Log in here
Top Journalists
>
Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson

Editor at Large at Stornoway Gazette

Contact this person
Email address
b*****@*******.netGet email address
Influence score
27
Phone
(XXX) XXX-XXXXGet mobile number
Location
United Kingdom
Languages
  • English
Covering topics
  • General Assignment News

View more media outlets and journalists by signing up to AI PR

View latest data and reach out all from one place
Sign up to AI PR Toolkit

Recent Articles

stornowaygazette.co.uk

Isles broadband falls even further behind - Stornoway Gazette

​A Freedom of Information response has revealed that of the thousands of successful connections so far, none are in the Western Isles, reviving fears that the islands have been pushed to the end of the queue. In November 2021, it was revealed that as the programme then stood, 2000 properties in the Western Isles would not be included within the full fibre digital infrastructure and would be reliant on vouchers to make their own arrangements. Another 2000 connections had been pushed back from 202…
over 3 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

'Granular' decision-making lacking in policy - Stornoway Gazette

This is as close a new Rural and Island Housing Strategy comes to recognising that current policies have failed to deliver affordable housing in areas worst affected by population loss. The document states: “A Housing Need and Demand Assessment is used by local authorities to inform housing-related policy responses through the Local Housing Strategy and Strategic Housing Investment Plans. “The Scottish Government recognises for rural and island communities that it may not provide the granular le…
almost 3 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

Domhnall Ban: 40 years in the job he loves - Stornoway Gazette

That would be quite enough for Domhnall Bàn Macdonald who, for 40 years, has been teaching the pipes in Uist and Barra. Now he also has the accolade “tutor of the year’ from Scotland’s Traditional Music Awards, by popular acclaim. “It was a surprise and a huge honour”, he says. “I didn’t know anything about it until I got a call saying I was on the short list. Then what a great spree we had in Dundee! What an experience! Everything went so smoothly and it was wonderful to see so many of my ex-pu…
almost 3 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

The missed opportunity on crofting reform

​ For some, the Shucksmith inquiry was the last, best hope for the defence of crofting as a system of regulated tenure, capable of keeping the money market at bay and allowing the young to remain in their home communities. Others, for much the same reason, hated it. The lawyers and estate agents had no wish to see obstructions placed in the way of a burgeoning market in croft tenancies, the more scenic the better. And some crofters, nominal or otherwise, agreed with them. This was the minefield…
almost 3 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

History and a willing seller paved the way to first isles buy-out

Very few land buy-outs have benefited from crofting community “right to buy” legislation which still seems designed to obstruct rather than enable.
over 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

Harris test case highlights rural housing challenge - Stornoway Gaz...

​However, the struggle to gain approval has raised questions about whether current funding rules under the Scottish Government’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan are sufficiently flexible to allow widespread application in rural and island areas. Leverburgh had become a test case for the Scottish Government’s commitment to housing in areas most seriously affected by depopulation. A statement from Hebridean Housing Partnership made clear the exceptional nature of the package finally put together…
over 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

First aid hero honour for helicopter winchman - Stornoway Gazette

​In recognition of his role in saving the lives of two crew members of a Spanish fishing vessel last November, Norman received the Emergency Services Hero of the Year Award at the St Andrews First Aid Awards ceremony in Glasgow. The rescue, he said, took place in “very squally” conditions more than a hundred miles to the north west of Stornoway. “The team did a great job in getting me down”, said Norman, while a colleague on the Bristow helicopter described the rescue operation as “astonishing”.…
over 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

“Chaos” over £450m of unspent EU funds

The Scottish Government has been accused of “fiscal incompetence” after it emerged that up to £450 million of EU funding will go unspent because of failure to put forward projects which match criteria for structural funds.
over 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

Long and winding road of isles elections

​Since the Western Isles Parliamentary constituency was first contested in 1918, there have been 26 General Elections and eight MPs.
over 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

The return of the Highland 51st Division from St Valery 80th and th...

The name of St Valery-en-Caux is enshrined in the psyche and engraved on the memorials of every Highlands and Islands community.
about 2 years ago
stornowaygazette.co.uk

After 60 years, we need a new development agency for the edge

​BRIAN WILSON looks back on 60 years of Highlands and Islands Development – and proposes a powerful new agency devoted entirely to Scotland’s periphery
about 1 year ago