Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 16th June 2020

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING IN THE WESTERN ISLES

NHS Western Isles has announced its commitment to give, effective psychological and social wellbeing help, to people living in the Western Isles. Services will offer support for anxiety, depression, long term health worries, loneliness or sleep difficulties.

NHS Western Isles, supported by the mPower team will be connecting and supporting people to use digital access to online services, which are helping many people across Scotland already.

Most of the services are based on the principle that difficulties, can be helped by considering how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interlinked and can be gradually changed

Further information on Western Isles mPower team can be found online from Western Isles Mpower Health

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 16th June 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 15th June 2020

FERRY ELIGIBILITY FOR TRAVEL

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has confirmed that Island Authorities, are involved in discussions, regarding any proposed amendments to travel restrictions, on ferries to and from the Islands.

The Comhairle is seeking clarification on eligibility for travel, as restrictions are gradually eased, with a preference for island residents and essential travellers, being the priority in the initial stages.

A Comhairle spokesperson said: “First and foremost in our considerations will be the safety of our communities. At some point, the Islands will have to open up to recreational and other visitors for the sake of our economy, but that will have to be done gradually and carefully. We will continue to have discussions with Scottish Government and all interested parties”.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 15th June 2020

Isles FM News - Friday 12th June 2020

FERRY SERVICES AS TOURISM INDUSTRY PREPARES TO OPEN

Cal Mac is seeking to expand ferry services across its network. The shipping firm has been consulting with Transport Scotland, over increasing operations, to near wintertime levels.
Cal Mac suggested a new timetable could commence next month. Decisions on when restrictions are lifted and what categories of passengers can travel, will be made by the Scottish Government.
Presently, a skeleton service is in place - limited to key workers and essential travel - with vessels running under a third of sailings compared to a wintertime schedule.
A Cal Mac spokesman said “The service can cope with an increase of traffic levels similar to the winter season, with ferries used mainly used by islanders and commercial vehicles. Any busier than that, would result in capacity restrictions being implemented”

Read more: Isles FM News - Friday 12th June 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 11th June 2020

BID FOR WINDFARM DEVELOPMENT OFF LEWIS

Crown Estate Scotland who manage Scotland’s seabed, have announced that three sea areas, off the coast of the Isle of Lewis, have been opened up for the building of wind farms.
They are included in the launch, of the first round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters, for a decade. With seventeen zones around Scotland, open for bidding to build offshore turbines.
Total investment could potentially surpass £8 billion and deliver more than enough green electricity to power every Scottish household, saving six million tonnes of CO2 per year.
John Robertson, Crown Estate Scotland’s head of energy and infrastructure said: “Today is a huge step forward in kick-starting Scotland’s green recovery, meeting net zero targets and bringing multi-billion pound investments to benefit communities across the nation.
“Offshore wind is currently one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation and Scotland is perfectly poised to host major new projects, with a well-established energy skills sector as well as some of the best natural marine resources in Europe.”

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 11th June 2020