Upcoming test of Kirkwall flood defences

A test deployment of the flood defences at Kirkwall Harbour will take place on Monday 6 October.  

The exercise will see each barrier erected, checked and dismantled to ensure everything is working well prior to the winter.  

The exercise will take place from 9am - taking around two to three hours - and will temporarily impact on vehicle and pedestrian access to Kirkwall Pier and the wider harbour area. 

It will also affect drivers, who will be unable to move vehicles in and out of the Waterfront West-Shapinsay Slip car park while the flood gates are fitted. 

Drivers using these car parks and slips should expect delays of up to half an hour at a time. 

Deployment of the barriers is being carried out in sections and around ferry departure and arrival times to minimize disruption to the public. 

The Coastguard have also been invited to take part in the exercise. 

The Kirkwall Harbour Flood Prevention Scheme was completed in 2018, with the majority of costs funded by the Scottish Government.  

It’s designed to protect low lying parts of Kirkwall against flooding from the sea. When SEPA's coastal flood forecasting system for Orkney predicts flooding, flood gates are fitted across gaps in the stone wall along the harbour front - creating an uninterrupted barrier between Ayre Mills and St Catherine’s Place roundabout, typically around 1.1m high from ground level. 

The Council’s Director for Infrastructure and Organisational Development, Hayley Green, said: “The test run of these flood defences is a vital part of preparations for winter, so we’d thank members of the public in advance for their understanding while our roads team and emergency services colleagues carry out this exercise.