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The Western Isles in the News : Snippets

	Tornado over Barvas Moor on Tuesday? Press & Journal article 4th September, 2008
	Calmac has decided not to introduce mainland Sunday sailings to Lewis and Harris this winter Scotsman Article 7th August, 2008
	The last 21 Western Isles exchanges waiting to be upgraded for superfast Broadband - scheduled for 2012! Herald article July 16th, 2008
	Plans to close seven junior secondary schools have been abandoned after councillors voted to against the programme of closures BBC web site Thursday 26th June, 2008
	The wind farm at Barvas Moor in Lewis has been turned down by the Scottish Executive as it is incompatible with European Law! The 181 turbine Wind Farm would have had a serious impact on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area, this was setup in for the European Community Birds Directive and so is protected by the European Community Habitats Directive.
	Four more of our schools are to be closed: The two secondary schools at Paible on North Uist and Lochs on Lewis, and the primaries at Cliasmol on Harris and Craigston on Barra. BBC web site 16th April, 2008
	In May the previously Somerfield's supermarket in Stornoway will open as a Tesco's store. It is going to be only Tesco in the UK that will not open on Sunday. Telegraph 28 March 2008
	A FIRE destroyed half of the Sir Edward Scott School in West Tarbert, Harris primary school on Saturday night. Around 50 kids will get today off, whilst officials find somewhere else to teach them. At one point, 28 firefighters were tackling the blaze. No one was hurt. Daily Record web site 10th March, 2008
	The list of Post Offices which are due to be closed has been released: Borve, Bragar, Breasclete, Gress, Grimshader, Shader, Skigersta, Knock, South Dell and Leurbost on Lewis; Northton on Harris; and Sidinish and Tigharry on North Uist. Scotsman web site 3rd March, 2008
	Ferry Fares may be cut to by up to 50% of their current rates in a pilot scheme launched today. The pilot will run between 19 October 2008 and spring 2011and includes all routes between the mainland and the Western Isles. The List web site 26th February, 2008 Screening of 350 pupils for tuberculosis has begun after a student of the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway was diagnosed with the infection. The teenager has now recovered. Risks of infection are said to be low. Daily Record web site 26th February, 2008
	Western Isles Council is writing to First Minister Alex Salmond following speculation that Scottish ministers will refuse permission for the 181 turbine wind farm on Lewis. The Scottish Government has insisted no final decision has been taken.... Press Association web site Saturday 26th January, 2008
	See more stories on this topic Saturday 26th January, 2008
	The Scottish government said today that the future of the Lewis windfarm was still being considered by ministers. politics.co.uk Friday 25th January, 2008
	BBC's Gaelic news service, has learned that Scottish Government ministers are going to refuse permission for the 181 turbine scheme. BBC web site Friday 25th January, 2008
	Northern Constabulary warn that high winds and heavy rain could make driving conditions dangerous and urged the public to take care. Winds of between 70mph and 80mph are anticipated this weekend. Causeways and Scalpay Bridge may be affected. High tides are between 0800 and 0830 GMT on Friday. BBC web site Friday 25th January, 2008
	Police intercepted a consignment of cocaine worth about £70,000 on the Skye - Tarbert ferry on Thursday. The drugs were discovered by sniffer dogs after a tip-off. BBC web site Friday 18th January, 2008
	RSPB Scotland today called on Scottish Government Ministers not to be swayed by the spin of developers who want to build a massive wind farm in one of Europe's most highly protected wildlife sites ... www.wildlifeextra.com 17th January, 2008
	Imagine the outcry if the government of a European country allowed a giant multinational company to deprive farming people of their common land... destroying history, heritage and archaeology...to turn the land into an industrial wasteland ... Scotsman article Herald article Study backs undersea cable to export Scotland's wind and wave power ... Scotsman article It was confirmed that Arnish fabrication yard has been selected to manufacture the Lewis windfarm project turbine towers ... This is North Scotland article 17th January, 2008
	Celtic Connections Opening Night, January 17th, 2008 in Glasgow City Halls includes traditional music students and tutors from Lews College with the band Benbecula showcasing our past and future musical heritage ... World Music Central web site
	Northern Constabulary have urged drivers here to exercise caution in the high winds. Conditions are hazardous on Uist and Benbecula and drivers crossing causeways and bridges should take particular care. All Barra schools and some on Benbecula and North Uist have been closed due to the gales. BBC web site 7th January 2008
	18 year old David Shannon of Stornoway, was walking along the Newmarket - North Tolsta road (Tong) at about 10.10pm on Friday when he was hit by a car. David's condition remains serious but stable. Northern Constabulary have appealed for any witnesses to contact them. BBC web site 7th January
	A committee of Free Church leaders wants to replace Gaelic communion services in the Western Isles with English, so that congregations are not split during the Sacrament ... Scotsman 6th January, 2008
	New Year Honours list Ann McKerracher was appointed as an MBE for her services to older people and the community of Tong, on Lewis in the Western Isles ... BBC web site 29th December, 2007
	A dead 40 foot sperm whale has been washed up at Dell in Lewis see photographs Scotsman 28th December, 2007
	A 27m tall container of mysterious orgin has been puzzling folk in Benbecula and making headlines these last few days ... Arbroath.blogspot.com 30th December, 2007
	The SNP are trying to bring the Lewis Chessmen home, the British Museum say they are not legally allowed to dispose of their assets... Scotsman 23rd December
	Marine Harvest at Amhuinnsuidhe hatchery has been fined £23500 for offences including burning plastic feed bags, depositing sludge & discharge of untreated effluent into the river www.fishupdate.com 13th December
	Arnish fabrication yard has won a contract for 49 turbines for an onshore wind farm in Turkey. (Secures 70 jobs) Scotsman12th December
	HIE have to share out £19 million (European LEADER programme) amongst the region. The Western Isles with 8.2% of the population, would get 14.5% of the funds... Argyll (21.7% of the population, would only get 27.2% of the cash ... The Shetland News 10th December
	Another article on the seven whooper swans who were tracked by satellite from their breeding grounds in Iceland to their wintering grounds in South-West Scotland for the BBC's Autumnwatch programme. Doon flew " low and directly through the area of the proposed new wind farm on Lewis" Nearly all of the 26,000 whoopers which winter in Britain & Ireland come down from Iceland The article is also full of interesting whooper swan facts like a group of swans was picked up on radar at 23,000ft during strong Northerly winds and snow storms. They used a tailwind that reached 180mph to fly above the snowfall. Telegraph online 8th December, 2007
	Stornoway Golf Club is attempting to find a way of around a condition in their lease which disallows playing golf on a Sunday. Scotsman web site 8th December, 2007
	Arnish fabrication yard has landed a contract for the 181 turbine windfarm under consideration by the Scottish Government. Press & Journal web site 5th December, 2007
	More detailed information about the hedgehogs (or lack of them this year) in the Uists. Numbers similar but differ a bit to the Scotsman's article on the 30th November Telegraph online 5th December, 2007
	Councillors decided yesterday to allow the Pairc windfarm to go ahead. Originally the energy company wanted to erect 125 turbines (each nearly 500ft tall) at Pairc in South Lochs, they later reduced the scheme to 57 bigger, more powerful turbines. The environment and protective services committee of the council have backed only 26 at this point. The council's view will be given the Scottish Government who make the final decision. Scotsman online, December 4th
	Short films by people from the Highlands & Islands coming soon on BBC1 & BBC2. Subjects include how childhood has changed in the Western Isles. BBC web site, 4th Dec
	The Uist Wader Project sends out a team annually searching for and trapping hedgehogs. The rate of catching has dramatically decreased. In North Uist in 2003 there were 66 hedgehogs found, and North Uist and Benbecula in 2004 there were 264, but this year they found just two in the search and there were nine others caught in the lead-up period. In 1983 our islands had about 17,000 pairs of breeding waders, later surveys found that their numbers had declined by almost half in the areas of the Uists colonised by hedgehogs, whilst the populations in areas with no hedgehogs had increased. The Uist Wader Project is a partnership of SNH, RSPB and The Scottish Executive, set up to safeguard the important populations of breeding wading birds in the Uists.Hedgehogs captured since April 2007 have been relocated. Scotsman online, 30th November:
	Scotland's breeding population of white-tailed eagles is at its highest number since the Sea Eagle Project (a reintroduction scheme) began in 1975. The core population is still found on Skye, Mull and the Western Isles but the eagles have expanded on this range. Scotsman online

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