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*OIC News - Do not use* archive from February 2021
Consultation Event for Faray Slipway and Landing Jetty

Orkney Islands Council is holding a consultation event next week (Thursday 4 March 2021) on proposals to install a new extended slipway and landing jetty at the south end of Faray, in the North Isles.

26 February 2021
Teddy bear hugs for the bairns at Papdale Nursery

The children of Papdale Nursery were sure of a big surprise recently with the gift of 94 knitted teddy bears!

25 February 2021
Secondary pupils praised for COVID home testing uptake

Head Teachers at Orkney’s secondary schools have praised the uptake rate among pupils and staff voluntarily taking COVID19 tests.

25 February 2021
Pupils’ help Head Teacher realise Blue Peter childhood ambition

One of Orkney’s Head Teachers was far from blue when she realised the efforts two of her pupils had gone to recently!

25 February 2021
Extra funding for road and paths agreed

A fund for road and path repairs and improvements across Orkney is being recommended by Councillors.

24 February 2021
XpoNorth provides support for Orkney’s cultural economy

Orkney’s busy festival programme and visitor attractions draw many to the islands every year. With travel currently restricted, XpoNorth recognises the importance of providing support to Orkney’s cultural economy. In partnership with Orkney Islands Council, XpoNorth will host two seminars which will focus on keeping people connected with the islands during these challenging times.

24 February 2021
Orkney artists benefit from Visual Arts and Craft Maker’s Awards

Eight artists based in Orkney have benefited from bursaries totalling £5,750 in the latest round of Visual Arts and Craft Maker’s Awards (VACMA) 2021-2022.

24 February 2021
Budget for year ahead discussed by councillors

Elected Members have recommended Orkney Islands Council’s budget for the next financial year.

23 February 2021
Some delighted peedie ones returning to school

Good luck to all the children who are back into nursery and schools today, 22 February, as part of the Scottish Government’s phased return.

22 February 2021
Would you like to vote by post this May?

Orkney Islands Council’s Elections team is reminding people of the option to vote by post at the upcoming Scottish Parliament election in May.

22 February 2021
National Clinical Director writes to families outlining the reasons behind the phased reopening of schools

Scotland’s National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch, has written to parents and carers of nursery and primary age children explaining the reasons behind the decision for younger children to return to school.

19 February 2021
Good show of “camaraderie” among Orkney’s residential social care staff during wintry spell

Tributes have been paid to Orkney’s residential social care staff for the spirit of camaraderie shown during the recent wintry blast that badly affected parts of the county.

19 February 2021
Pickaquoy Road surfacing works in March

Orkney Islands Council is advising it plans to carry out surfacing works on Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall starting on 9 March 2021.

19 February 2021
Orkney Leading the Way with Hydrogen Seafarer Training

The very first cohort of seafarers to be trained to work on hydrogen powered vessels have been put through their paces on a new course in Orkney.

19 February 2021
Discretionary Housing Payments

If you are finding it difficult keeping up with your rent payments, or you need help with one-off rent deposit or removal costs, you may be eligible to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

19 February 2021
Free online wellbeing courses designed to help isolated young people

Local artists and musicians are among those hosting a series of free online wellbeing sessions to help tackle the feelings of isolation and loneliness being felt by some young people in Orkney.

19 February 2021
Sport and Leisure facilities update

With level 3 restrictions set to continue in Orkney until at least mid-March, the Sport and Leisure Service are updating customers and staff on the impact this will have on facilities and activities up to 31 March.

18 February 2021
OLECG praise “phenomenal” community response to the challenging wintry conditions

Members of OLECG – which includes a broad range of organisations such as the emergency and public services, transport providers, the utilities and voluntary sector – added a thanks to the “phenomenal” Team Orkney effort during the recent extreme conditions.

16 February 2021
OLECG supports Scottish Water as extreme temperatures lead to burst water pipes

Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordination Group is supporting Scottish Water’s efforts to trace and repair leaks across water networks on the Orkney Mainland.

16 February 2021
First Minister confirms phased reopening of schools from 22 February

Nurseries and schools in Orkney will join the rest of Scotland in a planned phased reopening from Monday 22 February.

16 February 2021
Wave of support for Orkney’s Homecare Service during the wintry blast

Local Coastguard teams, the Police and the public have supported Orkney’s Homecare Service during the worst of the wintry spell making sure home carers could reach their service users whenever possible.

16 February 2021
OIC Convener praises winter messaging

The Convener of Orkney Islands Council has praised the incredible reach of social media in aiding the winter messaging to our communities.

15 February 2021
Council issues advice and thanks for households with missed bins

Orkney Islands Council is thanking residents for the show of support and cooperation in last week’s wintry blast and issuing advice for those whose household waste and recycling collections were affected.

15 February 2021
Team Orkney effort praised

Orkney Islands Council interim Chief Executive John Mundell and Chair of the Development and infrastructure Committee Councillor Graham Sinclair - joint statement of thanks.

15 February 2021
Home carer goes the extra mile – in a tractor – to ensure her visits are carried out!

Orkney’s home carers went to amazing efforts over the weekend to ensure visits to some of our most vulnerable folk continued.

15 February 2021
School roll forecasts lead to plea from OIC Convener

The Convener of Orkney Islands Council has issued a plea for families to consider making the outer isles their home when planning a move.

15 February 2021
Thaw continues – 14 February

The whiteout is rapidly being replaced by the more familiar green in many areas across Orkney as the thaw continues.

15 February 2021
Community praised as cold snap eases – but asked for ongoing patience

Orkney Islands Council is thanking the local community for the patience and support shown to the authority’s Roads team – and to each other – over the recent severe wintry weather, but is warning challenging road conditions remain.

14 February 2021
Orkney roads - evening update 13 February

A large section of the main Kirkwall to Stromness road has been closed due to treacherous conditions.

13 February 2021
Orkney roads update - 13 February

Police Scotland and Orkney Islands Council are urging people not to venture out on the county’s roads unless their journey is absolutely essential.

13 February 2021
Possible road closures as weather conditions worsen

The Council’s Roads Team are in discussions with Police Scotland over possible roads closures as conditions worsen in areas of the county.

Thankfully, it’s the weekend and we are hoping many more folk will be able to stay home and safe as the message is clear – do not travel other than for essential reasons only.

13 February 2021
Gritter crews continue to deal with drifting snow

All priority one and two routes have been boarded/ploughed and treated at least once this morning by our gritter teams.

12 February 2021
Rising winds cause further snow drifts

It’s another chilly one out there and although there was no snowfall overnight, rising wind is leading to further drifts on some of our roads.

12 February 2021
Vaccination appointments – weather advice

People in South Ronaldsay and Burray with vaccination appointments in Kirkwall over the weekend are being advised to allow plenty of time for their journeys - and to keep an eye on weather and Churchill Barriers updates.

12 February 2021
Coastguard assisting Orkney’s home carers reach the vulnerable

Local Coastguard teams have answered a plea for help from Orkney’s Homecare Service to ensure carers can reach some of the county’s most vulnerable folk with more snow and strong winds forecast into the weekend.

12 February 2021
Black ice and frost warning - 11 and 12 February

Orkney Islands Council is advising that road conditions will remain hazardous this evening and into tomorrow morning.

11 February 2021
Household collection disruption - 11 February

Orkney Islands Council is advising some refuse and recycling collections weren't able to be completed today, 11 February, due to ongoing wintry road conditions.

11 February 2021
Further update on missed collections - 10 February

Orkney Islands Council is issuing advice to households whose household refuse and recycling collections were impacted yesterday, 10 February.

11 February 2021
Refuse collection disruption - Hoy and Walls 11 February

Orkney Islands Council advises residents of Hoy and Walls that unfortunately due to mechanical breakdown the refuse cart will not be available to carry out collections tomorrow, Thursday 11 February.

10 February 2021
Update on missed collections - 10 February

Orkney Islands Council is advising it was unable to complete refuse and recycling collections in some areas yesterday (Wednesday 10 February) due to ongoing wintry road conditions and unfortunately a mechanical issue.

10 February 2021
Second “snow day” for schools in Orkney

Schools in Orkney are closed to all pupils for a second day due to the snow and icy conditions.

10 February 2021
Cursiter Quarry update

Cursiter Quarry - an update from the Council's interim Chief Executive John Mundell.

09 February 2021
Road condition update and black ice warning for 9 and 10 February

Road condition update and black ice warning for 9 and 10 February, from Orkney Islands Council's Roads team.

09 February 2021
Gritter crews continue their efforts to keep the roads clear

OIC gritter crews have been out since before the crack of dawn working to keep the main priority 1 roads clear and passable as much of the county has woken to a thick blanket of hazardous snow and ice, with large drifts in areas.

09 February 2021
Chief Executive recruitment – update

Following a second round of advertising Orkney Islands Council has decided not to hold interviews for the position of Chief Executive at this time.

09 February 2021
All schools closed due to treacherous snow and ice conditions

All schools in Orkney are closed to all children and young people today, Tuesday, as much of the county is covered in a thick blanket of snow and ice leaving roads particularly hazardous.

09 February 2021
Plan today so you can vote in May

On the 6th of May the elections for the Scottish Parliament will take place. If you are aged 16 or over that day, resident in Scotland and registered to vote, you will be able to take part.

09 February 2021
Black ice warning as road temperatures plummet

Orkney Islands Council is warning of very challenging road conditions tonight (Monday 8 February) and into tomorrow, as road surface temperatures plummet.

08 February 2021
OIC steps up effort to keep priority roads open amid prolonged nationwide freeze

As the nationwide winter freeze continues, Orkney Islands Council has suspended planned roadworks across the county today to enable a major effort in keeping priority 1 roads open.

08 February 2021
OIC continues to lobby Governments on the digital divide disrupting daily life in Orkney

Orkney Islands Council is continuing to lobby both the UK and Scottish Governments for improved access to telecommunication networks, as the digital divide continues to disadvantage many in Orkney.

04 February 2021
Lockdown Letters – young people asked to express themselves

Young people in Orkney are being asked to share their thoughts on how lockdown has affected them personally in a new initiative called “Lockdown Letters”.

03 February 2021
Covid-19 – islands fund now open

Funding is now available from a new Scottish Government support scheme for eligible islands-based businesses.

01 February 2021
Passenger walkway update

Engineering and construction work are now complete at the Stromness Terminal Passenger Walkway.

01 February 2021
Trust outline plans to give “treasured” play area a new lease of life

Plans to rejuvenate a “treasured” play area in Longhope moved a step forward last week.

01 February 2021

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