Weekly update, 28th September

Tourism, Food & Drink

October brings two exciting events to the area – both showcasing the creative aspects of the north’s natural and cultural assets. Today (Friday) and tomorrow is the Skald Festival, a celebration For more information please see https://www.facebook.com/Skald-Festival-1637298233224044/timeline/ And next weekend sees a one day Taste North event at Ackergill Tower, bringing a range of food, drink, arts, craft and artisan producers together for a series of exciting events including chefs’ demonstrations, family workshops and producers’ market. The event has been developed by Venture North, the who were supported in their own development phase by CNSRP partner NDA. More information is at http://www.venture-north.co.uk/taste-north/

Communications:

As part of an ongoing process of helping communicate progress with the delivery of aspects of our economic transition programme CNSRP’s partners work together to generate news stories for local, regional and national media. I also speak on a regular basis to individuals and organisations across the area to update on progress. This week:

• The CNSRP Advisory Board met last Friday for its quarterly meeting which brings together a range of organisations from Caithness and North Sutherland to provide comment and advice on the CNSRP Programme. The key presentation was given by Gordon Doull, Vice Chairman of Wick Harbour Authority, who updated members on the exciting economic prospects that continue to draw closer as the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) project progresses toward a Final Investment Decision early next year. Gordon’s suggestion that this decision could be the most important for Caithness since the decision to build Dounreay is picked up in the summary of the meeting which you can find at http://www.cnsrp.org.uk/2015/09/28/cnsrp-advisory-board-sept-2015-press-summary/
• Environmental Research Institute is back in the news this week, attracting media coverage as the lead partner in a 1.5M EU Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme entitled “circular Oceans”. The project, which also has partners in England, Ireland, Norway and Greenland, focuses on the worldwide issue of plastic as marine litter, and its impact on both the marine environment and human health. More information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34422947 Thurso’s