Archive for February, 2010

  • Healthy opportunity for Western Isles buisnesses

    Healthy opportunity for Western Isles buisnesses

    Employers in the Western Isles are being invited to the launch of a new occupational health service for local businesses at an event to be held on Friday 12th March. The Bayhead Bridge Centre in Stornoway will host an event arranged by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to showcase the free, confidential support available [...]

    Read More

  • Stornoway Port Authority due £34,000 refund

    Following an appeal, Stornoway Port Authority has learned this week that the Regional Rating Assessor has agreed to reduce the valuation placed on Stornoway Harbour for the past five years. With effect from 1 April 2005 the Regional Rating Assessor had set a Rateable and Net Annual Value of £95,000 on the Harbour Undertaking. In 2009 [...]

    Read More

  • Hebrides crofters encouraged to respond to Pack report

    Western Isles  MSP, Alasdair Allan, has encouraged crofters in the islands to give their views on a review of support for agriculture in Scotland. Brian Pack has published an interim report into the future of agricultural subsidies for the Scottish Government and crofters have until 5th March to write in with their views, although the date has [...]

    Read More

  • First Isle of Lewis whisky makes history

    The first cask of whisky distilled on the Isle of Lewis in 170 years left the island yesterday (Thursday February 25) having being collected at a ceremony held at the distillery in Uig. A group of whisky enthusiasts were given a chance to taste the new dram at Abhainn Dearg – meaning ‘red river’ in Gaelic. Among [...]

    Read More

  • Stornoway-Ullapool ferry cancelled

    Due to adverse weather, all sailings from Stornoway and Ullapool have been cancelled for the day. Weather permitting the next sailing will be from Stornoway at 07:00 on Friday 26th. Contact your port of departure for information.

    Read More

  • NHS Western Isles see rise in anti-obesity drug

    NHS Western Isles see rise in anti-obesity drug

    Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has highlighted the rising physical and financial costs of obesity across the region. The party’s Highlands and Islands health spokesperson has released Scottish Government statistics which show a dramatic increase in the amount of anti-obesity drugs being prescribed over the past decade. The cost of anti-obesity drugs prescribed in NHS [...]

    Read More

  • Western Isles council’s proposal to take over Wee W premises

    Western Isles council’s proposal to take over Wee W premises

    Hebrides Today has learned that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s proposal is to take over the Wee W premises and lease them back to the current occupiers. Ongoing lease income would be reinvested into a Town Centre Legacy Fund for the future benefit of all Town Centre users. Whilst limited in what can be said at this stage [...]

    Read More

  • Western Isles MSP speaks on airport parking charges

    Western Isles MSP speaks on airport parking charges

    Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, yesterday spoke in a debate in the Scottish Parliament on proposals for car parking charges at the three HIAL airports in Stornoway, Sumburgh and Kirkwall. Speaking in the debate, Alasdair Allan said: “A number of factors make island airports different. First, cars are not primarily left there by tourists. Some islanders may [...]

    Read More

  • NHS Western Isles Launch new language guide

    A NEW guide launched yesterday (wed 24th feb) to help patients understand the health service … in 17 different languages. The guide is available online and as a DVD and will be a great help to anyone whose first language is not English, as well as those with poor literacy. It has a voice-over in 16 languages [...]

    Read More

  • Parking charges unfair to air travellers in Western Isles

    By Gregg Adams Rural island communities face new charges when using air transport links to mainland airports. Highlands and Islands Airports is considering introducing car parking charges at its airports in Stornoway, Orkney and Shetland. Highlands and Islands Airport say it had its budget cut by a million pounds by the Scottish Government and the charges are needed [...]

    Read More

  • Western Isles Whisky

    The Western Isles has produced its first legal whisky in more than 170 years. A cask from the Abhainn Dearg (Red River) Distillery in Uig was donated to the local community and another was sold to a German importer. Owner Marko Tayburn fulfilled a dream when he re-developed the former salmon hatchery to create the distillery and [...]

    Read More

  • Western Isles Council challenged to become democratic

    Western Isles Council challenged to become democratic

    Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have today been called on by campaigners wanting the Council to open the sports centres in Lewis and Harris to become a more democratically orientated organisation. They claim it is not ‘morally acceptable’ to have conflicting Sunday policy between the southern isles and the northern isles of the Comhairle’s remit. Back in 4th September [...]

    Read More

  • Fears Hebrides will lose police sniffer dog

    Fears Hebrides will lose police sniffer dog

    Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has written to the Chief Constable of Northern Constabulary, Ian Latimer after being informed of the possibility that the police sniffer dog may be removed from the islands and stressed to him the importance of having a police sniffer dog permanently based in the Western Isles. Mr MacNeil told Hebrides news [...]

    Read More

  • Western Isles councillor takes SNP group to task

    Western Isles councillor takes SNP group to task

    Western Isles Councillor and Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Westminster, Donald John MacSween has hit out at SNP members conduct during the Local Authority’s budget setting process. He declared: “Councillor Donald Manford and his misguided followers in the SNP group on the Comhairle have sunk to a new low. “With the Comhairle facing a difficult period when [...]

    Read More

  • Historical echo in clan chief tribute

    Historical echo in clan chief tribute

    Echoing one of the legendary stories about the MacNeils of Barra, and on the day of the funeral of the much loved Clan Chief, Iain Roderick MacNeil of Barra, Western Isles  MP, Angus MacNeil said: “It was nce modestly hailed in Gaelic from the ramparts of Kishmuil Castle. “Now that the great MacNeil of Barra has dined, the Princes of [...]

    Read More

  • EventScotland announces funding for Hebridean Celtic festival

    EventScotland has awarded more than £20K to the Hebridean Celtic Festival, a summer celebration of traditional music, which will take place this year from 14th – 17th July. To mark the festival’s 15th anniversary, the national events agency is supporting an enhanced marketing and PR campaign to encourage even further growth in 2010. Based in the Outer [...]

    Read More

  • Spanish could control Scottish fishing waters

    Spanish fishermen could end up in control of the North Sea under new rules being thrashed out in Brussels. This is the warning from Scots Euro MP Struan Stevenson ahead of the imminent reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Mr Stevenson, senior vice president of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee, fears the reform will drive through amendments [...]

    Read More

  • The Royal National Mod 2013 to be held in Paisley

    The Royal National Mod 2013 to be held in Paisley

    An Comunn Gaidhealach, organisers of Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (Royal National Mod), announced at their AGM on Friday 19 February 2010 that the Mòd will be held in Paisley in 2013. This will be the first time that the Mòd has been held in Paisley. John Macleod, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach told Hebrides news Today that “An Comunn have received, and [...]

    Read More

  • Keep Hebrides wildlife in mind

    Keep Hebrides wildlife in mind

    The return of sustained freezing temperatures across the Western Isles has prompted Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to ask visitors to the outdoors to be sensitive to the plight of wildlife and birds. The present frozen conditions means wild birds, particularly those species which rely on wet habitats such as ducks, geese and shore waders, will likely [...]

    Read More

  • Crofters Commission is relocating

    Crofters Commission is relocating

    The Crofters Commission is relocating to Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham told Hebrides news Today: “SEARS partners are co-located in 18 locations across Scotland. The Crofter’s Commission move offers further opportunities to join up services for rural Scotland’s land managers.” Nick Reiter, Chief Executive, said, “the Commission’s lease on the offices [...]

    Read More

  • BBC Scotland Sports News
    • Brown & Knox plot Well offensive March 16, 2010
      Motherwell boss Craig Brown targets new player contracts while his assistant Archie Knox is in Barcelona studying coaching methods. […]
    • Obree inducted into Hall of Fame March 16, 2010
      Cyclist Graeme Obree is among six athletes to be inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. […]
    • Clyde v Dumbarton March 16, 2010
      Team news followed by match report for Tuesday's Second Division fixture at Broadwood Stadium. […]
    • Dunfermline v Raith Rovers March 16, 2010
      Team news followed by match report for Tuesday's First Division fixture at East End Park. […]
    • Robinson delays naming Scots team March 15, 2010
      Andy Robinson delays naming his Scotland side to face Ireland in Saturday's final Six Nations match because of a lengthy injury list. […]
    • Houston critical of Ibrox ref calls March 15, 2010
      Peter Houston insists referee Dougie McDonald was wrong to award Rangers two penalties in Sunday's 3-3 Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. […]
    • Wright seeks action on scrums March 15, 2010
      Former Scotland prop Peter Wright believes the International Rugby Board must act to prevent the repeated collapse of the scrum. […]
    • Bonner hails Keane's Celtic form March 15, 2010
      Robbie Keane's loan move to Celtic has enabled him to rediscover his best form, according to the club's former keeper Pat Bonner . […]
    • St Johnstone v Aberdeen March 15, 2010
      Preview followed by live coverage of Tuesday's game between St Johnstone and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. […]
    • Beckham injury saddens Well boss March 15, 2010
      Motherwell manager Craig Brown insists England will be poorer at the World Cup finals without injured midfielder David Beckham. […]
  • SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline