Nicolson Institute

The island’s secondary school has a new building, a prominent edifice along Sandwick Road next to the Council offices. The builders handed it over yesterday, 30 July, and pupils will be entering it on August 16th. Stornoway Historical Society have an exhibition on the history of the school was opened in Stornoway Town Hall, which is well worth a visit. Of the old buildings making up the ‘Nic’, only the Pentland Building and the Matheson Hall will be retained. The other premises are to be demolished before the end of the year.

Clocktower

Main entrance

Service entrance

Matheson Hall

Drought

Since mid-May, the Western Isles have been suffering from an increasing shortage of water. Over those two months, only 2 inches of rain have fallen in the island; between May 19th and June 16th, only 2.4 mm (1/10th inch) fell. The results have, in parts, been devastating. Last month, a series of wildfires swept the southern section of the Castle Grounds, along the Creed River and out to the road to Harris, which has had to be closed one day as a result.

Water shortages are now prompting Scottish Water to call for people to reduce their water consumption, by putting devices in their toilet cisterns for instance. This all contrasts sharply with the floods from Edinburgh southward, caused by up to 4 inches of rain falling in a single day.

The forecast is for the dry conditions, with only a little rain from time to time, to continue.

The aftermath of the Castle Grounds fires, 16 June

Plume of smoke from Castle Grounds fire, 14 June