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OIC wins carbon reduction award
Solar photovoltaic panels at Shapinsay Primary are one of the carbon reduction measures adopted by the Council.
Orkney Islands Council has received the Carbon Trust Standard for reducing its carbon emissions by 6% over the last three years, from 19,100 tonnes in 2006-2007, to 17,860 tonnes in 2008-2009.
The Carbon Trust Standard is the world’s first carbon award that requires an organisation to measure, manage and reduce its carbon footprint and actually make real reductions year-on-year.
Energy saving measures adopted by the Council include ground source heat pumps installed at the Stromness Swimming Centre in June 2009, and wind turbines at four primary schools – North Walls, Flotta, Firth and Sanday – which are feeding into the schools’ electricity supplies. Shapinsay Primary School has had photovoltaic panels installed.
Chair of the Council’s Development Committee Councillor Ian Johnstone said: “This is a fantastic result and shows that the hard work which has gone into monitoring and reducing energy consumption on all our sites is paying off.”
For more information, check the latest press releasesfrom the Council.
Adverse Weather School Closures
For information on any school closures you can follow the latest updates on the OIC Twitter page by clicking on the Twitter logo below. You don't need to join Twitter to see OIC's tweets. Be sure to fully read the terms and conditions on Twitter's website before joining Twitter.
What's New?
Chance to take part in Commonwealth Games 2010
Young people from Orkney are to be offered the chance to travel to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year and take part in the official Flag Handover Ceremony which will mark the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland in 2014. To find out more and to download an application form, click here, but be quick - deadline for registering your interest is February 3.
Consultation - Corse West Development Brief
A Draft Development Brief has been put together for this strategic site on the western edge of Kirkwall. It's out for public consultation until March 11. It's important if you are a neighbour to the site or are interested in the future of Kirkwall that you take the time to look through the Brief and have your say. More information...
Consultation - Westermill Development Brief (Burray)
The Draft Westermill Development Brief (Burray) has been published for a 6 week period of consultation from January 28. The Brief establishes a framework for development in the area of land to the west of the Community School. Closing date for comments is March 11 2010. More information...
Sanday public transport update - contract awarded
Orkney Islands Council has awarded the Sanday public bus contract to the Sanday Development Trust, for the period April 1 2010 to January 5 2015 inclusive. The dial-a-ride service will start on April 1 and will meet all scheduled ferry arrivals and departures at Loth Ferry Terminal. Meanwhile a temporary on-request taxi bus service remains in place. More information in thepress release.
Seasonal Flu - Protect yourself and others
If you are eligible for a free seasonal flu vaccination, get yours now. Free vaccinations against seasonal flu are available for people over 65 and over, and for people in certain risk categories. Don't understimate seasonal flu - to find out more and to see if you are eligible for a free flu jab, visit the Scottish Government's flu information website.
Mexican Swine Flu
NHS is recommending that anyone with flu symptoms should stay at home and seek telephone advice from their GP or from NHS24 on 08454 242 424. For useful information relating to the Mexican Swine Flu, including preparing your business for staff shortages, view our Precaution in case of Pandemic webpage .
