Help name a Council gritter!

Orkney public asked to help name county’s gritters

The Orkney public are being invited to help come up with name suggestions for each of Orkney Islands Council’s fleet of gritters.

Suggestions for the eight mainland gritters will open from 26 December 2023 via a web form and run until early in the New Year.

Entries will then be considered by a panel of judges including gritter drivers - with the winning names appearing on the gritters in following weeks.

In the isles, the Council will ask school pupils and staff to put forward names for ‘their’ gritters – with the isles’ gritter drivers helping make the final decision.

There are 18 gritters in Orkney - counting tractors with pull-along implements for some of the smaller isles communities.

Head of Neighbourhood Services Lorna Richardson said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing the names put forward by folk - and we hope in time people will enjoy seeing the gritters they helped name at work in their villages and parishes over coming months and years.

“Suggestions can be a play on place names, or have an icy theme – we’re asking folk to let their imaginations run free(zing)!

“While we’re only collecting suggestions made over the website, we do expect there will be some great suggestions from members of the public too on our social media channels. But please use the web form if you want a suggestion to be considered.”

All suggestions should of course be family friendly.

Watch the Council’s Facebook page for updates and reminders over the festive break.