End of Term Highlights
2017
Extra funding secured
Orkney Islands Council's Leader Councillor James Stockan described talks with the Scottish Government as constructive - but warned that the Council needs to strike quickly to secure additional funding on the back of this.
Councillor Stockan met with Finance Secretary Derek Mackay and Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands, in Edinburgh in mid-November
Old to New – Roads Recycled into Runways
Work was carried out to refresh the runways at Sanday and Westray – using recycled road surface material.
The runways were resurfaced with material collected by the Council from road repairs and renewals across Orkney. This material was processed and graded at Cursiter Quarry, before being transported to the airfields to be placed in a series of thin layers to build up the new surface on the runway.
Careful planning by the OIC engineering team and contractor (BDS Plant Hire and Contractors Ltd.) meant scheduled flights were carried out without disruption during the works.
National Award Winner
Orkney Islands Council scooped the top award at Scotland's national planning awards.
They were named the overall winner across all categories for the Team Stromness project.
‘Team Stromness’ featured a Council-wide task force to coordinate several distinct regeneration projects within the historic core of the town, including:
- Repaving the main street in Stromness in local stone.
- Construction of the landmark Warehouse Building.
- Paving and redevelopment of the wider pierhead area.
- Grants for private householders and businesses to help traditional repairs and refurbishment through the Stromness THI.
- Redevelopment by the Council of the Commercial Hotel through the Stromness THI.
The feedback from the judging panel was that: "(Team Stromness) was an exemplary Urban Design Framework delivering on the ground. The Council’s passion to see Stromness modernise whilst maintaining its historical elegance was to be congratulated."
Archive accreditation
Orkney’s much loved archive service was applauded for a well-run and effective service, during a national accreditation process.
The Orkney Archive service was issued with the industry stamp of approval by the Scottish Council on Archives and the National Records of Scotland.
In its feedback to the service, assessors noted that said they recognised the pride felt by the people of Orkney in their heritage, and praised the ‘valuable service’ the Orkney Archive provides. They urged the service to look now to putting the archive catalogue online, which they felt would ‘significantly improve the visibility of collections to remote users’.
The accreditation came following a rigorous review of the service against the UK Archive Service Accreditation Standard.
Other stories you might like
- HMS Vanguard Commemorations
- Mapping Magnus Project Launched
- Award Winning Marine Plan Scoops National Award
- OIC Strategic Reserve Fund performs exceptionally
- Orkney’s Sustainable Energy Strategy unveiled
- October Launch for ActiveIslands Scheme
- Council’s Empty Homes project scoops media award
- Asking for Orkney Opinions
- Funding awarded for harbour overhaul in Westray
