Highland Council wards 1995 to 1999


The first set of Highland Council wards was first used for Highland Council election purposes in 1995, for the first general election of the council. They were replaced with 80 new wards for the second general election in 1999.
The Highland Council had become a local government authority in 1996, when the two-tier system of regions and districts was abolished and the Highland region became a unitary council area, under the Local Government etc Act 1994. The first Highland Council election, however, was one year earlier, in 1995. Until 1996 councillors shadowed the regional and district councils and planned for the transfer of powers and responsibilities. Elections to the council are normally on a four-year cycle, all wards being contestable at each election.
For the periods 1995 to 1999 each ward elected one councillor by the first past the post system. The first past the post system continued in use when new wards were introduced in 1999, but the increased number of wards meant an increase in the number of councillors.
The wards used from 1995 to 1999 were subdivisions of eight council management areas, with councillors elected from each area forming an area committee. The wards created in 1999, however, were not exactly subdivisions of the management areas, management area boundaries were not adjusted to take account of new ward boundaries and, therefore, area committees ceased to be exactly representative of areas for which they were named and for which they took decisions.

Lists of wards, 1995 to 1999

Wards are listed by management area, and are numbered as well as named.

Badenoch and Strathspey wards

The Badenoch and Strathspey management area consisted of five wards:
NoWardName term references
61AviemoreAviemore
62Carrbridge and NethybridgeCarrbridge and Nethybridge
63Dulnain BridgeDulnain Bridge
64GrantownGrantown-on-Spey
60Kingussie and KincraigKingussie and Kincraig

Caithness wards

The Caithness management area consisted of eight wards:
NoWardName term references
7Central CaithnessCaithness
5North East CaithnessCaithness
4PulteneyPulteney area of Wick
6South East CaithnessCaithness
2Thurso EastThurso
1Thurso WestThurso
8West CaithnessCaithness
9WickWick

Inverness wards

The Inverness management area included Loch Ness, Strathglass and the town of Inverness.
The management area consisted of 20 wards:
NoWardName term references
46Alt Na SgitheachAlt Na Sgitheach
53ArdersierArdersier
39BeaulyBeauly
49CanalA section of the Caledonian Canal, running between Loch Ness and the Moray Firth and thus through the town of Inverness
44ColumbaColumba
52CullodenCulloden
45DrommondDrommond
38DrumnadrochitDrumnadrochit
36East Loch NessLoch Ness
37Fort AugustusFort Augustus
47HiltonHilton
51InshesInshes
40KirkhillKirkhill
42MerkinchMerkinch
43MuirtownMuirtown
48Old EdinburghOld Edinburgh
50RaigmoreRaigmore
41ScorguieScorguie
35MiltonMilton
35Strathnairn and StrathdearnStrathnairn and Strathdearn

Lochaber wards

The Lochaber management area consisted of eight wards:
NoWardName term references
66Ardnamurchan and MorvernArdnamurchan and Morvern
68CaolCaol
70Claggan and Glen SpeanClaggan and Glen Spean
71Fort William SouthFort William
72Glencoe and Nether LochaberGlencoe and Nether Lochaber
67Kilmallie and InvergarryKilmallie and Invergarry
65Mallaig and the Small IslesMallaig and the Small Isles
69North Fort William and InverlochyFort William and Inverlochy

Nairn wards

The Nairn management area included the town of Nairn but was mostly rural.
It consisted of five wards:
NoWardName term references
56AuldearnAuldearn
57CawdorCawdor
54East NairnNairn
58North NairnNairn
58West NairnNairn

Ross and Cromarty wards

The Ross and Cromarty management area consisted of 13 wards:
NoWardName term references
27Alness and ArdrossAlness and Ardross
25Black Isle EastBlack Isle
26Black Isle WestBlack Isle
29DingwallDingwall
23FearnHill of Fearn
33Gairloch and GarveGairloch and Garve
24InvergordonInvergordon
22TainTain
28FerindonaldFerindonald
32LochbroomLochbroom
34LochcarronLochcarron
31MaryburghMaryburgh
30Ord and ConnonMuir of Ord, Conon Bridge and the River Conon

Skye and Lochalsh wards

The Skye and Lochalsh management area included the islands of Skye, Raasay and Scalpay, the village of Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland, and a rural area to the east of Kyle of Lochalsh. It consisted of six wards:
NoWardName term references
18BroadfordBroadford, Isle of Skye
21DunveganDunvegan
17Kyle and SleatKyle and Sleat
16LochalshLochalsh
19PortreePortree
20StaffinStaffin

Sutherland wards

The Sutherland management area consisted of seven wards:
NoWardName term references
10Ardgay and Bonar BridgeArdgay and Bonar Bridge
15Brora and KildonanBrora and Kildonan
11Central SutherlandSutherland
9DornochDornoch
14GolspieGolspie
12North West SutherlandSutherland
13Tongue and FarrTongue and Farr