Test of Kirkwall flood defences planned with delays for shorefront car parks

Kirkwall’s coastal flood protection barriers will be deployed next week by the Council, as part of routine winter preparations.

The exercise will take place on Friday 7 October from 9am 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.

The exercise starts at 9am and is anticipated to finish by 1pm. Deployment of the barriers is being carried out in sections and around ferry departure and arrival times to minimize disruption to the public.

Local emergency services partners including Police, Fire and Rescue and Coastguard, have 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.

Corporate Director for Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure, 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.

“We’d also give sincere thanks to emergency services partners for their willingness to take part and familiarise themselves with the setup so that they can be of assistance in future if needed.

“We’d remind people who live and work in Kirkwall to sign up for SEPA’s coastal flood warning service for Kirkwall, which can provide some advance warning when coastal flooding is likely to occur and therefore of when these flood barriers might be deployed. SEPA’s flood warnings are available for areas across Orkney.

“People may also wish to follow our Roads team on Twitter at OIC_Roads. Our roads team issues updates via twitter when the flood defences are – or are likely to be – deployed. Similarly the feed also provides updates when the Churchill Barriers are closed, or when closure is under consideration.”

To receive SEPA Flood Alerts for Orkney and Flood Warnings for Burray, the Churchill Barriers, Hoy and Walls, Kirkwall, Sanday, Scapa, St Margaret’s Hope, Stronsay or Westray, sign up to Floodline by calling 0345 988 1188 or signing up online at www.sepa.org.uk 

The OIC_Roads Twitter feed is available at twitter.com/oic_roads

Watch a video here about the Kirkwall Flood Defence Scheme on the Council's Youtube channel