Latest News

The Council’s Marine Planning team has completed the first phase of island visits to discuss marine planning in Orkney. 

Between mid April and early May 2022, the team visited Stronsay, Hoy, Sanday and Westray, holding two public sessions on each island. The team visited schools to help pupils learn about marine issues and to hear the views of young people.

A Pictish cross-slab goes on display for the first time this weekend (Saturday, May 14) as part of an Orkney Museum exhibition exploring the archaeology of Newark, Deerness.

Discovered in 2016, the carved stone is one element of an exhibition outlining a site with a history spanning millennia, but which is under constant threat from coastal erosion.

An opportunity has arisen for people in Orkney who are in recovery from drug dependency to join a growing online community.

The group was set up by those in recovery in the Western Isles and includes those in recovery from Shetland too.

Dependency and harmful use of substances can lead to people becoming socially isolated, and becoming part of a recovery community can help to address the issues related to this harmful isolation people are suffering from.

Orkney’s special friendship with Norway will be celebrated this Tuesday (17 May) when the annual Norwegian Constitution Day takes place.

The day will begin at 10:30 with a Remembrance service at the Norwegian war graves in St Olaf's Cemetery. Transport will be provided, courtesy of Stagecoach, for official guests from Kirkwall Pierhead to the cemetery at 10:00.

At 12:00 the Tog will set off from the Kirkwall Pierhead to the Market Green, led by members of the Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Norwegian visitors, school children and any members of the public who would like to join in.

Public toilets at St Magnus Lane in Kirkwall and Mull Head Heritage Centre in Deerness have reopened this weekend.

Both the facilities, owned and run by Orkney Islands Council, are open 24 hours a day, every day.

The Mull Head toilets were closed throughout the pandemic as resources couldn’t meet the enhanced cleaning required.

Orkney Islands Council is appealing to members of the public to keep clear of the road closure at Highland Park and observe safety barriers in place.

Orkney voters have determined who they wish to represent them within Orkney Islands Council for the next five years.

There will be a number of new faces joining returning councillors to the chamber representing Orkney’s six wards.

The wards and councillors are:

The final ward results are in for Orkney – with the announcement of the Kirkwall East ward results.

The four councillors elected for the area are John Ross Scott, Gwenda Shearer, Steven Heddle and David Dawson.

A total of 1,694  first priority votes were cast in the ward with John Ross Scott taking 476 of these votes, Steven Heddle taking 428, Gwenda Shearer taking 413, and David Dawson taking 285.