Nwicker60
07-Dec-12, 10:32
John O’ Groat headlines; December 7, 2012
A YOUNG Caithness Highland councillor has called for action to address what he believes is the significant under-reporting of incidents of homophobic bullying in Highland schools. Alex Macleod has no confidence in the latest statistics which document a single case over the past year. Questioning the figures, the landward Caithness member warned it doesn not paint a true picture of the situation facing gay youngsters in the classroom or playground.
A NATURE conservation chief is happy the rich diversity of marine life in the Pentland Firth can co-exist with the arrays of turbines earmarked to operate on its seabed. Andrew Thin does not want to pre-judge a cluster of surveys being carried out, to gauge possible impacts the devices could have on seabeds, fish and cetgaceans. But he cannot forsee any conservation “blockers” being set in the path of the fledgling industry.
INDEPENDENT councillors have been blasted for attempting to block funding to the Royal Society Protection of Birds in what has been described as an effort to undermine the authority of the Caithness and Sutherland area committee. Landward SNP councillor Alex MacLeod claimed the actions of four independent Caithness councillors, in trying to prevent a grant of £10,000 from the landfill community fund going to a peatland project in the north Highlands, is detrimental to local democracy.
A PLAN to upgrade the notorious Berriedale Braes in Caithness could be funded from a share of an extra £331 million being made available to the Scottish Government for capital projects. Far north MP John Thurso and Trudy Morris, chief executive officer of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, are pressing for some of the additional money, announced this week by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to be spend on transport projects.
FAR north MP John Thurso is at loggerheads with Prime Minister David Cameron over the future of press regulation in the wake of the Leveson report into ethics, culture and standards. The Lib Dem backbencher put his weight behind Depute Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s call when speaking to the Groat this week after holding the first Westminster commission outside of London. He said people are right to be wary of the pocess of reform in press regulator, but he regarded Lord Justice Leveson's recommendation in favour of free press with statutory unerpinning, it, as the best route to take.
WIDELY considered to be one of the finest Scottish literary works of the 20th century, The Silver Darlings is set to be turned into a film which could be shot in Caithness. The 1941 classic by Dunbeath-born Neil Gunn is to be turned into a movie that will be screened across the globe as the Neil Gunn Literary Estate confirmed it has sold the rights of the book to Young Films, owned by Christopher Young who directed The Betweeners Movie which took £45 million at the British box office.
DOGS could be banned from school grounds, play parks and football pitches if a Highland Council worker gets her way. Assistanct community works officer Anne Begg, who is responsible for dog control in Caithness, is pushing for more powers that could see man’s best friend excluded from child-friendly spots throughout the county. The bid for increased powers to dog wardens, comes as Ms Begg tries to persuaded owners to clean up their act and reduce risk from dog mess, a menace that has long plagued local towns and villages.
TALKS about introducing a warning system to inform the public about roads which have not been gritted, are set to take place between Caithness councillors and Highland Council. Landward councillor Robert Coghill has proposed implementing a new scheme, similar to that of the successful Farmwatch initiative which would inform people about incidents on the roads that prevent gritters getting through.
FORTY FOUR cattle and 504 sheep from Caithness were forward for Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale at Thainstone last Friday. A total of 563 store cattle and 23 young calves went through the ring with bullocks averaging 203.2p per kg; heifers 186.8p; and bulls 141.4p. Young and weaned calves sold to £650 gross.
A YOUNG Caithness Highland councillor has called for action to address what he believes is the significant under-reporting of incidents of homophobic bullying in Highland schools. Alex Macleod has no confidence in the latest statistics which document a single case over the past year. Questioning the figures, the landward Caithness member warned it doesn not paint a true picture of the situation facing gay youngsters in the classroom or playground.
A NATURE conservation chief is happy the rich diversity of marine life in the Pentland Firth can co-exist with the arrays of turbines earmarked to operate on its seabed. Andrew Thin does not want to pre-judge a cluster of surveys being carried out, to gauge possible impacts the devices could have on seabeds, fish and cetgaceans. But he cannot forsee any conservation “blockers” being set in the path of the fledgling industry.
INDEPENDENT councillors have been blasted for attempting to block funding to the Royal Society Protection of Birds in what has been described as an effort to undermine the authority of the Caithness and Sutherland area committee. Landward SNP councillor Alex MacLeod claimed the actions of four independent Caithness councillors, in trying to prevent a grant of £10,000 from the landfill community fund going to a peatland project in the north Highlands, is detrimental to local democracy.
A PLAN to upgrade the notorious Berriedale Braes in Caithness could be funded from a share of an extra £331 million being made available to the Scottish Government for capital projects. Far north MP John Thurso and Trudy Morris, chief executive officer of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, are pressing for some of the additional money, announced this week by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to be spend on transport projects.
FAR north MP John Thurso is at loggerheads with Prime Minister David Cameron over the future of press regulation in the wake of the Leveson report into ethics, culture and standards. The Lib Dem backbencher put his weight behind Depute Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s call when speaking to the Groat this week after holding the first Westminster commission outside of London. He said people are right to be wary of the pocess of reform in press regulator, but he regarded Lord Justice Leveson's recommendation in favour of free press with statutory unerpinning, it, as the best route to take.
WIDELY considered to be one of the finest Scottish literary works of the 20th century, The Silver Darlings is set to be turned into a film which could be shot in Caithness. The 1941 classic by Dunbeath-born Neil Gunn is to be turned into a movie that will be screened across the globe as the Neil Gunn Literary Estate confirmed it has sold the rights of the book to Young Films, owned by Christopher Young who directed The Betweeners Movie which took £45 million at the British box office.
DOGS could be banned from school grounds, play parks and football pitches if a Highland Council worker gets her way. Assistanct community works officer Anne Begg, who is responsible for dog control in Caithness, is pushing for more powers that could see man’s best friend excluded from child-friendly spots throughout the county. The bid for increased powers to dog wardens, comes as Ms Begg tries to persuaded owners to clean up their act and reduce risk from dog mess, a menace that has long plagued local towns and villages.
TALKS about introducing a warning system to inform the public about roads which have not been gritted, are set to take place between Caithness councillors and Highland Council. Landward councillor Robert Coghill has proposed implementing a new scheme, similar to that of the successful Farmwatch initiative which would inform people about incidents on the roads that prevent gritters getting through.
FORTY FOUR cattle and 504 sheep from Caithness were forward for Aberdeen and Northern Marts sale at Thainstone last Friday. A total of 563 store cattle and 23 young calves went through the ring with bullocks averaging 203.2p per kg; heifers 186.8p; and bulls 141.4p. Young and weaned calves sold to £650 gross.