OIC Elected Members have this week (28 November) met with Scottish Parliament representatives looking into the future of ferry services in Scotland.

Kirkwall’s Christmas tree – a gift from Norway - will be lit up this Saturday (December 3) as part of a series of outdoor tree lighting ceremonies.

As in previous years, the Christmas tree – which will stand on the Kirk Green outside St Magnus Cathedral - has been gifted by the county of Vestland in Norway, the county formed by the merger of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland, which has gifted the tree for many years.

Orkney Islands Council has launched an online survey seeking input from the community on where they want spending and saving prioritised, ahead of the Council’s annual budget setting process which will start in earnest in the new year.

Community groups and individuals around Orkney are being thanked for their input so far into the national Remembering Together project for Orkney, and are invited to a drop-in at the Pier Arts Centre, on Saturday 10 December between 10.30am and 5pm.

The 3km protection zone around the avian flu infected premises in Firth has been lifted as of 27 November, Scottish Ministers have confirmed.

This follows the completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection, and mandatory surveillance requirements. The 10km surveillance zone in the same area remains in place.

Further information can be found in this Declaration