Latest News

Letters are being sent to all Orkney Islands Council’s council house tenants seeking views on the rent they are charged for 2023-2024, as part of the annual consultation process.

These will also include an explanatory leaflet and survey forms to complete based on three options

Orkney may have looked like a winter wonderland recently, but the ongoing snow and icy conditions caused significant disruptions to travel, schools and nurseries.

Thankfully, these wintry blasts are relatively uncommon in Orkney, and while we know most bairns love a snow day, it can cause a major headache for some parents and carers if a school/nursery closure is required.

Our Food Team is urging local businesses and householders to check their fridges and freezers products for two trout products, recalled UK-wide by Lidl GB, as they may be contaminated with potentially harmful Listeria Monocytogenes.

The end of 2022 has proven to be an exciting chapter for Stromness Academy pupil, Magnus Groundwater, after he was named overall Fereday Prizewinner for his project into the history of the Stromness Library.

The next phase of building works at the Orkney Library and Archive is due to get underway in the new year meaning that there will be disruption to some services.

The works are due to start on Monday 9 January 2023 and expected to last between 6-8 weeks.

Much of Orkney has woken to a blanket of snow this morning, causing widespread disruption to travel and all Mainland and linked isles schools and nurseries are closed.

The gritters and ploughs have been out in force since 6am moving around the priority one routes first, before treating others as they can.

Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan has described the latest communication from the Scottish Government on their intentions around the funding of a replacement internal ferry fleet for Orkney as ‘extremely promising’. 

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 19 December.

As the festive season approaches OIC Transport team and Stagecoach have pulled together a ‘quick guide’ to the late night bus services available on a Friday and Saturday night, for anyone out and about over the next few weekends - and have launched a survey to gather feedback from the public.

The Orkney Ferries fleet – supported by charters – are working together to ensure a service continues to all islands following the Eynhallow’s engine troubles. 

The vessel, which serves Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre, suffered a seized engine on Monday this week and is undergoing repairs locally. The Eynhallow will resume service as soon as possible and updates will be provided.