School pupils and community celebrate initial improvements to Ferry Road

The first set of street design improvements have been installed along Ferry Road in Stromness, as part of the ‘A Safer Route to School’ project.

Local community organisations and Stromness Primary School’s Pupil Council visited the new infrastructure on Tuesday at a celebration event.

The event recognised attendees’ valuable contributions to the project so far, which has been led by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in partnership with Orkney Islands Council.

‘A Safer Route to School’ seeks to create a more accessible and welcoming Ferry Road where everyone can make safe, enjoyable local journeys on foot or on wheels.

The project has been championed by the Pupil Council and local organisations, who have all played a central role in shaping new concept designs for a waterfront that reflects the unique character and identity of Stromness.

Coming together on Tuesday, those involved celebrated the first set of new features delivered by the project, which has made initial improvements to the street.

Three new dropped kerbs have made walking along the waterfront more accessible for people using walking aids, wheelchairs, bikes and buggies. Two barriers which were restricting the width of the pavement have also been removed.

Alongside this, two new benches at the northern section of Ferry Road now provide rest stops and opportunities to enjoy the view across the water.

To top it all off, a new piece of artwork has been painted on the widened pavement. Its compass design was chosen by the project’s Community Advisory Group and reflects local points of interest. Dashed lines guide pupils on their way to school and residents making other local journeys.

Talking about these improvements, school pupil Theia said:

“It’s more fun to walk to and from school and just spend time on Ferry Road. You can sit and enjoy the view and there are more bins so people don’t litter because then it gets really yucky and unpleasant.”

Following the visit on Tuesday, members of the Pupil Council were presented with an ‘active travel and planet earth’ book library in recognition of their role as Junior Urban Designers on the project. As well as being involved in the design process, the pupils went the extra mile in encouraging participation across the whole school.

Rebecca Robinson, Head Teacher at Stromness Primary School, said:

“The Pupil Council were delighted to see their ideas brought to life as the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust team shared the small changes already implemented. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking on the role of Urban Designers and valued the opportunity to represent the views of their peers regarding the proposed plans for a safer route to school along Ferry Road.

“They also felt truly appreciated when they were treated to refreshments and gifted a selection of Active Travel and Planet Earth books for the school library.

“A huge thank you to the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust team for involving the children so meaningfully in the process. We look forward to seeing the project continue to develop, ultimately creating a safe pathway along Ferry Road for our school community.”

Holly Best, Senior Project Manager for Co-Design at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, said:

“It is wonderful to mark the installation of early accessibility improvements and feature artwork on Ferry Road – the first steps towards a more comfortable and attractive waterfront for walking, wheeling and cycling.

“These small changes have a big impact, making journeys to school smoother and introducing spaces to pause, reflect and enjoy the waterfront with friends, family and neighbours.

"We're particularly delighted to celebrate the involvement of our project champions, Stromness Primary School Pupil Council and our community organisations, who have led conversations locally about the project.

“Feedback and creative ideas from the Stromness community have been instrumental in developing concept designs that support fairer, healthier and safer choices for all road users, especially our young people travelling to school.

"We look forward to these conversations continuing to help create a more accessible Ferry Road, with spaces where people can connect with each other and with the town.”

Construction of the initial street design improvements was carried out by local company Andrew Sinclair, with a spokesperson adding:

"Andrew Sinclair Ltd is delighted to have been involved in this community driven project. As a local company established over 54 years ago we are proud of our community roots and to have contributed to this project in a small way is very rewarding."

Following public engagement and workshops held last month, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust are currently updating the concept design proposals for the wider scheme, and will hand over the project to Orkney Islands Council at the end of March 2026. After this handover, the Council will work with the Stromness community to plan integration of the project with wider local priorities, such as the Local Place Plan.

Orkney Islands Council’s Convener, Councillor Graham Bevan, represents the Stromness and South Isles ward. He said:

“What stands out most about this project is the strength of the Stromness community. The early improvements on Ferry Road are a direct result of local people, especially the Pupil Council, sharing their ideas, experiences and hopes for a safer, more welcoming route. Their commitment has helped shape changes that will benefit neighbours of all ages.

"This work shows what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose. The pride and creativity shown by our young people, families and local organisations is something we should all celebrate. I’m grateful to everyone who has contributed so far, and I’m confident that the next stages of the project will continue to reflect the values and character that make Stromness such a special place.

“The wider outcomes of this work will also inform the developing Stromness Place Plan update, helping to guide longterm decisions and ensure the community’s ambitions are carried forward into the town’s future.”

For more information about the ‘A Safer Route to School’ project, and to learn more about the draft concept design proposals for a seaside promenade, visit the project website: https://stromnessasaferroutetoschool.commonplace.is

About Walk Wheel Cycle Trust: 

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (the new name for Sustrans) is the charity making it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle.

We work directly with communities to make change happen. Then we evidence the impact to influence policies to push those changes further.

Because when we change how we travel, we change everything. Our health. Our wellbeing. Our world.

Join us on our journey: https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is a registered charity in Scotland (SC039263), in England and Cymru (326550) and Republic of Ireland (20206824).