Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tuesday 22nd May

New Zero Emission Vehicle

A new Nissan Leaf Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) has been purchased by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for use from its offices on Sandwick Road, Stornoway...

Crackdown on Unlicensed Car Sellers

Trading Standards and the Northern Constabulary have announced that they will be enforcing a crackdown on unlicensed car sellers in the Western Isles...

Diamond Jubilee events in the isles

Communities throughout the islands will be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next month with a series of Jubilee Beacons, Street Parties and community gatherings...

Wednesday 16th May

Support For Arctic Convoy Veterans

The Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Cllr Angus Campbell, has made a plea for the UK Government to formally recognise the veterans of the World War 2 Arctic convoys with a campaign medal...

Tuesday 15th May

Supplier Briefing for Lews Castle Project

A supplier briefing for firms interested in opportunities arising from the Lews Castle Museum and Archive project has been arranged by the Comhairle...

IT Training for Western Isles Youths

12 young people from the Western Isles recently completed a 3 day young leaders training residential...

Monday 14th May

Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2012

A national Scottish Apprenticeship Week will be held this year from the 21st until the 25th May...

Hebrides Opportunities Festival 2012

More events for The first ever adult learning festival in the Western Isles that will take place in venues in Stornoway and Uist during week starting Monday 14th May...

Friday 11th May

Hebrides Opportunities Festival 2012

The first ever adult learning festival in the Western Isles will take place in venues in Stornoway and Uist during week starting Monday 14th May....

Committee Chair and Vice-Chair Posts

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar today elected Cllr Roddy Mackay as Vice-Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee. Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell is Chair of the...

Committee Chair and Vice-Chair Posts

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar today elected the following Chairs and Vice-Chairs...

Thursday 10th May

Leader and Convener Posts

Cllr Angus Campbell has been re-elected to serve as Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Cllr Norman A Macdonald has been elected to serve as Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar...

Picture the Past, Create the Future

Museum nan Eilean is holding a two day programme for families to explore some of the history of Lews Castle by re-interpreting and acting out scenes and tableaux from Lady Matheson’s photographs from the 1800s...

Tuesday 8th May

Lord Mar at Sgoil Lionacleit

Sixth Year pupils in Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula, hosted a talk and question time from a member of the House of Lords on Friday 27th April...

Design Awards for the Hebrides

The Comhairle recently recognised outstanding achievements in new building design at its inaugural Design Awards event held last week in the resplendent Stornoway Town Hall...

Get Out and About in Nature

The Comhairle has teamed up with a range of organisations to bring you a wide variety of events and activities during Scottish Biodiversity Week....

Monday 7th May

Roads Surface Dressing Underway

The Comhairle’s 2012 roads surface dressing programme is starting on the 7th May with a week of work in Barra...

Friday 4th May

Local Government Election Results for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

The results for the Local Government Elections for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are now available on the Election Results page of our website...

Comhaile's Community Gateway Hosts "Meet the Funder" Events

Reminder that the OFT’s current study on ‘Markets in Remote Communities’ closes tomorrow. Responses are to be submitted before 12pm on Friday the 20th of April...

Tuesday 23rd April

Have your say on the Castle Grounds

The Stornoway Trust in partnership with the Comhairle and other local organisations is undertaking a public consultation on the Castle Grounds on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 April...

Sports Centre Closed For Election Count

Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais (Lewis Sports Centre) will be closed until 2pm on Friday 4th May due to the count for elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar...

Statement On Talk Talk Jobs

Cllr Angus Campbell has welcomed Talk Talk’s announcement of 25 new jobs at its Stornoway operation and an upskilling of present jobs...

Monday 23rd April

Postal Voters – Watch out for your Ballot Pack

Ballot papers for postal voters in the Western Isles will be arriving on doormats over the next few days, ready for the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election on Thursday 3 May...

Jubilee Events in The Western Isles

Communities throughout the Western Isles are being encouraged to hold local events to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June...

Thursday 19th April

OFT ‘Markets in Remote Communities’ Study Closes on 20/04/12

Reminder that the OFT’s current study on ‘Markets in Remote Communities’ closes tomorrow. Responses are to be submitted before 12pm on Friday the 20th of April...

Tuesday 17th April

Make Sure you have your say on the 3rd of May

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is reminding voters of some simple steps to take to make sure they can have their say in the elections on 3rd May 2012...

West Side Primary School / Sgoil an Taobh Siar

On Monday 16th April 2012, the new West Side Primary School (Sgoil an Taobh Siar) in Barvas, Isle of Lewis successfully opened to welcome its first intake of pupils...

Thursday 5th April

Images of Rural Europe - Be Part of It!

The LEADER Innse Gall Local Action Group (LAG) are delighted to announce that they are co-ordinating the Outer Hebrides submissions to an exciting European photo competition which has been launched by the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD)...

Wednesday 4th April

Access And Parking Changes At The Comhairle Offices And Sports Centre, Sandwick Road, Stornoway

The new car park area at the front West of the Comhairle’s HQ Building on Sandwick road will be in use as from Friday 13 April, 2012...

Western Isles Residents Urged To Make Sure They Can Vote

With under a month to go before the May elections, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is urging residents to take five minutes to secure their vote...

Tuesday 3rd April

CLEAS

Young people from across the Western Isles are in Stornoway this week, between the 2nd and the 6th of April, for 'Cleas' - a Gaelic residential media course developing acting, directing and editing skills...

Wednesday 28th March

Refurbished Stornoway Town Hall Officially Opened

The refurbished Stornoway Town hall was officially opened today by Alexander Matheson OBE, former Provost of Stornoway Town Council, and Convenor of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Alex A MacDonald...

Uist Hosts First Eco-schools Conference

On Friday 23rd March, Uist hosted its first ever Eco-schools Conference for all Uist and Barra schools. Southend Hall in Daliburgh was the venue for the conference which was attended by 80 primary and secondary age pupils from 9 schools....

Tuesday 27th March

Closing Date For Comhairle Nominations This Week

Nominations for election to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar close at 4pm this Thursday – 29th March 2012...

Monday 26th March

New service launched to help bereaved families and new parents notify authorities

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar has teamed up with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver Tell Us Once, a new service that automatically notifies relevant government departments and service authorities of a family’s birth or bereavement...

Food Hygiene Information Scheme for the Outer Hebrides

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is launching the Food Hygiene Information Scheme in the Outer Hebrides...

Tarbert Library moving to temporary accommodation

Tarbert Community Library will be moving into temporary accommodation in the hut behind Sir E Scott school until August, when the new library is scheduled to be completed....

Airidhantuim School Memories Exhibition

The Airidhantuim School Memories exhibition will be available to see in the school during the first week of the Easter holidays....

Barvas School Memories Exhibition

The Barvas School Memories exhibition will be available to see in the school during the first week of the Easter holidays....

Thursday 22nd March

Comhairle Welcomes Prime Minister’s Statement On Emergency Tugs

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments, in an answer to Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid on the question of Emergency Tug cover...

Wednesday 21st March

Lews Castle repair works underway

Long awaited repair works to the historic Lews Castle are scheduled to start on Monday 26 March and will continue until December 2012...

Monday 19th March

Olympic Torch Relay Organisers Confirm Streets the Olympic Flame will be Carried Along in Stornoway

The route for the Western Isles leg of the Olympic Torch Relay and the names of 10 of the 32 Torchbearers that will carry the Torch through Stornoway have been announced today by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG)...

International Conference in Daliburgh, South Uist on 27-28 March

The Sea as Our Neighbour: Adapting to Climate Change by Coastal Communities and Habitats on Europe’s Northern Periphery

Open days and evenings at Barvas School

Barvas School are inviting the community to join them during three open days and evenings between Monday 26th and Wednesday 28th March to mark the closing of the school and the move to the new Westside School.

Welcome for Crown Estate report

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the Scottish Affairs Committee's recommendation that the Crown Estate Commissioner (CEC)'s management of Marine and Coastal assets should be devolved to a local level.

Thursday 15th March

Letter Scam

Trading Standards Officers are warning residents in the Western Isles to beware of a new letter scam that is circulating in the Islands.

Wednesday 14th March

Sgoil a’ Bhac win FilmG Award For Gaelic

Pupils from Sgoil a’ Bhac in Lewis won the prestigious FilmG Award for Gaelic at the FilmG Awards in Glasgow on Friday the 9th of March...

Tuesday 13th March

Markets in Remote Communities

On behalf of the Office for Fair Trading, Trading Standards Officers at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are encouraging both consumers and businesses in the Outer Hebrides to take part in the OFT’s current study on Markets in Remote Communities...

Anti Dog Fouling Campaign

As a result of a growing number of complaints, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar is stepping up its enforcement action to combat the problems created by dog fouling and straying in the islands...

Monday 12th March

Airidhantuim Primary School Open Days 19th to 21st March 2012

Airidhantuim Primary School is holding three open days at the school to commemorate its closing after 135 years. The school opened on Christmas Eve 1877 and will close in March 2012, with children transferring to the new Sgoil an Taobh Siar...

Friday 9th March

New Creative Industries and Media Centre Opened in Stornoway

New life has been breathed into a former Harris Tweed Mill in Stornoway, which was officially opened today (Friday 9th March) as the new Creative Industries and Media Centre (CIMC)...

Wednesday 7th March

A letter from Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

There has been a lot of public comment recently on the procurement process that the Comhairle goes through for contracts and in particular that of our very successful Schools Project...

Tuesday 6th March

Education Chair Outlines Judicial Review Reasons

Cllr. Morag Munro, Chair of Education and Children’s Services at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has responded to statements criticising the Comhairle’s decision to proceed with judicial review of the Scottish Government decisions regarding school closures...

Benefits Advice Service Helps Cancer Patients On Western Isles Claim Over £226,000

An innovative partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has helped people affected by cancer on the Western Isles to claim around £226,000 within the first year of the partnership...

West Side Primary School / Sgoil an Taobh Siar

The new West Side Primary School (Sgoil an Taobh Siar) in Barvas on the Isle of Lewis has been completed...

Monday 5th March

Awards Scheme for Visual Artists and Craft Makers in the Outer Hebrides Open for Applications

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, in partnership with Creative Scotland have developed an awards scheme for artists and craft makers based in the Outer Hebrides...

Tuesday 28th February

Welcome For Public Sector Contracts Legislation

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government is to bring forward a bill to make it easier for Scottish Companies to secure public sector contracts...

Comhairle Calls on Government to Make Medium-term Commitment to ETV

Representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will form part of the group that is meeting with Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, on Thursday to discuss the future of the ETVs in the Western and Northern Isles...

Monday 27th February

CnES Leader Responds to Councillor’s Comments on RET for Commercials

Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has invited Councillor and SNP group transport spokesperson, Roy Pedersen, to see for himself the evidence of benefits of RET for commercial vehicles...

Thuresday 23rd February

RET Issue will Not Go Away

The Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has said the RET issue is too important to be treated as a party political football...

Wednesday 22nd February

Comhairle awards contract for Lews Castle repair works

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has awarded the contract for the Lews Castle envelope and repair works to Patton...

Tuesday 21st February

New Funding Package to Support the Harris Tweed Industry

The Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group has welcomed the announcement of a £200k funding package to support training within the industry...

Tea, Cakes and Memories at Sandwickhill School

To start a series of events to mark the closure of Sandwickhill School, the school is hosting an informal ceilidh on Wednesday 29 February at the school, to which all are invited...

Greylag Geese

The Lewis and Harris Goose Management Group wish to remind crofters that since 1 February and until 31 August, it is illegal to shoot resident greylag geese unless a licence has been granted by SNH...

Welfare Reform and the Universal Credit

A seminar on Welfare Reform and the Universal Credit was held in the Council Chamber at CnES on Thursday the 16th of February...

Monday 20th February

Stornoway Traffic Management

Northern Constabulary and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are working together to improve traffic management issues in Stornoway for the benefit of car users and pedestrians...

New School Building And Springfield Road Right Of Way

Works are progressing as planned on the new Nicolson Institute with the main building due for completion and available for the start of the new school year in August 2012...

Friday 17th February

Comhairle Calls For Retention of RET In Full

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has unanimously adopted the following position on RET...

Thursday 16th February

Comhairle Sets Budget

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar sets 2012/13 budget...

Tuesday 14th February

Transport Minister’s Announcement Still Leaves Fares Increase

Statement from Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell following announcement by Transport Minister Keith Brown...

Welcome For RET Move But Work Still To Be Done

Responding to the Transport Minister’s announcement of additional money for ferry fares for commercial vehicles...

Infomation Meetings for Comhairle Elections

The Comhairle will be hosting a number of meetings for prospective candidates, and electors, for the Local Government Election...

Monday 13th February

Airidhantuim School Coffee Evening

Airidhantuim School are holding a coffee evening in the school canteen on the 15th of February at 7pm...

Thursday 9th February

Extending RET to 6 Metres

In my note of 7th February 2012, relating to extending RET to 6 metres.  It is necessary to confirm that the measure relates to existing RET routes...

Wednesday 8th February

Meeting With Transport Minister

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting with the Transport Minister, Keith Brown MSP, Cllr Donald Manford, Chair of Transportation, said...

Comhairle Calls For Review of RET Removal

The Outer Hebrides Transport Group which is leading the campaign against the removal of RET for commercial vehicles to and from the Western Isles, is to be invited to meet with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar...

Tuesday 7th February

Sgoil nan Loch to hold Gaelic Medium Education Information Afternoon

A Gaelic Medium Education information afternoon is to be held in Sgoil nan Loch on Wednesday the 8th of February, from 1.45pm until 3.00pm...

Lionacleit School News

Pupils in Sgoil Lionacleit in Benbecula have raised £800 for the charity Mary’s Meals which aims to provide a meal during the school day for children in developing countries...

Trading Standards Warn of Computer Scam

Trading Standards Officers at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are warning householders to be vigilant of callers claiming to be from Microsoft, or other Computer firms, who are attempting to gain access to their home computers...

Monday 6th February

Strong Showing for Western Isles Secondary Schools in FilmG Nominations

Secondary schools in the Westerns Isles in the recently-announced shortlists for MG Alba’s FilmG awards...

Friday 3rd February

MSPs unite to oppose proposed Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation

On February 8 Jamie McGrigor MSPs motion opposing the designation of a Special Area of Conservation in the Sound of Barra will be heard in the Scottish Parliament...

Wednesday 1st February

Budget Consultation - Council Leader Says Thanks

Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has thanked members of the public for their engagement in the Comhairle’s recent series of budget consultation meetings...

Wednesday 25th January

Comhairle Budget Consultation - Uig Meeting

The Comhairle Budget Consultation meeting in Uig due tomorrow night will now take place on Tuesday 31st January at 7.30pm in Uig Community Hall.

Tuesday 24th January

SEARCH FOR NEW PANEL MEMBERS HITS WESTERN ISLES: Volunteers sought to help area’s vulnerable children

A new nationwide campaign to recruit Children’s Panel members is underway as a local appeal for potential new recruits in the Western Isles commences...

Monday 23rd January

Comhairle Calls On Scottish Government To Abandon Special Area of Conservation Process

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called on the Scottish Government to immediately abandon the proposal to designate the Sound of Barra as a marine Special Area of Conservation...

Tuesday 17th January

CNES Cycling Made Accredited Mountain Bike Centre by Cycling Scotland

Due to recent initiatives and development work carried out by Active Schools and Outdoor Learning, on 10th January 2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was made an accredited mountain bike centre by Cycling Scotland...

Trading Standards Warning Over New Scam

Trading Standards officers in the Western Isles are warning consumers to beware of a new scam designed to con people out of £50...

Arnish to be Part of Renewable Energy North Area

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the announcement that Arnish it to be part of the new Renewable Energy North Area announced today as one of four new enterprise areas by Finance Secretary, John Swinney...

Friday 13th January

Review of Education Provision: Castlebay School Nursery

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, at its meeting on 15th of December 2011, agreed that statutory consultation should be undertaken, as required by the Schools (Consultation)(Scotland) Act 2010, with parents, members of the public and any other interested body, regarding the proposal to move Castlebay School Nursery...

Tuesday 10th January

Three Down, Three to Go…
New School Completes in the Western Isles Schools Project (WISP)
Sir E Scott School, Harris – Completion of Phase 1 Works

At Sir E Scott School in Harris, the first phase of construction works have been successfully completed and the new school formally opened as planned to welcome its first intake of secondary pupils on 9th January 2012....

Monday 9th January

Budget Consultation Meetings

As part of its 2012/13 Budget Setting process, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is holding a further series of meetings to discuss service choices to enable it to set a balanced budget...

Friday 6th January

Nominations Open for Crofting Elections

The nomination process for the first ever crofting elections started yesterday (Thursday, 05 January)...