End of Term Highlights
2019
Scapa 100
A programme of events was announced marking 100 years since the scuttling of the German High Seas fleet in Scapa Flow.
Led by the Orkney community as well as international contributors, the events revealed the historical significance of the scuttling, marked its impact at the time, and highlighted its legacy in Orkney today.
At the heart of the events were the centenary commemorations on Friday 21 June, when 15 German lives lost as a result of the internment and sinking of the vessels were remembered.
More Scapa 100 events ran across June including exhibitions, talks by experts, performances by the German Navy and Royal Navy musicians, underwater imagery, a theatre piece, the screening of a 1986 documentary on the scuttling – and the chance to explore the seabed wrecks using the latest virtual reality technology.
Museum Improvements
A turf cutting ceremony took place at Lyness, marking the start of work to restore and improve the Scapa Flow Museum.
Stromness and South Isles councillor Magnus Thomson cut the first turf, accompanied by Orkney Islands Council leader James Stockan and Stephen Kemp, managing director of Orkney Builders (Construction) Ltd.
The work has involved refurbishing the historic pumphouse and building an extension to the museum. When complete, the museum will open all-year-round for the first time in many years, encouraging more people to visit Hoy and boosting tourism throughout the island.
North Isles Landscape Partnership
The North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme got underway
Working with the communities on the North Isles the NILPS has been delivering projects that will promote the heritage, landscape and culture of the area.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the scheme has supported Orkney’s North Isles through the delivery of a number of projects that includes traditional skills training, educational programmes, wildlife recording and enhancement of isles heritage centres amongst others.
The programme will invest £4.5 million in the North Isles
Campus Completed
The Orkney Research and Innovation Campus (ORIC) became operational in Stromness.
The £6.5 million facility seeks to strengthen Orkney’s global lead in the field of renewables research and innovation.
A joint venture by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council, the ORIC project seeks to strengthen Orkney’s global lead in the field of renewables research and innovation, providing purpose built business and educational facilities within Stromness, where much of the sector’s activity is currently focused.
First phase tenants, including Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT), Solo Energy, and Robert Gordon University, have already moved, or will soon move, into the new Robert Rendall building – named after the renowned Orcadian naturalist and poet.
In addition to providing study and workspace for its main tenants, the Robert Rendall building also offers areas that can be rented by external organisations and local businesses involved in relevant sectors.
Wind Farm Project
Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project was launched
‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project’ could generate significant income and community benefit for Orkney. All profit would stay in the islands, enabling the Council to preserve and enhance key services that local people value and depend upon and providing a foundation for communities to drive transformational projects of their own.
The developments will also allow the Council to join other local developers in making a meaningful contribution to a Needs Case for a new interconnector for Orkney, thereby substantially supporting the vital renewable energy industry in Orkney, including future development of the marine energy sector.
The wider economic development value of a new cable to Orkney could be highly significant, particularly if a substantial proportion of local ownership can be secured - which will help employment and income remain in the county.
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