Press Release added 30/05/24

Please arrange for the following Press Release, attached plan refers.

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Planned part-day Road Closure – B862 at Scaniport Settlement – Monday 10^th June 2024 between 0900 and 1700

Motorists are being advised by The Highland Council that there will be a part-day road closure of the B862 at Scaniport Settlement (south of Inverness between Holm Roundabout and Dores) on Monday 10^th June 2024 between the hours of 0900 and 1700.  

The part-day road closure is required to carry out essential tree felling to provide adequate visibility to the newly installed Gateway and 40mph speed limit signs.

Local diversion routes will be available for Light Vehicles using the Essich Road with Heavy Goods Vehicles being directed to use the main B-route corridors.

Advance notification signs advising the public of this closure will be erected at the site and at remote junctions, giving advance notice of the works.  Traffic Management Operatives and Diversion signs will be in place during the Closure.

Emergency vehicle access will be maintained and pedestrians and cyclists will also be managed through the works under the supervision of the Contractor.  School Transport, Bus services and Waste collections will be managed through the works.

The Highland Council apologise for any inconvenience.

Dear All

I attach a copy of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order to enable the closure of the B862 (Fort Augustus – Inverness Road) at Scaniport from 9am to 5pm on Monday 10^th June 2024. The closure is required to enable arboriculture and public utility infrastructure works to safely proceed.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Alistair MacLeod: IEng FIHE,

Principal Technician,

Highland Council,

Infrastructure and Environment,

94 Diriebught Road,

Inverness,

IV2 3QN,

Tel: 07918 888692

Dear Community Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

For your Information – please see the below message about an opportunity to appear in an BBC1 show about restoring heirlooms and artefacts:

BBC1 is looking for stories in the Highland community.

Do you have a cherished local landmark, a personal family heirloom, or a historical artefact with a connection to the Highlands that’s undergoing or in need of restoration? Are you seeking support to preserve your local community’s heritage?

The Repair Shop wants to help! We’re looking to restore historical treasures, revive personal items, and honour crafting heroes in the Highlands. Whether you have a special item yourself, or want to nominate a project or individual, we want to hear from you.

Apply now on the BBC website – https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/the-repair-shop

Kind regards,

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

This briefing is releasing early due to annual leave, and will return to normal 31 May.

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing containing information about support, resources, and events for local communities.

If you have anything you wish to be included in a future briefing, please contact [email protected]

To join the mailing list for this briefing please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/rSS3hXbGTa

Funding 

• SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector.
• HTSI Funding Support and Advice
• Youth Work Grants & Funding Directory
• Get Grants – provides practical support, training, and advice relating to fundraising.
• Foundation Scotland – Highland Grants
• Action Earth – funds activities emphasising local nature enrichment and biodiversity, such as creating community gardens or ponds.
• Boost Fund – supports local community organisations who support children and families affected by poverty.

Community Training, Events, & News

• Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Consultation – This consultation seeks views to enable Disclosure Scotland to consider fee discounts for certain groups applying for Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership disclosures and views on the fees applied to organisations acting as accredited bodies. The consultation closes on 28 May 2024.
• Local Place Plan Online Learning Event – The event will take place online on Tuesday 28 May from 6:30-8pm and is open to all Community Councils, Community Controlled Groups.

Local Place Plans will be explained and supporting resources highlighted by HC Officers from the Development Plans and Community Development Teams.  Community reps will also be on hand to share their experiences – each taking their own approach to planning for the future of their local communities.  There will be plenty of time allocated too for discussion and Q&A.  Questions can be submitted prior to the event by emailing [email protected]  or asked on the night.

To register for the event and receive your teams link, please Click here to book your place  This link will take you to an online registration form to fill out.  Once you’ve done this and pressed submit, an email will land in your inbox with the link for 28 May.

Attached for further info is a copy of the latest Highland Council LPP Update. 

If anyone has any questions about LPPs or the event, email [email protected]

• WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES in INVERNESS – Please join with Mikeysline and other local charities & groups for the 10th annual Walk a Mile along the River Ness and through Inverness City Centre. On Sunday 26th May 2024 at 3pm.

This event is family friendly and open to participants of all ages. Feel free to bring any banners or signs to show your support. The walk starts at 3pm so please try to arrive at least 5 minutes beforehand. The meeting point is on the grass near the Fishermen’s Hut beside Bught Park on the corner by Ballifeary Care Home on Ness Walk. (See Google maps – https://maps.app.goo.gl/9mVGud8MxaWSAYHW6)

The walk route takes us along by the riverside to Ness Bridge, up Bridge Street and High Street, before heading down Inglis Street to finish at Falcon Square. Please note due to the ongoing roadworks along Ness Walk and Bught Road, vehicle access is not currently available at the meeting point.

• Community Benefit Giveaway – The CBT platform helps organisations connect with NHS suppliers who can support the delivery of community benefits, such as work placement opportunities and professional advice.

Go to the CBG portal here and following your registration, you will be able to submit your ‘need’. For further information, user guides and how to register your organisation

• HTSI Open House – These are free, monthly, in-person open discussions allowing you to connect with peers and agency teams to discuss problems your organisation is facing and find solutions. 

You can register here: 

• Highland Third Sector Interface HTSI – VeryConnect (highlandtsi.org.uk) – 24th May at Impact Hub, Inverness 
• Highland Third Sector Interface HTSI – VeryConnect (highlandtsi.org.uk) – 14th June at HIE, An Lochran, Inverness
• Highland Third Sector Interface HTSI – VeryConnect (highlandtsi.org.uk) 23rd August at HTSI, Dingwall 
• Highland Third Sector Interface HTSI – VeryConnect (highlandtsi.org.uk) 27th September at SCVO, Fairways House, Inverness
• Sustaining Choices – Local Walking Action Plan Support – Any community interested can submit an expression of interest to receive support and guidance creating a local walking action plan.
• Dead Wild Bird Reporting The online reporting service has been updated, this service is used to help understand how diseases are spreading.
• Highland Whole Family Wellbeing Programme – This platform is intended to share information about anything relating to holistic family wellbeing and support.
• Cost of living support – Highland Council webpages on support and information to help with the cost of living.
• Help during the cost-of-living crisis – Scottish Government advice and information.
• CAB Energy Advice – Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial energy advice to householders. They provide advice to help reduce household energy use, save money, and understand energy bills and support householders to manage energy debt. This can be done in person, over the phone or by video call. 0800 028 1456 will bring you to an interactive service which will connect you to the relevant service or you can enter your postcode here to find your local Citizen Advice bureau.
• Armed Forces & Veterans: Education, Health & Housing – Information to support and signpost Highland’s Armed Forces Community:

Mental Health & Wellbeing

• NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing. Register for the event by following the link.
• Cost of living crisis and your mental health
  Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.

Community Safety and Resilience

• Highlands and Islands Climate Hub – Empowers community-led climate action.
• https://ready.scot/ – Tips on steps you can take to prepare your home, family, and business for emergencies.
• Met Office Weather Warnings – https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2022-11-04
• Met Office Weather Ready https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/weatherready 
• Scottish Flood Forecasting – Provides up to date information on when and where flooding is expected to occur over a three-day period.
• Floodline Scotland https://floodlinescotland.org.uk/ 

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

Highland Council Buses have successfully operated the Foyers – Inverness service since January 2023 as you will know. However, Stagecoach told us earlier this year that they would be able to provide the off-peak service at no cost to the Council, and quoted a price for the peak hour journeys (including pupil transport to/from Inverness Royal Academy) which enabled the Council to make a significant saving. The Highland Council Buses service will therefore be replaced by the Stagecoach one from 20 May. The timetable will be virtually the same as at present.

I attach a copy of the timetable, taken from Traveline Scotland. It has not yet appeared on Stagecoach’s own website but I expect it would be there soon.

The Whitebridge – Inverness service is unaffected.

David Summers

Principal Transport Officer

Some information about this year’s Walking & Wheeling Festival. Please feel free to share on your social media platforms.

Full programme at www.wawfest.com

Many thanks,

Jayne

Jayne Preece

Partnerships for Wellbeing

Health Walks & Events Manager

07824689235

Inverness Walking & Wheeling Festival 2024 

WWW.wawfest.com

INVITATION to attend an online learning session on Local Place Plans

I’m pleased to be emailing everyone with an invitation to take part in an online learning event all about Local Place Plans.   The session will be of particular interest and benefit to anyone who is planning to, or is currently working on, a Local Place Plan.

The event will take place online on Tuesday 28 May from 6:30-8pm and is open to all Community Councils, Community Controlled Groups (e.g. suitably constituted development trusts, community company), Elected Members and any other interested parties – all welcome.

Local Place Plans will be explained and supporting resources highlighted by HC Officers from the Development Plans and Community Development Teams.  Community reps will also be on hand to share their experiences – each taking their own approach to planning for the future of their local communities.  There will be plenty of time allocated too for discussion and Q&A.  Questions can be submitted prior to the event by emailing [email protected]  or asked on the night.

How to book your place

To register for the event and receive your teams link, please Click here to book your place  This link will take you to an online registration form to fill out.  Once you’ve done this and pressed submit, an email will land in your inbox with the link for 28 May.

Attached for further info is a copy of the latest Highland Council LPP Update. 

If anyone has any questions about LPPs or the event itself, please don’t hesitate to email [email protected]

We look forward to you joining us on the night.

Many thanks

Fiona

Fiona Richardson

Community Development Manager

Community Support – Contact and Engagement

Dingwall Council Offices and Service Point

84, High Street

Dingwall, IV15 9QN

Email [email protected]