Weather Update – Monday 11 January 2010
Schools: We have 34 schools in Highland which were not able to open today after the holiday break, due to a combination of bad weather and heating failures and damage caused by the bad weather.
It is hoped that many of these schools will be able to open tomorrow (Tuesday).
Primary Schools (28): Aviemore; Badcaul; Ballachulish; Bualnaluib; Carbost; Carrbridge; Deshar; Dingwall; Farr Primary, Sutherland; Foyers; Gairloch; Gledfield; Grantown; Kinbrace; Kinlochewe; Inverasdale; Lochcarron; Lochinver; Munlochy; Newmore; Roybridge; South Lodge, Invergordon; Stoer; St Bride’s, Fort William; Teanassie; Tongue; Torridon and Ullapool.
Nursery schools (4): Cawdor; Gergask; Kyle; Teanassie.
Secondary schools (5): Gairloch High; Grantown Grammar; Farr High School; Kingussie High; Ullapool High.
Partial closure (1): Culloden Academy S 1-3.
Special schools (1): St Clement’s, Dingwall.
Salt Supplies: Since 19 December, last year, we have used 45,000 tonnes of salt at an estimated cost of £1.35 million. We have a stock of 7,500 tonnes.
Bin Collection: The winter weather conditions continue to disrupt the refuse collection service, mostly on side roads and cul-de-sac areas. Collection routines are now back to normal and people should put their bin out on their usual collection day. Anyone with excess rubbish should either store it for their next collection or take it to the nearest civic recycling centre. The refuse employees have worked tremendously hard in very difficult conditions in an effort to minimise the level of disruption, but some areas have proved too hazardous for large 26 tonne refuse vehicles to access. The vast majority of members of the public have been appreciative of the difficulties the winter conditions have caused. The Council regrets any disruption to the service.
Service Centre: 240 calls received over the weekend at the Service Centre, which opened between 9 – 5 pm on Saturday/Sunday. This helped relieve pressure on the out of hours emergency number for Housing and TEC/Social Work. I am planning to keep the Service Centre this weekend, in anticipation of property issues being more prevalent.