Archive News

Orkney Islands Council has agreed a number of measures to ensure families in Orkney have access to childcare, including the building of a new £1.5 million early learning and childcare facility at Orkney College.

Like ships passing through the String on a tide, Orkney Islands Council has bid a fond farewell to Brian Archibald, Head of Marine Services, Engineering and Transportation and Harbour Master, and welcomed his successor to the role, Jim Buck.

A letter asking travellers for their help in keeping Orkney safe will be given to people as they check in with NorthLink Ferries, Pentland Ferries and Loganair.

Document will now go out to consultation in the county.

Orkney is leading the way in Scotland when it comes to driving forward a Dementia Strategy for people living with dementia in the county and their unpaid carers.

A number of Orkney Islands Council’s housing services will soon be available again, in line with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions.

Orkney Ferries is set to bring in enhanced timetables from Monday 6 July following consultation with Community Councils in the North and South Isles.

A Dutch warship will fire a 21-gun salute in Scapa Flow tomorrow (Friday 26 June) in memory of lives lost at sea in the waters around the north of Scotland.

Orkney Islands Council's Trading Standards team is urging local people to stay vigilant and report scams to them, as the national 'Shut Out Scammers' campaign comes to an end this Friday (26 June).

Businesses in Orkney who have previously received financial assistance through Scottish Government business grant schemes or the Council's Business Hardship Support Fund are to receive an additional payment from the Council's £5m Coronavirus Support Fund.

Play areas in Orkney are set to reopen early next month

Orkney Islands Council is to provide two support services for the children of Category 1 key workers over the summer holiday period.

Orkney Islands Council’s collection of sculpture can now be viewed online as part of a nationwide Art UK project.

St Peter's House, the former care home in Stromness, is to be put up for sale by Orkney Islands Council.

Two Stromness Academy pupils have been successful in winning a £4,000 grant for the Samaritans of Orkney.

Orkney Islands Council is reminding the community that face coverings will become mandatory on public transport from Monday (22 June) in line with Scottish Government requirements.

The Leader of Orkney Islands Council is warning that Scottish Government objectives for the reopening of schools will be ‘undeliverable’ in the county.

Orkney Islands Council's recycling centres at Hatston and Garson will be accepting heavy corrugated cardboard - as well as garden waste - from Tuesday 23 June.

Over the last two weeks Hatston and Garson Household Waste Recycling Centres have collected a large amount of garden waste and are expecting more to come.

Kerbside recycling collections are to continue with the current four-week cycle of single material types for households in Orkney Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay.

Orkney Islands Council is warning local people that, despite the potential lifting of some national travel restrictions this week by the Scottish Government, opportunities to travel locally by bus, plane and ferry will still be limited due to capacity constraints arising from social distancing.

Birthday Honours list delayed to allow for Covid-19 recognition

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List has been delayed until the autumn this year to allow for recognition of people who have made “exceptional contribution” to the national Covid-19 response.

S2 pupils at Stromness Academy have created their own virtual newspaper – Lockdown Lowdown – documenting the biggest news story of the century so far.

The Community Support Hub call centre at the Pickaquoy Centre is changing its opening hours from Monday, June 29 to Monday to Friday, 09:00 -17:00.

The new S2 pupils at Stromness Academy have been busy during lockdown and are set to publish a book before the end of term.

Orkney Islands Council has announced that a council by-election will be held in Orkney for the North Isles Ward on Thursday 1 October 2020.

A decision on whether or not to grant planning permission for an extension to the council-owned Cursiter Quarry in Finstown has been deferred for a site visit in due course.

One of Orkney Islands Council’s longest serving employees – Hazel Stephen – is retiring after nearly 44 years’ continuous service.

Orkney Islands Council is encouraging all companies who provide contracted services to the council to apply for assistance under the Supplier Relief Scheme.

Orkney Islands Council wants to thank people who visited the Hatston and Garson Household Waste Recycling Centres this week for their consideration and co-operation.

Orkney Islands Council are advising that they will be carrying out some road repair works in Kirkwall over the next few weeks.

Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordination Group – OLECG, made up of representatives from a broad range of organisations, including the emergency and public services, transport providers, the utilities and voluntary sector, continue to meet virtually during this pandemic.

The Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) at Hatston and Garson are set to reopen on Tuesday (June 2) - and will initially accept only garden waste.