Dores and Essich Community

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Etape Loch Ness Postponed

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2021 Etape Loch Ness: Important Event Update

27 January 2021: It is with great regret that we have taken the decision to postpone the 2021 Etape Loch Ness due to take place on 25 April. The rescheduled event will now take place on 22 August 2021.

We have been monitoring the situation very closely over the last few weeks and following consultation with government agencies, local authorities and emergency services, it is clear that due to the current COVID-19 situation and the ongoing level of restrictions in the UK, an event of this size cannot go ahead in April.

We are very saddened to have to postpone the event again and we are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from our stakeholders, event partners and our local community.

The health, safety and welfare of our participants, volunteers, staff, stakeholders and the local community is at the heart of everything we do and will always remain our priority. We want to reassure you that our team is working very hard behind the scenes on planning for the August event and look forward to sharing our plans with you over the coming months.

Everyone with a place in the 2021 event will have their entry automatically transferred to the rescheduled event on 22 August 2021 and no further action is required. All participants have been emailed today.

We really hope you can all join us at the rescheduled event however we understand that this date may not be possible for everyone and we are able to offer the following alternatives:

  • Transfer your entry to another rider and receive a refund
  • Defer your entry to the 2022 event taking place on 24 April
  • Donate your entry fee to Macmillan Cancer Support, our official charity
  • A refund of your entry fee

We know this will be disappointing news and from all of us at the Etape Loch Ness team, we want to thank you for your patience and support over the last year. We can’t wait to welcome you all back to Loch Ness in August. Above all, we hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well.

Malcolm Sutherland, Event Director, Etape Loch Ness

Temporary Business Support Grant

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Posting this in case it is helpful to anyone in our community or for anyone you know

Temporary Business Closure Grant – 

A new grant scheme has been launched to support businesses who have had to close due to the covid-19 protective measured introduced.  The Closure Grant operates as a two-tiered scheme, with a grant of £2,000 for premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £51,000 and a grant of £3,000 for those businesses with a rateable value of £51,001 and above. The grant is payable every four weeks, in arrears, for the duration protective measures are in place.

For more information please visit www.highland.gov.uk/strategicframeworkfund

Over the coming weeks the Scottish Government will be making available a range of other grants to businesses, including Taxi and Private Hire; Newly Self Employed, Mobile Close Contact Services and a Highland Discretionary Business Grant scheme. The Council has been asked to deliver these grant schemes and as detailed eligibility and grant scheme information becomes available from the Scottish Government, the Council will provide guidance and detail on its website as to who is eligible and how to apply for grant.  

Speeding Vehicles and Dangerous Driving

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A report was made by a member of the community to the Police regarding dangerous driving at Scaniport which is an ongoing issue along the length of the B862, The Police have advised reporting any issues to their non emergency nos 101.

I have copied the local Police acknowledgment below

On the 15th of January 2021 there was a report of dangerous driving on the B862 near Scaniport the previous evening (14/01/2021) around 1630 hours whereby an old style black golf or polo car conducted an extremely unsafe overtake of a bus.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident or witnessed it please contact police quoting NN/265/21. Thank you.

Highland Council Service Arrangements for Christmas and the New Year

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Highland Council service arrangements for Christmas and New Year  

The Highland Council has notified its service users and customers of its opening hours and service arrangements over the festive period.

The Service Centre will close at 4pm on 24 December. It will be open on 29, 30 and 31 December (opening times 10am to 4pm). Closed 1, 2, 3 and 4 January 2021 and open 8am to 5pm from 5 January 2021

All council Service Points will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Inverness Registration Office will close at 4pm on 24 December.  Staff will be available by appointment only on 29, 30 and 31 December (10am to 4pm).  It will be closed 1, 2, 3 and 4 January and will reopen for appointments from 9am on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Urgent death registration appointments will also be available on 29, 30 and 31 December at various offices across Highland, please contact your local Funeral Director who will advise.

Coronavirus Helpline

Call 0300 303 1362 for support including emergency food for those in crisis including those who have to self-isolate and have no other way of getting food supplies.

Online services

Contact the Council anytime online to report a problem, ask for something or make a payment:

Recycling Centres

Recycling centres will be closed 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.

Christmas and New Year Collections:
If your usual collection for recycling or refuse falls on Friday 25 December or Friday 1 January 2021 you will have a different collection day. Please check the sticker on your bin for your alternative collection day. You can also find details on the Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk/bincalendars

Boxing Day refuse and recycling collections remain the same this year.

For further information about recycling in the Highlands visit: www.highland.gov.uk/recycle

Council out of hours telephone numbers

Health and Social Care – 0845 769 7284

Roads, flooding, street lighting – 01349 886690

Housing – 01349 886691

Registration – 07818 588 203

Emergency out of hours telephone numbers

All trunk roads – BEAR Scotland – 0800 587 1107

Gas Freephone – 0800 111 999

NHS 24 – call free on 111 if you are ill and can’t wait until your regular NHS service reopens

Police Scotland – 101 for all services

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – 01463 240999 (24 hours)

Scottish and Southern Electric Freephone – 0800 300 999

Scottish Water – 08000 778 778 (24 hours)

SEPA Floodline – 0345 988 1188

SEPA Pollution hotline – 0800 807060 (24 hours)

The Highland Council and NHS Highland are reminding Highland residents of the importance of reaching out for help if this is needed over the festive period.

If someone is concerned about their own or someone else’s mental health, then it is important to contact their GP or to call NHS 24 on 111. 

If there is a concern someone is in immediate danger then emergency services should be called on 999.

There is also a range of other helpline support in place for people needing to speak with someone:

Should you be concerned about a vulnerable adult, whether for care, welfare or mental health reasons, you can contact the following numbers:

  • ​Adult Protection Concern helpline – 0800 902 0042 in office hours and out of office hours or during holiday periods – 0845 769 7284.