Latest news with #HighlandsCouncil
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Daily Record
Increased popularity of Scots beauty spots is a double edged sword
Places of outstanding natural beauty like the Fairy Pools on the Storr on Skye were once only visited by hillwalkers and the like. But since the advent of social media, everyone, it seems, wants to be there. And who could deny anyone the chance to enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland? Their increased popularity, however, is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, communities benefit from tourists spending money and creating jobs, but on the other, the infrastructure often can't cope. Visitors to Skye have been hit with a record number of parking fines as the local authority tries to control the volume of drivers stopping anywhere they please. Some say hitting people with fines could deter visitors who just want people to enjoy Scotland's unique beauty spots. But Highlands Council have to try to control the behaviour of drivers somehow. Abandoning cars and other vehicles including motorhomes at the side of the road or illegally in passing places is not on. Skye was never meant to look like a busy town centre. The fact that more than £400,000 of parking fines were issued last year in Skye alone shows the extent of the problem. Visitors should make sure they respect the rules and park in bays and clearly marked car parks. That shouldn't be too much to ask. Otherwise the very attractions that people travel great and short distances to see could become the eye sores they may one day desperately seek to avoid. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. PM has to learn from his gaffes The UK Government welfare reforms have been handled poorly. Most would agree action is needed to address the rising numbers on disability and sickness benefits. It is better for people to be in employment - be it part or full time - than without a job. But the way the government went about trying to reshape welfare was wrong and caused needless anxiety among folk who depend on support. It has to be remembered the current Labour administration inherited a mess from the Tories. But that can't be a free pass. As Labour approach their first anniversary in office, it's fair to say their record has been a mixed bag, The Prime Minister needs to learn the lessons from his first year in charge and who Labour were elected to represent. Following the chaos of the Welfare Bill, it's time for a reset.
The Independent
09-02-2025
- The Independent
Police investigate fire at Highlands cottage once owned by Jimmy Savile
A property in the Scottish Highlands which was once owned by Jimmy Savile has been damaged by a fire. An outbuilding at the Allt-na-Reigh cottage in Glen Coe caught fire on Saturday evening, leading to the closure of the A82. The site lay abandoned for years and has been vandalised repeatedly since Savile's death in 2011, and his exposure as a prolific sex offender. Fire crews extinguished the blaze and the road was reopened on Sunday. Highlands Council has previously given permission for the site to be demolished and replaced with a new home. The remote three-bedroom property was put on the market by trustees of the late DJ's estate for £100,000 in 2013. It was describes as 'a traditional refurbished detached cottage an attractive location within scenic Highland countryside' and highlights its proximity to Glencoe Ski Centre. It has been repeatedly vandalised since Savile's crimes were exposed. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: 'Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.' The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said they called out at 17:40, and three fire engines attended. Savile, uncovered as one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders, bought the whitewashed cottage named Allt Na Reigh in 1998. Opinion has been divided over the future of the cottage, the previous home of renowned Scottish mountaineer Hamish MacInnes. Some have suggested it should be demolished while mountaineers think it should be transformed into a museum dedicated to their sport. Previous plans to turn the property into a respite care centre for disabled people were abandoned when the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust closed in the wake of the scandal surrounding the former Top Of The Pops and Jim'll Fix It host.
