OIC transport team scoops national award

Orkney Islands Council’s Transportation team has been named ‘Local Authority Team of the Year’ at the Scottish Transport Awards.

The team beat stiff competition from teams at Edinburgh City Council, Glasgow City Council, HITRANS and the Strathclyde Transportation Partnership to scoop the prize.

The Scottish Transport Awards, supported by the Scottish Government, bring the transport community together to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland.

Orkney Islands Council’s Transportation team is responsible for a broad range of operational services from buses to ferries, to airfields – as well as providing strategic support on the development of transport connections in Orkney including the Ferry Replacement Programme.  

Achievements highlighted as part of their awards success included:

·         the Scottish Government funded airfield terminal programme which has seen the construction of terminal buildings in Stronsay and Papay - due to be completed by the end of summer - and new buildings due for Eday and Westray too.

·      a significant increase in bus passenger numbers across the county and the promotion of sustainable travel through a fleet of new low floored accessible buses.

·      bus passenger fare income, retained by the Council, helping to support and grow community bus services in the outlying islands following the establishment of a Sustainable and Green Transport Fund, thereby reinvesting back into the community to provide better services.

The award was picked up by Transportation Service Manager, Laura Cromarty, alongside her colleagues Lianne Mackay, Pauline Bruce and Myra Work.

Councillor Kristopher Leask is Chair of Orkney Islands Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, which has oversight of transport related matters.  He said: “What an incredible achievement for Laura and her small team. Orkney, as an island authority, has very particular and complicated transport challenges compared to mainland urban areas.  The Council’s Transportation team supports the local authority to work together to tackle these challenges head on in creative and sustainable ways.  The award is well deserved, and I congratulate them on their success.”

Oliver Reid, Chief Executive of Orkney Islands Council, said: “Our Transportation team work on many fronts to help keep Orkney moving - from helping people get concession cards, to working with communities on the details of their ferry, air and bus services and community transport initiatives, to the upkeep and improvement of our isles airfields and terminals, right through to strategic and highly important matters such as helping develop the business case to replace our ferries. 

“Their achievement highlights what small but passionate teams can do when they embody our values, an approach I see replicated time and again across the Council by colleagues.” 

The team now automatically go through to the National Transport Awards in October.

Also shortlisted at the awards was Orkney Travel Matters – a joint project between Sustrans and Orkney Islands Council – encompassing a pioneering study of travel behaviour in a rural and island setting. Based on input from 600 residents, the report revealed safety concerns and lack of infrastructure as major barriers to walking and cycling. The project has since influenced policy, with findings adopted into Council plans.

The report was shortlisted in the Contribution to Sustainable Transport award, which was won by the Royal Highland Show Traffic Management Working Group.