OIC News
The Council will be continuing surface dressing in the Wald Road and Hinderayre Road area of Evie and Rendall tomorrow (Tuesday 19 June).
Recycling collections in the linked South Isles are to be cancelled next week to allow Council crews to be diverted to grass cutting duties in the area’s kirkyards.
The Council will be carrying out surface dressing for a short time tomorrow (Saturday 16 June) in Orphir in the Kirbister/Waulkmill area between the track west of Waterfold and the junction with the Germiston Road at the Kirbister Loch end.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP today (Friday 15 June) performed the official opening ceremony at Orkney’s newest school.
Kirkwall's Bridge Street will be closed to traffic this Monday (18 June) as Orkney Islands Council carries out some temporary repairs.
The Orkney community is being asked for input into future public bus services for the county, ahead of preparations by Orkney Islands Council for the next contract period.
A new cardboard recycling container is now in operation at the Council’s household waste and recycling centre (HWRC) at Cursiter Quarry in Firth.
Work on headstones found to be in an unsafe condition is about to begin at kirkyards in Orkney.
Surface dressing will be carried out tomorrow (Friday 15 June) on the A964 Kirkwall-Houton-Stromness road on the stretch from Houton to Clowally.
Orkney Islands Council is asking for views on a possible change to the way its houses are let.
June is this year’s Scams Awareness month and the Trading Standards team at Orkney Islands Council is reminding people to be on their guard for scams which can target all age groups.
Due to the weather conditions forecast for tomorrow, surface dressing work is not expected to take place on Thursday 14 June.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 13 June) will see surface dressing starting on the A964 (main Kirkwall/Stromness to Houton road), from Houton to Nealand Kennels.
A co-ordinator has been appointed to take forward the work of the Orkney Community Justice Partnership.
Surface dressing work will continue in the Bay of Skaill/Skara Brae area, on the B9056 between the B9057 (the Loch of Skaill) and Quoyloo Road before moving onto the B9055 between Aith and Queena.
An unusual Kirkwall landmark has been given a bit of TLC as part of the Council's ongoing work on Kirkwall's harbour front.
Free business workshops are being held in Orkney next week to help small businesses polish up on their tendering skills when dealing with public sector bodies such as the Council.
Road maintenance works are due to be carried out on Stromness' main street from next week (11 June - 15 June).
The Council will be carrying out surface dressing in the Bay of Skaill and Skara Brae area on Thursday and Friday this week.
A new Chief Officer has been appointed for Orkney Health and Care, the Integration Joint Board that commissions and oversees community health and social care services in the islands.
People living in Orkney’s North and South Isles are being encouraged to contribute ideas as part of the community conversations initiative.
Surface dressing will be taking place on the A965 - the main Kirkwall to Stromness road - from Binscarth Farm to Germiston Road, over the course of Tuesday (5 June) and Wednesday (6 June) this week.
The Council is advising that surface dressing will take place on Monday 4 June on the Bigswell Road in Stenness.
Orkney Islands Council is looking to recruit Head Teachers for two distinct local schools.
The Council is advising that surface dressing road works will be carried out in two areas tomorrow (Friday 1 June):
Following an ongoing safety review of the county's cemeteries, Orkney Islands Council is urging local folk to check on their relatives headstones.
Orkney Islands Council has welcomed the outcome of today’s Islands Bill debate in the Scottish Parliament as an historic and momentous day for Scotland’s island communities.
Orkney Islands Council is urging local residents to share ideas on reducing their plastic footprint, as part of activities to mark World Environment Day on 5 June.
Are you a volunteer in youth services, or looking to obtain formal youth work qualifications for work you are already doing? Orkney Islands Council in conjunction with Youth Scotland have launched a rare opportunity for local people to gain a formal youth work qualification - for free.
Orkney Islands Council is urging householders to check if they could be eligible for funding to help keep their homes warm and cut fuel bills.
The Council is asking MSPs to support measures to bolster the Islands Bill during a key stage of its progress through the Scottish Parliament.
A talk taking place in Birsay next month will tell the story of an important research and archaeology project carried out as part of the Magnus 900 commemorations.
Surface dressing of the county’s roads continue next week across several locations in Orkney.
Orkney Islands Council's ‘Team Stromness’ scheme – a regeneration effort spanning the last ten years – took the top award at last night's Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.
Council Leader James Stockan has welcomed an announcement by Transport and the Islands Minister Humza Yousaf on how the next Northern Isles ferry contract will be awarded.
Five community engagement events are to be held across the Orkney mainland and linked South Isles next month as Orkney Islands Council continues to tackle its ongoing budget challenge.
The Council's surface dressing works will move onto Back Road in Dounby tomorrow (Thursday 24 May), starting in the morning.
Orkney Islands Council is planning to carry out some road maintenance and flag repairs on Albert Street and Bridge Street, Kirkwall, tomorrow (Thursday 24 May) and Friday.
Drivers are advised surface dressing works by Orkney Islands Council will get underway again from the middle of next week (21 – 25 May).
Council Convener Harvey Johnston has described yesterday's Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations as ‘magnificent’.
There will be changes to public bus Service 9 (Kirkwall Town Service) and Service 7 (Stromness and Kirkwall to Birsay via Dounby) later this week as the Council's surface dressing work begins from Thursday 17 May.
Drivers are advised surface dressing works by Orkney Islands Council will start tomorrow, Thursday 17 May
Orkney Islands Council has welcomed the official launch of the BIG HIT hydrogen project.
Visitors from Norway will travel to Orkney to take part in the annual celebrations for Norwegian Constitution Day on Thursday 17 May.
The Council is suspending the introduction of a savings measure which reduced the number of free return trips for eligible passengers using Dial-a-Bus to 12 per year.
Drivers are reminded to check for road closures and diversions that could affect them when surface dressing work starts in Orkney this week.
Pupils from St Andrews Primary School enjoyed a visit to the Council Chamber in School Place last week.
Dog owners are being reminded to keep their dogs under control when near livestock.
Road surface dressing will bring road closures and bus service changes across Orkney. With road surface dressing due to start later this month, the Council is advising the public of how they can keep updated on road closures and bus service changes which might affect them.
A consultation on Orkney Islands Council’s Sheltered Housing service is now live.
P5 Pupils from Glaitness School have teamed up with ‘weel-kent’ local illustrator, Britt Harcus to launch a new book exploring the unique history and heritage of Kirkwall – through the eyes of an inquisitive curlew.
Orkney Islands Council is reminding the public that Council offices will be closed on Monday, 7 May for the ‘May Day’ public holiday.
Two new awards of funding will help support a major redevelopment project at the Scapa Flow Museum.
Orkney Islands Council is seeking views on design for housing in the countryside.
Road works on Junction and New Scapa Road will pause for the summer as the Council gears up for its annual surface dressing.
The next phase of a project looking at how a large scale wind farm could generate significant income and community benefit for Orkney has been announced at a public meeting in Hoy.
Orkney Islands Council’s Trading Standards team is warning local consumers and businesses about the increased use of ‘number spoofing’ by scam callers, following an increase in local residents reporting suspicious calls.
Prehistoric pottery is the focus of the Orkney Museum’s summer exhibition for 2018.
The Council's Marine Services have appointed port planning specialists to prepare a masterplan for Orkney Harbour areas.
A consultation is planned on how the Council best delivers its sheltered housing service in future.
An update from the Council will be provided for residents of Hoy and Walls on a project looking at how a large scale wind farm could serve as an important source of income and community benefit for the county.
The section of Junction Road between the Junction Road mini roundabout and Union Street re-opened to traffic this morning, 24 April.
Preparations are in place for the arrival of the largest cruise ship to visit Orkney.
The ‘first hour free’ parking run by the Council over winter ends on 1 May when Council carparks in central Kirkwall and Stromness revert to the summer tariffs.
A series of community conversations will be held later this year on Orkney Islands Council’s current and future spending plans.
Orkney Islands Council, alongside Police colleagues, are appealing to residents in the Kirklands Road and Quoybanks Cresent area of Kirkwall to be careful when they are parking, following issues with the town bus accessing the area.
The Council has held further discussions with businesses affected by road works on Junction Road in Kirkwall.
Orkney Islands Council is holding a recruitment event this month.
An event is being run in Hoy next month to provide an opportunity for the local community to find out more about some of the health and wellbeing support and services currently available in Orkney.
Diversions and changes to public bus timetables will be in place from this Monday (16 April) while vital road work is carried out by the Council on Junction Road and New Scapa Road in Kirkwall.
A recent dog mess campaign created by pupils at Papdale Primary School appears have had the desired effect – with a 43% decrease in complaints to Environmental Health about dog fouling immediately after the campaign launched.
An exhibition of artwork created by the users of Orkney Health and Care’s Lifestyles Centre opens next week (Friday 13 April).
A redevelopment project is about to get underway at the Ness Campsite in Stromness.
Orkney Islands Council is inviting feedback on a plan for how Kirkwall could develop in future that has emerged from an ideas-gathering exercise held earlier this year.
Orkney Museum will be showing an exhibition of new work by three local artists this month.
Ingrid Budge, Alan Watson and Rebecca Marr will exhibit together for the first time in a show they have called ‘Lift’.
The title, an Orkney dialect word for sky, reflects their shared interest in Orkney skies and clouds. The exhibition opens on Saturday 7 April.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place in Kirkwall from Wednesday 4 April at the mini roundabout where Pickaquoy Road joins Junction Road.
The closure of Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum is to be extended into 2019.
Due to the Easter Monday holiday, the Council Offices will be closed from 17:00 on Friday 30 March until 09:00 on Tuesday 2 April 2018.
A ten pence increase in the price of school meals in Orkney will come into effect in April.
Orkney's council-operated airfields have been shortlisted for a national award.
Two important documents relating to how the Council procures goods and services have been published on the Council website this week.
The Principals of three of Scotland’s universities have been looking at new opportunities for collaborative working during a two-day visit to Orkney.
The Council is reminding the public of the risks of dumping potentially explosive material.
Orkney Islands Council has welcomed the announcement that they have secured funding from the National Lottery for a £4.5m North Isles Landscape Scheme.
A £5.39 million construction contract has been awarded for the development of a new Research and Innovation Campus in Orkney.
More than 110 tanker operations have taken place in Scapa Flow over the past 12 months – the highest figure recorded for many years.
An event highlighting the valuable work carried out by social workers takes place in Kirkwall next week.
Independent charity Arts & Business Scotland will visit Orkney later this month as part of a series of special events across the Highlands and Islands to promote greater collaboration between local cultural organisations and the local business community.
Orkney Islands Council has published a reviewed Core Paths plan for public comment, following feedback gathered over the last several months.
The Council is advising that a collection point for glass bottles and jars from commercial businesses will no longer be available at Cursiter Quarry from Thursday 15 March.
Orkney Islands Council is working with partners in seeking amendments to the Islands Bill for the next stage of its progress through the Scottish Parliament.
The resurfacing works on Junction Road, Kirkwall planned to start on Monday (12 March) as advertised in yesterday’s Orcadian have had to be cancelled.
Hand over your under-loved musical instruments for the benefit of young musicians in the county, as part of national Pass It On Week.
Visitors to Hatston tip will be asked to take a second look at what's in their boot - as part of next week's national re-use event 'Pass It On' week.
Orkney Islands Council has welcomed news that energy supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has formally submitted a ‘Needs Case’ to energy regulator Ofgem for a new transmission link for Orkney.
Temporary displays of items from the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum have been set up in Kirkwall while the facility undergoes a major refurbishment.
Orkney Island Council is reminding drivers to be vigilant and take extra care in the current cold conditions.
Orkney is set to tap into a wealth of expertise and experience when the second Orkney Business Festival gets underway in three weeks’ time.
Orkney Islands Council is advising that essential maintenance work is set to take place on Victoria Street in Kirkwall next week (Monday 26 February 2018 to Friday 2 March 2018).
Orkney Islands Council has published its Biodiversity Duty Report for 2015 to 2017.
Elected Members have set Orkney Islands Council’s budget for the next financial year.
Orkney youth worker Maureen Herdman has received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Youth Work’ at the National Youth Work Awards 2018 run by YouthLink Scotland.
The Council is exploring new options for the development of Lyness as a decommissioning base for the oil and gas industry.
Community groups with big ideas, and farmers considering diversification options, are reminded that time is ticking to make an application to the Orkney LEADER fund.
Ten years after implementation of the Adult Support and Protection Act in Scotland, local partners have issued an upbeat statement about the progress made in Orkney.
A campaign aimed at recruiting more foster carers to be at the ready for children in need of family based care in the county has been launched by Orkney Health and Care.
The Council is advising that the entrance to Bridge Street from Harbour Street in Kirkwall is due to re-open to permitted traffic on Saturday afternoon (17 February).
Elected Members have recommended Orkney Islands Council’s budget for the next financial year.
Papdale Halls of Residence will be open and staffed on Thursday (15 February) for any resident pupils who are stranded by Wednesday's (14 February) forecast bad weather.
Council Leader James Stockan has welcomed the cross-party support given to the Islands Bill which was debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday (8 February).
The Leader of Orkney Islands Council, James Stockan, has welcomed a significant development in a long running campaign for onshore wind energy projects in the Northern and Western Isles to be included in a multi-million pounds support scheme.
An online discussion next week will debate the question – is Orkney a good place to live as we get older?
Fostering and adoption services in Orkney have been praised for the support they give to foster and adoptive families and children in the county.
Orkney's top athletes are set to benefit from a scheme designed to support travel costs in the Islands.
Council Leader James Stockan has welcomed the announcement by the Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay MSP, that £5.5 million in additional funding for Orkney’s inter-island ferry service will be included in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2018-19.
The road closure at the entrance to Bridge Street and associated changes in Albert Street and Laing Street is being extended for a further two weeks until Monday 19 February.
Next Saturday (3 Feb) sees a new exhibition opening at the Orkney Museum, Tankerness House, Kirkwall.
The Chief Officer of Orkney’s Integration Joint Board, Caroline Sinclair, will be taking up a new post later this year.
Four additional Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed in Orkney to assist the Lord-Lieutenant with his official duties.
An inspection by Education Scotland has found that pupils at Rousay Primary School are 'confident, friendly children, who are keen to learn and contribute to the school and wider community'.
An event this week (Tuesday 23 January) will give people the opportunity to engage with the first stage of the planning process for the new Kirkwall Care Home.
Events later this week offer the chance to find out about ideas put forward for the Your Kirkwall exercise – and how these could develop in future.
Three local projects have been allocated funding in the latest round of LEADER awards.
Six new community and business representatives are being sought for Orkney Islands Council's College Management Council.
An inspection has found that Community Learning and Development services are having a ‘very good’ impact in Orkney.
Police Scotland and the Council’s Trading Standards Team are reminding consumers of the need to be wary when receiving unsolicited calls claiming to be from businesses such as BT or Microsoft, following advice that a local residence has lost a substantial sum of money in a scam.
Orkney Islands Council is joining forces with Zero Waste Scotland, Resource Efficient Scotland, Orkney Food & Drink and Orkney Zerowaste this month, to urge local people to keep up the fight against food waste.
Wreaths were laid today (Friday 12 January) in memory of the 188 men who perished when two Royal Navy destroyers hit rocks off Orkney exactly 100 years ago. HMS Opal and HMS Narborough ran aground and were wrecked as they battled through heavy seas and a blizzard to find the shelter of Scapa Flow.
The shortlist for this year's Orkney Sports Awards have been announced today.
Access to the Waterfront West/Shapinsay slip car park in Kirkwall will be restricted for a short period on Wednesday evening this week (10 January) while work on the Council's flood prevention scheme continues.
A remarkable discovery has helped ensure that the sacrifice of the sailors who died in a maritime tragedy in Orkney waters will never be forgotten.
Orkney Islands Council is advising motorists of temporary changes to traffic arrangements in Kirkwall later this month while contractors work on renewing the road surface and paving at the entrance to Bridge Street.
Work to repair the safety railings on the second Churchill Barrier is due to get underway next week (from Monday 8 January onwards).
Lives lost a century ago will be remembered in Orkney during commemorative events marking the night when two warships ran ashore in a snowstorm.