A project to lower the risk of landslips on the A82 along the shores of Loch Ness is well under way with 5,000 trees having been planted on sections of cleared slopes near Drumnadrochit.
A mixture of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, birch, cherry and oak trees is being planted in place of conifers some of which are 100 years old but were at risk of being blown over or collapsing due to erosion. The aim of the work which is being carried out by Forestry and Land Scotland, is to strengthen hillsides against the impacts of wind and rain and make the A82 safer for road users.
A question asked at a meeting of The Highland Council last week revealed that 3,453 second homes are registered in the Council’s area generating over £5.8 million pounds in council tax in the current financial year.
Ross and Cromarty with 672 has most second homes in the region followed by Badenoch and Strathspey which has 656. Sutherland has 551, Skye and Lochalsh has 504, Caithness has 142. Inverness has 397. Second homes are subject to 200 per cent charge on council tax, effectively doubling the Council’s income from these properties.
Long-standing Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has announced that she will not be seeking re-election at the next Scottish Parliament election. Mrs Grant first became a Member of the Scottish Parliament upon its establishment in 1999 and has served in 5 of the 6 terms since then.
She has been part of several cross-party groups, including the Crofting CPG and co-convening CPGs on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Her Member’s Bill on Domestic Abuse was adopted and became an act in April 2011 which made it an offence to engage in an abusive course of conduct against a current or ex-partner and she has served as the Labour spokesperson in a number of areas, including Rural and Islands, Women’s Equalities, Justice and Finance.
