MSP’S CONCERN OVER HIAL’S AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has submitted a response to the retrospective Islands Communities Impact Assessment concerning HIAL’s Air Traffic Management Strategy (ATMS).
The programme would see islands-based air traffic control officers relocated to a central surveillance centre in Inverness and Benbecula Airport downgraded to an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFAIS). The strategy was approved in 2018. The impact assessment, which was required by the Scottish Government in spirit of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, is being undertaken by Reference Economic Consultants.
Commenting on the consultations, Alasdair Allan MSP said:
‘Over the past year, I have raised the anxieties of constituents that the strategy will have a negative impact on islands communities with both HIAL and the Scottish Government.
‘The removal of these jobs will have a severe direct impact on the local economy. At a time when the government is beginning to decentralise public sector jobs to the islands, this action by HIAL decision is regressive.
‘The development of air service delivery should ensure that the needs of the communities at the heart of policy. I hope that this first-ever impact assessment under the Islands Act will mitigate the negative impacts which ATMS may cause.’

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 14th September 2020
E-SGOIL NATIONAL OFFER FOR SCOTLAND GOES LIVE
E-Sgoil the Comhairle’s online Learning Centre, is offering young people across Scotland, access to a national, on-line education resource.
This new service will provide opportunities to participate in an extensive series of live early-evening study support webinar lessons, from their own homes
Pupils will benefit from specialist teacher input during the live, real-time webinar lessons and can access subject specific resources in advance of the webinar lessons
e-Sgoil Study Support webinar lessons are scheduled to run for a period of eight weeks in the first instance and employ a ‘flipped learning’ approach, where participants undertake prior learning using supplied resources before attending a real-time 45-minute webinar, hosted in Glow.
The following courses are on offer: Business Management, Chemistry, Computing Science, English, French, Gaelic, History, Mandarin, Maths, Music, Physics, RMPS and Spanish. Digital study skills lessons are also offered under the new Study Support scheme.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 1st September 2020