TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE AT BERNERA BRIDGE FROM TONIGHT
In accordance with the requirements for maintaining and inspecting its bridge assets, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar proposes to undertake precautionary inspection works to Bernera Bridge between the hours of 9.30pm and 5.30am over 5 consecutive nights from today, Monday 10th August till Friday 14th August 2020.
The Bridge will be closed to traffic between these hours with allowance made only for emergency vehicles passing through.
Any persons requiring access across the bridge during the closure period can be escorted through the site on foot by traffic management operatives provided they make themselves known beforehand.
Any person who requires further information on this matter should contact: Bridges Engineer, Angus M Gillies at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
Tel 01851 822 726 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 10th August 2020
COMMUNITY WIND FARM BACKS BOOK ON NICOLSON INSTITUTE HISTORY
A book which is to be published to mark the 150th anniversary of The Nicolson Institute in Stornoway has received the backing of community wind farm organisation Point and Sandwick Trust (PST).
The Trust, which invests the profits from its wind farm in projects, which will promote the social, educational, cultural or environmental wellbeing of the people of the Western Isles, is providing financial support for the research phase of the book, which is to be published by Acair ahead of the anniversary in January 2023.
The book is being written by among many others, retired educationalist Iain Smith, who has Point and Sandwick connections and previously co-authored another Acair publication, Saints and Sinners, a collection of tales of islanders from the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Donald John MacSween, general manager of Point and Sandwick Trust, said they were happy to support a book that would promote social, educational and cultural wellbeing.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Friday 7th August 2020
Western Isles Education Livestream Q+A
Tomorrow at noon, the Comhairlie will hold a live-stream internet discussion and forum for school pupils, parents, staff -- and members of the wider community -- on Education services as COVID restricitions ease.
The focus will be the preparations that the council -- with assistance from a range of partner organisations – has taken for the safe return of employees and pupils to schools across the Western Isles over the coming weeks.
The stream will be broadcast on the Comhairle’s Facebook page and on the e-Sgoil website. Viewers will be able to submit questions in advance by private messaging the Comhairle Facebook page or commenting on the live feed during the livestream.
The forum will be chaired by council media coordinator Colin George Morrison, and will feature a panel including the Director of Education, Skills & Children’s Services Bernard Chisholm -- alongside department officers and headteachers.
The Scottish Government has said it expects all Scottish pupils to be in school full-time by 18 August -- at the very latest.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 6th August 2020
COMHAIRLE WELCOMES SQA RESULTS 2020
School pupils across the Western Isles, received the results of their SQA National Qualification results yesterday. This follows the most challenging and unusual academic year for those undertaking qualifications.
Despite the difficulties experienced by both pupils and staff this year, the Comhairle is pleased to be able to report significant improvements in results this year, with many more awards being achieved by Western Isles pupils than in previous years.
The introduction of lockdown in March resulted in national school closures at a time when pupils were at a critical time in their studies. The SQA subsequently then confirmed the cancellation of all exams across Scotland, meaning that qualifications this year were going to be based on teacher professional estimates, analysis of past performance and careful scrutiny of results across the country. The consequence of this is that, for the first year on record, pupils received their qualifications having undertaken no exams.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Wednesday 5th August 2020
