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View Full Version : Fit's in 'e Coorier 'e day



Nwicker60
17-Oct-12, 10:07
Caithness Courier headlines: October 17,

A RURAL community benefit fund in west Caithness is sitting on over half-a-million pounds that is going nowhere fast. The Caithness Courier can reveal that, at the recent seventh AGM of Halkirk District Benefit Fund, it was struggling to find applicants for the sum of approximately £600,000 in its bank. The six trustees of the fund, which reaps money from the operators of the Causewaymire wind farm, are desperate for people to apply for funding, Katherine Cartwright said yesterday.

A MARATHON battle to win the hearts and minds of Highland voters has begun in earnest, ahead of the 2014 referendum on whether Scotland should become an independent country. Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond signed a deal in Edinburgh, on Monday, agreeing to hold the history ballot after months of talks. Under the terms of the agreement between the UK and Scottish governments, the national vote will take place in autumn 2014 and a single yes or no question on whether Scotland should leave the UK, will be asked.

A CAITHNESS businessman has described as “scaremongering” claims that wind turbines will affect the local tourist industry. Electrical contractor Walter Mann argues the turbines would not deter tourists from coming to the far north. He said renewable energy is “the way forward” for the county and will create employment opportunities.

A CONTROVERSIAL council proposal to slash the school day by two-and-a half hours a week, in the Highlands has run into considerable public hostility, a finance leader has admitted. But senior Highland councillor Dave Fallows has refused to say whether the suggested cut in primary schools teaching time, which could save £3.2 million in staff costs. is now off the agenda in light of the fierce opposition during a major public consultation.

ORGANISERS of Saturday’s annual vintage ploughing match in Caithness heaved a huge collective sigh of relief after the dire weather forecast did not materialise. While there were some heavy downpours in the 24 hours before the event at Greenland Mains, they were less severe than expected and the ground conditions for the 19 competitors were testing but fair.

ENTICING children to take an active role in growing gardening and trying new food, Bower school pupils were recently treated to a Friday of getting muddy with volunteers from a local gardening club and school mums’ support. In preparation for the Bower and District Gardening club’s recent annual summer show, a club member helped sponsor the event with seed trays and compost and John O’ Groats farm show Puffin Croft gave a bulk discount to supply the plants for the 43 pupils to create miniature herb gardens.

THE plan to convert a community heating scheme in Wick from oil to biomass, should be completed by the end of November. The timing of the long-awaited switchover was revealed yesterday by Ignis Energy director, Craig Ibbetson, who admitted the conversion is taking “slightly longer that we desired”.

COMMUNITY groups which want to take over historic ruins in the Highlands and develop them as tourism attractions, will be invited to bid from a £1 million council pot. It comes after the opposition group of councillors claimed the proposed community challenge fund was shrouded in mystery and said local people and groups had been kept in the dark about the qualifying criteria. It has now emerged that Highland councillors will be asked to give the green light to the grant scheme which could award grants so local groups could organised work like summer grass cutting and general maintenance later this month.

CARE for people in Caithness suffering from dementia, has received a boost with a new appointment made by NHS Highland. Ruth Mantle is the first Alzheimer Scotland dementia nurse consultant. Based in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, she will cover all of the Highlands in her new post, one of a network of 14 created as part of Scotland’s national dementia strategy.