The first civic event to be held at the newly renovated Inverness Castle Experience took place on Monday to mark Commonwealth Day. The theme for this year’s flag raising ceremony, an annual event, was “Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth”.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has a five-year strategic plan focusing on building democratic, economic and environmental resilience, making investments in people, especially women and young people, and giving them the skills for the future.
The Provost of Inverness confirmed this is consistent with Highland Council’s Highland Investment Plan over the next five years.
As previously reported, the future of Applecross community toilets has been in some doubt due to a lack of funding. Currently grant funding from Highland Council is restricted to 6 months only and the operators of the toilets are limited to making a maximum charge of 50 pence for the use of the facilities so are unable to increase income by raising the charge.
The Applecross Trust have now pledged to contribute £1,000 per year for the next 3 years so the toilets can continue in use for the time being.
North Coast 500 Limited, the company which is behind the North Coast 500 touring route, has appointed a new executive chair person, Clare Winskill, who has lived and worked in the Highlands for around the last 15 years.
Ms Winskill commented that the next stage of the route’s development is to support local businesses, create more opportunities for young people and ensure that tourism benefits communities across the Highlands. Her appointment comes shortly before an independent environmental social and economic impact study is due to be published with its findings expected to guide the future development of the route.
