Fresh changes to leadership team at Robert Gordon University
Fresh changes have been made to the top team at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in the wake of a series of high-profile departures last year.
Traffic over the Skye Bridge drops amid reports the island has become overcrowded
Traffic over the Skye bridge dropped last year amid reports that tourists had been put-off by claims that the island was full-up.
Investment demand as traffic doubles on NC500 roads
Transport chiefs are facing fresh demands for investment after figures showed that traffic has soared by up to 140% on some of the roads that now form the North Coast 500.
Injured baby and toddler both ‘failed’ by protection professionals
Child protection chiefs in the Highlands have been accused of acting with “irresponsibility” when they “failed” a baby and a toddler who both suffered violent head injuries.
Shetland and Cornwall join forces to boost space centre plans
Shetland’s bid to send rockets into space has been boosted by the signing of a new deal with a similar project at the opposite end of Britain.
Scottish universities spend £50 million to pay off 1,550 staff
Universities in Scotland have racked up a bill of almost £50million by paying off more than 1,550 staff in the last few years, it can be revealed.
Nato’s growing use of island missile-testing range revealed
A missile testing range on the Western Isles has recorded one of its busiest years as Nato allies take advantage of the unique facility.
Forgotten Highland wartime camp dubbed ‘most complete surviving coast battery in Scotland’ to be saved
A forgotten Highland military base used during both world wars could finally be declared a “nationally important monument” and opened up to the public.
History of the ‘most complete’ wartime coastal battery left in Scotland
Clifftop coastal defences were being discussed in parliament as early as 1900 for the two headlands which mark the narrow entrance to the Cromarty Firth.
Aberdeen bank branch among 140 sites facing the axe by Santander
A bank branch in Aberdeen city centre is facing the axe as part of a fresh wave of closures announced yesterday by Santander.
Defence chiefs intend to hand control of Fort George to Historic Environment Scotland
Defence chiefs are poised to hand control of Fort George to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) after the Army is withdrawn from the barracks.
Revealed: Fort George could become quango’s new national HQ
Bosses at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have discussed shock plans to move the quango’s national headquarters from Edinburgh to the Highlands.
Revealed: Tory MSP privately raised fears that Fort George would close early
A Tory MSP privately raised fears that military chiefs would break their promise to the Highlands by shutting down the historic Fort George barracks several years early.
Nicola Sturgeon challenged over failure to hold RAF Tornado crash probe
Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged to explain why there has never been a judge-led probe into the deaths of three RAF Tornado air-crew in a 2012 tragedy.
Aberdeen’s ‘baffling’ failure to ask for cash for low emission zone
Aberdeen City Council was under fire last night over its “baffling” failure to ask for cash to prepare for the looming launch of a major anti-pollution scheme.
Scottish Government received just two complaints about Gaelic road signs
Just two complaints have ever been made to the Scottish Government about Gaelic road signs, it has emerged.
Concerns over ‘ridiculous’ costs and bureaucracy faced by bereaved families
Concerns have been raised about the complex and expensive legal process faced by bereaved families when a loved one dies.
Surge in demand for humanist funerals in the north and north-east
On the final day of the P&J’s week-long series on challenges and trends in the local funeral sector, Calum Ross finds that many families are moving away from traditional ceremonies.
Green burials slowly becoming more popular in northern Scotland
On the fourth day of the P&J’s week-long series on funeral costs and trends in northern Scotland, Calum Ross finds out whether interest in green burial grounds has been growing.
Crematoriums report soaring demand in north and north-east
On the third day of the P&J’s series on challenges and trends in the funeral sector, Calum Ross finds a dramatic rise in cremations.
Action pledged over car park ‘chaos’ at Moray crematorium
The owners of Moray’s crematorium have pledged to investigate car park improvements after a local mourner reported “chaos” at recent ceremonies.
Funeral poverty fears as further hike planned to ‘scandalous’ charges
As part of the P&J’s week-long series on the challenges grieving families face when a loved one dies, Calum Ross today investigates the soaring cost of funerals.
Revealed: Dozens of local cemeteries on the brink of running out of graves
Graveyards are on the brink of running out of space for new burials in dozens of communities across the north and north-east, it can be revealed.
Councils insist they have ‘plans are in place’ to address cemetery capacity concerns
Local authorities have admitted they are under “pressure” to act on cemetery provision but insisted that “plans are in place” for many sites.
Full list of capacity remaining at north and north-east cemeteries
Here is the full list of figures showing the remaining capacity at all council-run cemeteries in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
Bombs stop falling at Highland training range as military cutbacks bite
Military budget cuts have been blamed for a dramatic fall in the use of a key weapons training range in the Highlands.
Police chiefs are urged to honour pledge over jobs
Just one police job has been created in the north in the 16 months since force chiefs pledged to redistribute staff, it has emerged.
Reason for nine day delay to AWPR work revealed
Work on the Aberdeen bypass was halted for nine days after a “safety incident” on the £745million project.
Distinguished judge suggests inquiry into RAF Lossiemouth tragedy may have been ‘required’
One of Scotland’s most distinguished judges has made a “significant” intervention in the battle for a probe into the tragic RAF Tornado crash over the Moray Firth in 2012.
Understaffing of Scottish Coastguard a risk to lives
Fears have been raised that Coastguard cutbacks are putting “lives in danger” around the coasts of the north and north-east.
Minister said Scottish football clubs should be given more time for stadium upgrades
Scottish Secretary Malcolm Rifkind battled to allow Scottish football clubs more time to bring in all-seater stadiums in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.
Ministers would only visit disaster sites if at least five people died
Civil servants had a secret rule in the 1980s that ministers would not be sent to the site of a disaster unless at least five people had died.