Latest News

Orkney Islands Council is advising that, as in previous years, there will be disruption in kerbside recycling for households over the festive period due to public holidays.

Lucy Leech recently received her Platinum Youth Achievement Award - one of only 21 awarded in by Youth Scotland for 2021-22 and the first ever in Orkney!

Saturday 26 November sees the opening ‘Painting in the Darkness: TwentyTwentyOne Project’ - a response to a personal tragedy by popular local artist, Tim Wootton, at The Orkney Museum.

A roundup of works underway or soon to start for the week commencing 21 November 2022:

The Council can confirm the below school and nursery closures if planned industrial action by teachers goes ahead on Thursday 24 November:

“From our house to yours” took on an extra special meaning when the grandson of a former resident of Smiddybrae House gifted a handmade birdhouse in her memory for other residents to enjoy.

Mark Waters says his late Granny Smith or “Lily” was well looked after by the staff at the Dounby residential care facility and it was his way of giving something back to say thank you.

Orkney Ferries’ crews and office staff have been thanked for their “calm, reassuring and professional” response to the grounding of the Varagen ferry on Friday evening.

Orkney Ferries Chair, Councillor Melissa Thomson, said the public response to the incident had been overwhelmingly positive from those who were on board.

The 3km protection zone around the avian flu infected premises in Tankerness has been lifted as of 14 November, Scottish Ministers have confirmed.

This follows the completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection, and mandatory surveillance requirements. The 10km surveillance zone in the same area remains in place.

Education officials in Orkney are continuing to discuss the potential impact on schools and nurseries if the planned national teachers’ strike action over pay goes ahead on Thursday 24 November.

Further detailed information is required before confirmation can be given as to which settings will be closed, however, it is likely that there will be significant disruption. Parents and carers are advised to seek alternative provision for their children on 24 November.

Glaitness School is opening its doors this week for the launch of a Net Zero project working with Herriot -Watt University.

Glaitness School’s parent community, alongside Elected Members, and the local media are invited to the school on Wednesday 16 November, at 2.15pm for a 2.25pm start to hear from the school’s own Net Zero Heroes, staff and members of the Island Centre for Net Zero project work focusing on “School Run to Net Zero - Getting to School the Glaitness Way".