Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Wednesday 29th July 2020

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL JOBS

Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil is backing calls by the Union Prospect, for air traffic control jobs, to be retained in the islands.
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, seeks to use a video feed and computer technology at Inverness Airport, to replace skilled air traffic controllers, at Stornoway and Benbecula and other island airports.
The Union Prospect, said this week that the loss of Air Traffic Control in island locations, was the loss of jobs worth £1.5million.
Mr MacNeil said “No other autonomous island groups in the world, would consider this option and I suggest if HIAL do want to centralise air traffic control, not to centralise it around HIAL headquarters in Inverness, but to centralise in Benbecula or Stornoway or some other island. We need the jobs to be in the islands”.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Wednesday 29th July 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 28th July 2020

NHS UIST & BARRA HOSPITAL

NHS Western Isles is reminding members of the public that Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh (Uist and Barra Hospital) remains closed to the general public.
Only patients, those attending appointments, individuals identified as the Designated or Essential Visitor, or members of NHS staff should be attending the hospital at the current time. Neither the Dining Room or hospital toilet facilities are open to the public.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 28th July 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 27th July 2020

REOPENING OF SPORT AND LEISURE FACILITIES

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sport and Health staff are working on getting facilities ready to reopen, hopefully in the not too distant future.
The plan is for Facilities to reopen gradually, in line with Scottish Government protocols. This will mean significant reductions in capacity to maintain social distancing guidelines etc. In order to manage this, customers will require to make bookings for timed slots through a smartphone app which will be available to download prior to reopening. There will also be slots set aside for those who don’t have access to this technology.
To make a booking, customers will need their membership number and a PIN number to log into their account on the app. If customers do not already have this, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the Admin team will forward these details for future use.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 27th July 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Friday 24th July 2020

ISLES MSP WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF ISLANDS DEAL

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has welcomed the announcement of the long-awaited £50 million Growth Deal for the Islands.
The £50 million sum allocated by the UK Government will be match-funded by the Scottish Government.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

‘The Islands Deal is an exceptional and long-awaited chance to invest in transformational projects in Scotland’s islands.

‘Now that the UK Government have given the go ahead from their side of the bargain, the Scottish Government has matched them pound for pound, and is determined to see the infrastructure and economy of the islands given a boost, at a time when that is needed.

‘The Comhairle has put together a list of potential projects with which it made its funding bid, and the Scottish Government will now work closely with the Comhairle and the community to make sure that as many of these as possible now become a reality.’

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Friday 24th July 2020