks have been announced as the closing act at this year’s Royal National Mòd
The Celtic-electronica group have been chosen to bring the Scotland’s premiere Gaelic musical and cultural event to a spectacular close at Paisley town hall on 21st October
The concert will be Niteworks’ only Scottish venue gig of the year and is the first time that they will have played to audiences in Paisley.
The performance comes off the back of the band’s 2022 sell out Scottish tour which saw more than 6,000 tickets snapped up for venues including Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Highland Council leader welcome visitor levy bill
Leader of the Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government on its intention to introduce a bill to allow local authorities to introduce a local tourist levy.
If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill will give councils the power to apply a levy on stays in overnight accommodation based on a percentage of the accommodation cost.
All money raised would have to be reinvested locally on facilities and services substantially for or used by visitors, enhancing the tourist experience and benefitting local communities and their economies.
Raymond Bremmer, leader of the Highland Council said: “The Highland Council has long supported the idea of a tourist levy to enable the local authority to invest in local infrastructure and is a commitment in our Council Programme.
“The introduction of the Bill is good news and means we can now plan for the introduction of this local levy following approval of the Bill by Parliament.”
Under the plans, councils would be required to consult communities, businesses and tourism organisations before putting a visitor levy in place. They would also have to consult on how any revenue raised should be spent.
The proposals follow public consultation and form part of the New Deal for Local Government which gives councils greater financial flexibility and strengthens local democracy.
The Scottish Government has also invited representatives from the tourism industry, COSLA and other partners to join an expert group to consider how it could best be implemented if passed.
Kyleakin goalie set for final match
Kyleakin Football Club goalkeeper Craig Wilson is set to make his final appearance in the local league after nearly two decades playing.
Craig started playing in the Skye and Lochalsh league at the age of just 13 and went on to join Kyleakin FC at 19 where he spent 11 years as the club’s number one.
Tonight he faces Kyle in his last match for the reds before moving away to the Western Isles.
Reflecting on some his favourite memories from his time competing in the league, Craig told Radio Skye: “Winning the two league titles with Kyleakin were the highs.
“Both of them pretty much went down to the last game of the season – they were pretty good.
“We beat Sleat 5-2 on my 21st Birthday to win the league.”
The Elgol resident also praised the role of coach David Bucher for his work at Kyleakin and football coaching across the community.
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