HIE slashes community grant wards

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Peter Peacock has revealed that HIE are being forced to make massive cuts in the number of community projects they are able to support following the SNP government's attack on their budget. more

Power struggle at Western Isles Council

A power struggle at Western Isles Council sees vice-convenor Angus Campbell taking over as Leader which is the authority's most powerful political post.

Former council leaderAlex Macdonald has been ousted. He becomes the body's civic head for ceremonial duties more

Demand to kill invasion of geese

Councillors have called for an urgent cull of geese which are destroying crops in the Western Isles more

Western Isles schools

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is due to finally decide on site for a new secondary school in Stornoway. The preferred option is to build a new school beside the current Nicolson Institute. Other options include refurbishing the existing building or new builds at Goathill or by Lews Castle College.

The council also plans to progress on replacing the Balivanich school.

Call to establish weavers fund

Western Isles Council’s vice-convenor Angus Campbell has made a fresh plea to the Scottish Government to back a proposed Harris Tweed investment fund.

Power struggle at Western Isles Council

A power struggle could rear its head this week at Western Isles Council as the role of convenorship is debated

600,000 viewers for Gaelic TV channel

Over 600,000 viewers tuned in to the new Gaelic TV channel in its first week according to a survey.

The research, which was conducted with 1,032 adults interviewed in 43 constituencies found that 15% of the adult Scottish population – or 610,000 viewers – tuned in to watch new original programming.

Lewis interconnector energy cable

Plans to build a huge sub-sea interconnector cable to export electricity from giant wind farms on Lewis to the mainland have been officially lodged.

Study for new ferry for Stornoway

A new study will examine the need to replace the current vessels operating the ferry service between Stornoway and Ullapool.

Fight to save Stornoway black pudding

Labour Highland and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has met with Stornoway butchers to discuss serious concerns over inferior copy cat products which are said to be harming the islands' trade in the quality foodstuff.

Birds decline despite Hedgehog cull

The killing and removal of hedgehogs from Uist and Benbecula has failed to stop its aim of protecting declining bird species according to a new report.

Primary schools under threat

Some Western Isles primary schools face the stark threat of closure with a warning that crunch decisions will have to be made in the near future.

Cuts in Harris Tweed jobs

The workforce at the Kenneth Mackenzie mill on Lewis will be slashed. The announcement comes just days after the plant went on a three-day week

Cheap ferry fares

Ferry fares are being cut by up to half on all Western Isles to mainland routes as the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme gets underway.

Prime Minister's U-turn over Gaelic petition

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has executed an U-turn after "banning" a petition for wider broadcasting of Gaelic TV.

Salmon factory job losses

130 jobs are under threat in the Western Isles as the islands' largest fish processing factory faces closure.

New Gaelic TV channel

A dedicated Gaelic TV channel commences its first broadcast at 9 pm tonight.

Whisky distillery on Lewis

The first legal distillery on Lewis has started production in Uig.

Askernish golf course opens

The redeveloped Old Tom Morris golf course at Askernish, South Uist opens this morning.

Lewis games cancelled

All Lewis amateur football matches were cancelled at the last minute tonight (Mon) due to the lack of availability of referees.

Match officials denied they had staged a strike

Stora Uibhist alleges delaying tactics

Western Isles Council and the Scottish Government has been accused of impeding a new ferry service for South Uist.

Sport centre woes

Western Isles Council may consider taking legal action over Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais which has been plagued by construction problems and has never been formally signed off.

Wind farm on Eishken estate gets planning permission

Western Isles Council has awarded planning permission for the £ 45 million Feiriosbhal scheme on the Eishken estate making it the only large energy scheme in the Hebrides to be approved.

Opposition to Shucksmith Report on crofting

Crofting activist Netta MacKenzie has launched a petition against the reforms advocated in the Shucksmith Report. The petition on the Scottish Parliament’s website calls for the rejection of the main proposals of the report.

Scottish Parliament dodges Sunday ferry issue

The Scottish Parliament’s transport committee has dodged the “sensitive” issue of Sunday ferries to Lewis. In its report on the future of ferry services MSPs said they recognised the strong opinions on both sides of the argument and said the issue was best left to the local community to resolve