Title: Scottish Premier League - St Johnstone v Motherwell
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as St Johnstone host Motherwell at McDiarmid Park, Perth.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Piping Live! 2011
A taste of what can be seen during the annual Piping Live festival in Glasgow. From pipes and drums to ceilidh and folk bands, it's a lively, colourful and youthful gathering of national and international performers.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Vets: Gach Creutair Beò
We follow a busy day in the life of vet David Buckland as he makes his weekly visit to Barra, and he tries to fit everything in before the ferry leaves for Uist that evening. At Ardene House near Aberdeen, vet Graham Hunter examines a lame horse that needs delicate and complex surgery. The wonderful world of Scottish vets.
Transmitted: Monday 12 December
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Truckers: Draibhearan
Life behind the wheel for heavy goods vehicle drivers in the Highlands.
Transmitted: Tuesday 13 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Soillse - Danadas san Artaig/Broad Peak Base Jumping
The Arctic is one of the last wildernesses on earth and we follow six base jumpers as they travel there seeking the ultimate thrill of being the first to jump from the Arctic mountains.
Transmitted: Wednesday 14 December
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
Title: Grinn: Makeover
Lewis woman Greta Powell receives a makeover from the Grinn team. Presented by Donna MacLeod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford. Last in the series.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Triùir: Triplets
The Campbell sisters are the best known triplets in the Hebrides. But behind the incredible story of their dramatic birth and meeting the Queen, lies a tale of loss and separation, hardship and poverty, amid much laughter and tears.
Growing up on the island of Uist, their unique lives have been the subject of great scrutiny, starting with their well-documented birth, through their school days, work life, marriage and children. Now, on the eve of retirement, having experienced poverty, separation, family tragedy and loss, the return of youngest sister Theresa to the island gives them the chance to finally get what they have always longed for - the opportunity to be together.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Monday, 28 November 2011
NHS Highland response to anticipated Industrial Action
In response to the anticipated Industrial Action on Wednesday 30th November, NHS Highland is already in the process of implementing our Business Continuity Plans across the Board area and have already taken the decision to plan to run a limited service in our hospitals.
Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service.
We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our Board Business Continuity Plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.
Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected.
However, to maintain safe services we will have to cancel most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on the 30th November. We are no longer booking non urgent appointments for that day, however if your appointment is urgent you will be seen.
“We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running.
“While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care.”
Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.
If patients have any queries or concerns at this stage please contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.
Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service.
We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our Board Business Continuity Plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.
Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected.
However, to maintain safe services we will have to cancel most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on the 30th November. We are no longer booking non urgent appointments for that day, however if your appointment is urgent you will be seen.
“We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running.
“While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care.”
Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.
If patients have any queries or concerns at this stage please contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.
National changes to impact local blue badge disabled parking scheme
The blue badge disabled parking programme is to undergo significant changes following the introduction of a new Scottish Government scheme.
Transport Scotland is co-ordinating the introduction in Scotland of a new national Blue Badge Improvement Service (BBIS), under which all councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have to source new fraud-proof badges via the BBIS and use a new single BBIS data sharing system.
The changes, which take effect from January 1 2012, will significantly increase the administrative burden for the council as well as the cost per badge.
The council’s Executive today agreed to raise the fee for new Blue Badges (and replacements) awarded after January 1 2012 to the maximum permissible amount (currently £20) to reflect the additional workload and cost of badge production.
Councillor Andrew Nisbet, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for social affairs, said the increase was an unavoidable result of the national initiative which is a response to widespread abuse of the current blue badge scheme.
“Our current fee will not even come close to covering the amount which the council will be invoiced for each new badge. Nor does it cover the significant cost of the implementation and ongoing administration of the new scheme,” he said.
“I very much regret having to bring in these increases. However, the increase will only take Argyll and Bute into line with the majority of other Scottish councils – some 60% of which already levy or plan to levy a £20 fee before the inception of this new scheme.
“It should be remembered that a Blue Badge lasts for three years, so the £20 fee is the equivalent of an annual charge of £6.67 in return for year-round free parking.”
News of the Government’s blue badge reform programme in February came just weeks after Argyll and Bute Council had completed a major overhaul of its own blue badge administration, making it easier for customers to apply through new postal and online channels.
Councillor Nisbet said: “We were really ahead of the game in this area. So for us the main change will be the improvement in anti-fraud capabilities.
“Nevertheless, implementing the new scheme by January 1 2012 is a legislative requirement, and one which we are well-placed to meet, given the fact that we re-engineered and streamlined our own processes so recently.
“We will be contacting our customers over the next few weeks through all available channels to alert them to the changes, talk them through the implications and help them with any queries they may have.”
At present, blue badge award and production is undertaken wholly by the council, using national statutory parameters for eligibility and badge design.
In 2010/11, 1,736 customers in Argyll and Bute were issued with either new or replacement blue badges. Each badge lasts for three years, and some 4,500 individuals in the region carry such a badge at any one time.
Transport Scotland is co-ordinating the introduction in Scotland of a new national Blue Badge Improvement Service (BBIS), under which all councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have to source new fraud-proof badges via the BBIS and use a new single BBIS data sharing system.
The changes, which take effect from January 1 2012, will significantly increase the administrative burden for the council as well as the cost per badge.
The council’s Executive today agreed to raise the fee for new Blue Badges (and replacements) awarded after January 1 2012 to the maximum permissible amount (currently £20) to reflect the additional workload and cost of badge production.
Councillor Andrew Nisbet, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for social affairs, said the increase was an unavoidable result of the national initiative which is a response to widespread abuse of the current blue badge scheme.
“Our current fee will not even come close to covering the amount which the council will be invoiced for each new badge. Nor does it cover the significant cost of the implementation and ongoing administration of the new scheme,” he said.
“I very much regret having to bring in these increases. However, the increase will only take Argyll and Bute into line with the majority of other Scottish councils – some 60% of which already levy or plan to levy a £20 fee before the inception of this new scheme.
“It should be remembered that a Blue Badge lasts for three years, so the £20 fee is the equivalent of an annual charge of £6.67 in return for year-round free parking.”
News of the Government’s blue badge reform programme in February came just weeks after Argyll and Bute Council had completed a major overhaul of its own blue badge administration, making it easier for customers to apply through new postal and online channels.
Councillor Nisbet said: “We were really ahead of the game in this area. So for us the main change will be the improvement in anti-fraud capabilities.
“Nevertheless, implementing the new scheme by January 1 2012 is a legislative requirement, and one which we are well-placed to meet, given the fact that we re-engineered and streamlined our own processes so recently.
“We will be contacting our customers over the next few weeks through all available channels to alert them to the changes, talk them through the implications and help them with any queries they may have.”
At present, blue badge award and production is undertaken wholly by the council, using national statutory parameters for eligibility and badge design.
In 2010/11, 1,736 customers in Argyll and Bute were issued with either new or replacement blue badges. Each badge lasts for three years, and some 4,500 individuals in the region carry such a badge at any one time.
NFUS SEEKS LEGAL OPINION ON SHEEP EID RULES
NFU Scotland is to seek a legal opinion on implementation of European rules and regulations that require the electronic tagging of sheep and recording their movements.
In response to requests from the membership, NFUS has prepared a brief for its lawyers regarding the difficulties many sheep farmers are having complying with Regulation 21/2004 which established a new system for the identification and registration of sheep. The rules came into force at the start of 2010.
NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said:
“In response to the ongoing difficulties our members are experiencing when attempting to comply with the new rules around electronic tagging of sheep and movement reporting, we have instructed our solicitors to consider if we can challenge the rules and any financial penalties that may be imposed.
“Legal opinions, by their nature, are rarely definitive but we will study any legal feedback we receive very closely. There may be no case to pursue or there may be matters that we can take up in court – either here or in Europe. If we decide there is a case then given the likely time and considerable cost involved, such a decision would require very careful consideration and ratification by NFUS board of directors.
“The Union has taken up legal challenges in the past. These have been costly exercises but given the problems EID has caused, we can reassure our members that if there is a case that can be pursued through the courts then we do have a level of contingency funds in place if we do go down that route.
“We have made Scottish Government aware of the work we are undertaking as ultimately this is about establishing a workable, pragmatic traceability system for Scotland’s sheep.
“Our long term goal remains securing wholesale changes into the requirements that sheep keepers have to meet. That requires re-opening and reviewing the regulation. That remains our main focus and we have been in discussions with the European Commission on that throughout the current implementation phase for 21/2004.
“In the meantime, NFUS continues to facilitate meetings around the country between its members and Scottish Government officials regarding compliance with the existing set of rules. Members with queries or concerns are also being encouraged to contact their local Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) office.”
In response to requests from the membership, NFUS has prepared a brief for its lawyers regarding the difficulties many sheep farmers are having complying with Regulation 21/2004 which established a new system for the identification and registration of sheep. The rules came into force at the start of 2010.
NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said:
“In response to the ongoing difficulties our members are experiencing when attempting to comply with the new rules around electronic tagging of sheep and movement reporting, we have instructed our solicitors to consider if we can challenge the rules and any financial penalties that may be imposed.
“Legal opinions, by their nature, are rarely definitive but we will study any legal feedback we receive very closely. There may be no case to pursue or there may be matters that we can take up in court – either here or in Europe. If we decide there is a case then given the likely time and considerable cost involved, such a decision would require very careful consideration and ratification by NFUS board of directors.
“The Union has taken up legal challenges in the past. These have been costly exercises but given the problems EID has caused, we can reassure our members that if there is a case that can be pursued through the courts then we do have a level of contingency funds in place if we do go down that route.
“We have made Scottish Government aware of the work we are undertaking as ultimately this is about establishing a workable, pragmatic traceability system for Scotland’s sheep.
“Our long term goal remains securing wholesale changes into the requirements that sheep keepers have to meet. That requires re-opening and reviewing the regulation. That remains our main focus and we have been in discussions with the European Commission on that throughout the current implementation phase for 21/2004.
“In the meantime, NFUS continues to facilitate meetings around the country between its members and Scottish Government officials regarding compliance with the existing set of rules. Members with queries or concerns are also being encouraged to contact their local Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) office.”
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 26 November – Friday 2 December 2011
Title: Scottish Premier League - Motherwell v Dundee Utd
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Motherwell host Dundee United at Fir Park.
Transmitted: Saturday 26 November
Time: 5.25 – 7.25pm
Title: Vets: Gach Creutair Beo
The lionesses give the male lion at Blair Drummond Safari Park a hard time, and vet Colin Scott gets called in to check things out.
At Ardene House near Aberdeen, specialist vet Richard Coe visits to look at some pet dogs, and Iain MacLean in Wick has a sickly three-day-old calf to tend to. The wonderful world of Scottish vets.
Transmitted: Monday 28 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Angus Sinclair – Double Jeopardy?
The story of convicted serial killer & rapist Angus Sinclair - could he be responsible for many more of Scotland's unsolved murders?
Transmitted: Wednesday 30 November
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
Title: Caman/ Shinty Documentary
With exclusive access, narrator Calum Macaulay goes behind-the-scenes of the shinty community and introduces its dedicated characters and engaging personalities in a new six-part entertainment series, Caman.
Transmitted: Thursday 1 December
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Madame Ecosse
'Stop the World - Scotland wants to get on!' said Winnie Ewing after winning Hamilton in 1967 for the SNP. So how did this Grande Dame of Scottish politics try to stop the world?
Transmitted: Friday 2 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Motherwell host Dundee United at Fir Park.
Transmitted: Saturday 26 November
Time: 5.25 – 7.25pm
Title: Vets: Gach Creutair Beo
The lionesses give the male lion at Blair Drummond Safari Park a hard time, and vet Colin Scott gets called in to check things out.
At Ardene House near Aberdeen, specialist vet Richard Coe visits to look at some pet dogs, and Iain MacLean in Wick has a sickly three-day-old calf to tend to. The wonderful world of Scottish vets.
Transmitted: Monday 28 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Angus Sinclair – Double Jeopardy?
The story of convicted serial killer & rapist Angus Sinclair - could he be responsible for many more of Scotland's unsolved murders?
Transmitted: Wednesday 30 November
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
Title: Caman/ Shinty Documentary
With exclusive access, narrator Calum Macaulay goes behind-the-scenes of the shinty community and introduces its dedicated characters and engaging personalities in a new six-part entertainment series, Caman.
Transmitted: Thursday 1 December
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Madame Ecosse
'Stop the World - Scotland wants to get on!' said Winnie Ewing after winning Hamilton in 1967 for the SNP. So how did this Grande Dame of Scottish politics try to stop the world?
Transmitted: Friday 2 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Have you had a visit from a home improvement company? Make sure you check your credit agreement
Argyll and Bute Council’s trading standards team is warning the public to be on their guard when it comes to signing credit agreements for home improvements.
Trading standards has received several complaints from consumers regarding particular home improvement company salespeople. These salespeople visit your home to quote for potential work and then encourage householders to sign up to credit agreements that they do not fully understand.
One local consumer, a 78 year old lady, was given a ten year credit agreement with an APR of 27.2%. The original cash price for the work was £5000; but under the agreement she would end up paying the company £13,172.80 in total. She had no idea that what was she was signing for was in fact a credit agreement.
Another gentleman was told by the sales rep that if he signed up to a credit agreement he would be given six months of interest free payments. At that time the gentleman had the money to pay off the balance in full, but was advised that he would benefit from a discount if he signed the Credit Agreement. After six months passed, the gentleman called up to pay off the balance for the work done and found that interest had in fact been charged during the supposedly interest free period.
Chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee Councillor Daniel Kelly said, “When a consumer signs a contract in their home they are entitled to a cancellation period of seven days. This starts as soon as they are given the cancellation notice. It is an offence for a company or trader to enter into a contract under these conditions if they do not provide the consumer with such a cancellation notice. If a consumer cancels the contract within the notice period this automatically cancels any Credit Agreements attached to it. However if you cancel the credit agreement after the cancellation period, they will be liable for the cost of the work done. If you are not sure what you are signing then don’t sign.”
Anyone who need more advice on credit agreements should contact Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506 or Trading Standards on 01546 604 404.
Trading standards has received several complaints from consumers regarding particular home improvement company salespeople. These salespeople visit your home to quote for potential work and then encourage householders to sign up to credit agreements that they do not fully understand.
One local consumer, a 78 year old lady, was given a ten year credit agreement with an APR of 27.2%. The original cash price for the work was £5000; but under the agreement she would end up paying the company £13,172.80 in total. She had no idea that what was she was signing for was in fact a credit agreement.
Another gentleman was told by the sales rep that if he signed up to a credit agreement he would be given six months of interest free payments. At that time the gentleman had the money to pay off the balance in full, but was advised that he would benefit from a discount if he signed the Credit Agreement. After six months passed, the gentleman called up to pay off the balance for the work done and found that interest had in fact been charged during the supposedly interest free period.
Chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee Councillor Daniel Kelly said, “When a consumer signs a contract in their home they are entitled to a cancellation period of seven days. This starts as soon as they are given the cancellation notice. It is an offence for a company or trader to enter into a contract under these conditions if they do not provide the consumer with such a cancellation notice. If a consumer cancels the contract within the notice period this automatically cancels any Credit Agreements attached to it. However if you cancel the credit agreement after the cancellation period, they will be liable for the cost of the work done. If you are not sure what you are signing then don’t sign.”
Anyone who need more advice on credit agreements should contact Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506 or Trading Standards on 01546 604 404.
Friday, 11 November 2011
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 19 November – Friday 25 November 2011
Title: Scottish Premier League - Dundee United v Hearts
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Dundee United host Hearts at Tannadice Park.
Transmitted: Saturday 19 November
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Trusadh - Sgaothan Sgadain/Silver Darlings
Herring has been fished around Scotland for hundreds of years. Where once there was heavy work there is now automation.
Hundreds of boats are reduced to only 28 in the Scottish pelagic fleet - fishing for mackerel and herring - but each of these modern supersize vessels is capable of catching as much fish in three days as the boats of previous decades could catch in a year. The Isle of Scalpay was sustained on the wealth gleamed from fishing. It was so wealthy that it gained the epithet "Treasure Island." But these days are long gone and the island has slipped into a steady decline. Through sustained overfishing the North sea and west of Scotland fishing grounds were closed between 1977 and 1983 to protect dangerously low stocks.
When they re-opened it was a very different industry. Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Shetland and particularly the island of Whalsey, were ready for this change though. Today the majority of the pelagic fleet is based in these three ports. In 2011, Whalsay has perhaps inherited the moniker once bestowed on Scalpay.
Transmitted: Monday 21 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Turas Tony - Trawlerman
Actor Tony Kearney from BBC's 'River City' swaps the comfort of a television studio for four varied and challenging professions.
Episode three sees Tony travel back to his family home of Barra and take to the high seas as he joins the crew of a trawlerboat.
Transmitted: Monday 21 November
Time: 10.00 – 10.45pm
Title: Soillse - Jamie Climbing against all the odds
On January 26th, 1999, the rescue team of Chamonix in the French Alps could only save one of the two Scottish mountaineers stuck at the edge of a glacier in the Mont Blanc: after six days of a frozen ordeal, one was frozen to death, the other suffered very severe frost bites.
The medical team of the Chamonix hospital sees no other solution but to amputate Jamie Andrew of both hands and feet. Equipped with feet prosthesis, he learns to walk again, to run, to use his arm stumps like hands, with only one idea in mind: climb back on the Mont Blanc in memory of his friend and to defeat destiny.
Transmitted: Wednesday 23 November
Time: 9.00 – 9.50pm
Title: Na Geamannan/World Island Games
The Island Games get underway on the Isle of Wight - how will the Western Isles fare?
Transmitted: Thursday 24 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Eadar Duil is Dochas
Through the eyes of a few passionate football fans we get an insight into their unique world. Featuring loyal followers of Ross County, Rangers, Celtic, Ness, Southend and Scotland.
Transmitted: Thursday 24 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Pro 12 Live Rugby - Glasgow V Ulster
LIVE rugby action as Glasgow Warriors face Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 competition at Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.
Transmitted: Friday 25 November
Time: 7.30 – 9.25pm
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Dundee United host Hearts at Tannadice Park.
Transmitted: Saturday 19 November
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Trusadh - Sgaothan Sgadain/Silver Darlings
Herring has been fished around Scotland for hundreds of years. Where once there was heavy work there is now automation.
Hundreds of boats are reduced to only 28 in the Scottish pelagic fleet - fishing for mackerel and herring - but each of these modern supersize vessels is capable of catching as much fish in three days as the boats of previous decades could catch in a year. The Isle of Scalpay was sustained on the wealth gleamed from fishing. It was so wealthy that it gained the epithet "Treasure Island." But these days are long gone and the island has slipped into a steady decline. Through sustained overfishing the North sea and west of Scotland fishing grounds were closed between 1977 and 1983 to protect dangerously low stocks.
When they re-opened it was a very different industry. Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Shetland and particularly the island of Whalsey, were ready for this change though. Today the majority of the pelagic fleet is based in these three ports. In 2011, Whalsay has perhaps inherited the moniker once bestowed on Scalpay.
Transmitted: Monday 21 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Turas Tony - Trawlerman
Actor Tony Kearney from BBC's 'River City' swaps the comfort of a television studio for four varied and challenging professions.
Episode three sees Tony travel back to his family home of Barra and take to the high seas as he joins the crew of a trawlerboat.
Transmitted: Monday 21 November
Time: 10.00 – 10.45pm
Title: Soillse - Jamie Climbing against all the odds
On January 26th, 1999, the rescue team of Chamonix in the French Alps could only save one of the two Scottish mountaineers stuck at the edge of a glacier in the Mont Blanc: after six days of a frozen ordeal, one was frozen to death, the other suffered very severe frost bites.
The medical team of the Chamonix hospital sees no other solution but to amputate Jamie Andrew of both hands and feet. Equipped with feet prosthesis, he learns to walk again, to run, to use his arm stumps like hands, with only one idea in mind: climb back on the Mont Blanc in memory of his friend and to defeat destiny.
Transmitted: Wednesday 23 November
Time: 9.00 – 9.50pm
Title: Na Geamannan/World Island Games
The Island Games get underway on the Isle of Wight - how will the Western Isles fare?
Transmitted: Thursday 24 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Eadar Duil is Dochas
Through the eyes of a few passionate football fans we get an insight into their unique world. Featuring loyal followers of Ross County, Rangers, Celtic, Ness, Southend and Scotland.
Transmitted: Thursday 24 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Pro 12 Live Rugby - Glasgow V Ulster
LIVE rugby action as Glasgow Warriors face Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 competition at Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.
Transmitted: Friday 25 November
Time: 7.30 – 9.25pm
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