Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
2013 (Jan - Jun) Press Releases
Thursday 16th May
Interconnector Blow
Speaking in reponse to SHE Transmission’s statement that the Minch Interconnector will now not proceed until 2017 at the earliest, Councillor Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said:..
Wednesday 15th May
Report Welcome But Action Needed Now
Responding to the joint Scottish and UK Government report released today which considers the evidence base for developing renewables projects on the Scottish Islands, Cllr Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said...
Tuesday 14th May
Welcome For Public Attitudes To Gaelic Report
The Chair of Comataidh Buileachaidh Plana Canan has welcomed the ‘Public Attitudes to Gaelic in Scotland, published by Soillse...
Roads Surface Dressing Programme
The Comhairle’s 2013 roads surface dressing programme is due to start this week with 2 weeks of work in the Uist area. The mobile works will then transfer to Harris on or around the 27th May for around 1 week after which works will transfer to Lewis for a further 3 week period...
Research Before Selling
Residents in the Western Isles are being advised by Comhairle Trading Standards Service to do their homework before they sell off any of their family heirlooms...
Europe Direct Information Centre – Outer Hebrides
New local service helps you find out about the EU. From now until the end of 2017, the Comhairle will be the first port of call for anyone in the Outer Hebrides who wishes to find out about the EU. The Europe Direct Information Centre – Outer Hebrides is supported by the European Commission and is one of 18 such centres throughout the UK...
Wednesday 8th May
Welcome For Stornoway Black Pudding EU Protection
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed news that Stornoway Black Pudding is to receive EU protected status...
Tuesday 7th May
The PlayTalkRead tour of Scotland Returns to Western Isles
The “Have fun from day one” campaign bus aimed at parents of children under three is returning to the Western Isles. The bus will be visiting venues in the Western Isles between Tuesday 14th May to Thursday 23rd May...
Community Resilience Meetings
A meeting to discuss how communities can better prepare for emergencies such as severe weather, power failure and wild fires is being held at the Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre, Borve, on Tuesday 14th May at 8pm...
Friday 3rd May
Comhairle Welcomes Interconnector Debate
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Leader Angus Campbell has welcomed MSP Alasdair Allan’s contribution to the debate on the interconnector for the Outer Hebrides....
Monday 29th April
Stornoway Regeneration Meeting – Monday 29th April
The Stornoway Regeneration Group is inviting town centre businesses and interests to a meeting to discuss the future regeneration of Stornoway. The meeting will be held in the Caladh Inn on Monday 29th April at 7.30 p.m....
Friday 26th April
Comhairle Calls For Re-Instatement Of Commercial RET As Matter Of Urgency
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the publication of an independent study into the impact of the removal of RET for Commercial Vehicles to Island areas...
Comhairle Working On Payments Issue
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is analysing payments made to staff working within adult services and residential care following an audit which has identified that some staff have been, in error, underpaid and others overpaid...
Wednesday 24th April
Door to Door Sellers
Western isles residents should beware of doorstep sellers who are currently operating in the area...
Tuesday 23rd April
Community Energy Grants Now Available
Communities in the Outer Hebrides who want to improve their community hall or lower their energy bills can now get grants to fund this work...
Friday 19th April
Comhairle Welcomes Rural Education Commission’s Report
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the Commission on Rural Education’s report into rural schools...
Tuesday 16th April
Building Skills Grant – 2013/14
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has once again been able to allocate funding to support Apprenticeship training within the construction industry in the Western Isles during financial year 2013/14...
Thursday 11th April
Safety Checks On Rooflights At 4 Island Primary Schools
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has instructed its construction contractors to carry out a full inspection and review of rooflights at 4 primary schools. Glazing panels are also being reversed to provide additional protection...
Monday 8th April
Newspaper Deliveries A Separate Issue
The Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has rejected a suggestion by Cllr. Manford that the change in newspaper deliveries to the Islands has anything to do with the reduction in inter-island flights...
Tuesday 26th March
Fisheries Investment Scheme - First Successful Applicant Announced
The first successful applicant to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s recently launched Outer Hebrides Fisheries Investment Scheme (OHFIS) has been announced as Iain Morrison from Ness...
Comhairle Taking Steps To Mitigate Impact Of Bedroom Tax
As the implementation date of the Government’s Bedroom tax draws closer, the Comhairle is taking practical steps to try to mitigate the affects of this change on people in the Western Isles...
Monday 25th March
Planning fees increase in April 2013
The Scottish Government has increased fees for planning applications by 20 per cent from 6 April 2013. As a result, planning applications registered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar from this date will need to be accompanied by the new fee level...
Thursday 21st March
Edinburgh/Stornoway Flight Changes For Commercial Reasons
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has completely rejected claims that Loganair is stopping an Edinburgh/Stornoway flight on a Friday morning because of the Comhairle’s decision on air services...
Monday 18th March
Comhairle Report Highlights Biodiversity Achievements
The second progress report on implementation of the Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) for the period 2007 to 2011 was published by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar...
Island Youngster Gets Opportunity To Attend Filmg 2013 Awards Ceremony
A group from Comunn na Gàidhlig’s West Side of Lewis Gaelic Initiative will this weekend be making their way to Glasgow FilmG 2013 awards ceremony...
Tuesday 12th March
External Works – The Nicolson Institute
Phase II of The Nicolson Institute, comprising demolition of the former school buildings and completion of external works, has been successfully completed. The new facilities include a bus marshalling area, staff parking, an environmental garden including poly tunnels, Multi-Use Games Area, Support for Learning recreational area and a new designated pupil parking and drop off zone on Smith Ave...
Friday 8th March
OHCPP Calls For Support For Youth Petition
The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership is supporting Barra Youth Council’s petition ‘calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that a universal system of Wi-Fi operates on all Caledonian MacBrayne ferries...
Tuesday 5th March
Comhairle and Crofting Commission Discussions
Convenor of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and members of the Comhairle’s Crofting Joint Consultative Committee met with Susan Walker, Convenor of the Crofting Commission, in Stornoway...
Monday 4th March
Comhairle Launches E-Sgìre
This week sees the launch of E-Sgìre, the Comhairle’s new communities web site which will provide an additional link between the Comhairle and local communities. The Comhairle has been developing the website over the last year with a view to complementing and improving its current community engagements...
Friday 1st March
Trading Standards Advise Consumers about Servicing of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners...
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Trading Standards Service is advising consumers to be wary when responding to invitations to have their Dyson vacuum cleaners serviced in their homes...
Wednesday 27th February
Food for Thought…
An innovative scheme from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for a new National Qualification in local food production has been approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority...
Tuesday 19th February
Call For ETV Provision on West Coast
Responding to the announcement of an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) to be based at Kirkwall the Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called for more cover for waters off the west of Scotland...
Monday 18th February
Weavers take spare parts into their own hands
The Association of Harris Tweed Weavers (AHTW) is moving forward with a project to manage and deliver a spares service for the 120 or so weavers currently working in the industry, following approval of Comhairle funding...
Friday 15th February
MP and MSP Should Stand 'Shoulder to Shoulder' With Comhairle For Western Isles
The Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has responded to comments from Western Isles MP Angus Macneil and Alasdair Allan MSP and Scottish Government Minister over the Barra/Benbecula air service...
Comhairle Sets Budget
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has set its budget for the year 2013/14 and a provisional budget for 2014/15...
Monday 11th February
Kessock Bridge Works – Delays Likely
Transport Scotland and The Highland Council are notifying the public that the first phase of major works to resurface the Kessock Bridge will start on 11 February 2013 and continue until 7 June 2013...
Wednesday 6th February
Comhairle Welcomes Judicial Review Appeal Decision
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is pleased to note that an appeal by the Scottish Government against a judicial review decision which backed Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's proposals to close two schools and end S1/S2 provision at a third, has not been successful...
Monday 4th February
Winter Maintenance Operations and Policy
Members of the public are reminded that, under the current policy, gritting operations will not start until 0600 with the highest priority routes (Priority 1 and Priority 2) to be completed by 0730 and 0830 respectively...
Budget Seminar
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar held a Seminar today to discuss the results of the public Budget Consultation meetings. Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell thanked the public for the high level of responses to the Consultation documents, which had greatly assisted the process...
Friday 1st February
Budget Seminar
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is holding a budget seminar on Monday (4th February) to consider the outcomes of the latest round of consultation meetings held throughout the Islands during the past month...
FINAL CALL FOR LEADER APPLICANTS - LAST CHANCE FOR NEW PROJECTS
LEADER will be releasing an additional sum of grant-funding shortly, for which eligible community groups can apply...
Tuesday 29th January
High Winds Warning, Evening Buses Cancelled
Evening bus services for Lewis, Harris and Uist are being cancelled because of the warnings of high winds forecast for the Western Isles. Most services will stop around 6pm. Further details...
Monday 21st January
New Year, New Learning
Community Learning Hebrides is launching a new programme of community learning classes for spring 2013 in Lewis and Harris...
Morphy Richards Electric Blankets Recalled
Trading Standards are drawing consumers’ attention to a product recall issued by Morphy Richards...
Thursday 17th January
Library Coffee Shop
The Stornoway Library Coffee Shop will be closed from Monday 28th January to Saturday 9th Feb inclusive for essential upgrades to the kitchen...
Friday 11th January
Are you making the most of your online presence?
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is teaming up with AmbITion Scotland to provide digital training to the creative and cultural sector in the Outer Hebrides...
Wednesday 9th January
Disappointment Over Possible Job Losses
Response to today's announcement from the Scottish Salmon Company regarding a review of its harvesting and processing requirements in Stornoway, ...
Latest Budget Meetings Get Underway
The Comhairle is starting its latest round of budget consultation meetings in Barra tonight, followed by meetings in Uist tomorrow night. The full programme for meetings is...
