Christmas and New Year Holiday Period
The Council Offices reception will be closed to the public from 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will thereafter remain closed until 9am on Monday 6 January 2025.
Other specific arrangements are detailed below:
Customer Services
The Customer Services phone service will close from 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open at 9am on Monday 6 January 2025.
Registration Office, Kirkwall
Births, Deaths and Marriages
For information/advice on registrations between 27, 30 and 31 December 2024 and 3 January 2025 please contact 07860 448271.
Emergency Out-of-Hours ‘Homeless Service’
For those requiring accommodation in an emergency (e.g. homeless) please contact the Out of Hours Officer on 07921 582962.
Scottish Welfare Fund
While the council offices are closed, no payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund will be made.
If you would like to apply for a Community Care Grant or a Crisis Grant during this time, complete the online application form but please note that you will not receive a decision until the council offices re-open.
If you are in crisis while the offices are closed it will not be possible to apply for a crisis grant. You should contact the emergency social worker by calling the Balfour Hospital on 01856 888000
Orkney Health and Care - Social Work and Social Care services
For emergencies, Out of Hours Duty social work services can be contacted through the Balfour Hospital on 01856 888000 for the duration of the holiday period for the following services:
- Criminal Justice
- Children and Families
- Adult Social Work
- Community Occupational Therapy and Selbro Store
For all Care at Home enquiries please contact 01856 888390, the office will be staffed as usual from 7am to 10pm each day over the holiday period.
Occupational Therapy will have emergency cover on Friday, 27 December 2024 and Friday, 3 January 2025. Please call the Intermediate Community Therapy number – 01856 888234 if you require urgent support. NHS Orkney Occupational Therapy teams will be open for their regular hours on the 27, 30 and 31 December 2024.
Selbro will open from 9am – 1.30pm on the 27, 30 and 31 December 2024.
Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure
Normal procedures will apply for emergencies.
Housing and Other Council Owned Property
For reporting emergency repairs required to Council owned housing and other Council owned property please telephone Kirkwall 01856 873430.
You will be directed to employees who are on standby. Please hold until you get a response.
Roads, Footways and Street Lighting/Severe Weather
For reporting emergency defects relating to roads, footways and street lighting or during severe weather conditions and flooding please telephone Kirkwall (01856) 873535 ext 4249. If it is not an emergency please report it online.
You will either be able to speak to employees who are on standby or leave your message on the answering machine. The messages on this machine are checked several times each day.
To contact the Police in an emergency dial 999. For all other non-emergency enquiries please contact the Police on 101.
The Police Crimestoppers number is 0800 555 111 and this offers a confidential option.
Pay and Display Car Parks
Fees require to be paid in the car parks as usual except for 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 and 2 January 2025. Any queries can be made at the Council Offices on Monday 6 January 2025.
Refuse Collection and Waste Sites
Information on refuse collection and waste sites opening times:
- Festive Period Waste and Recycling - Mainland and Linked South Isles
- Festive Period Waste and Recycling - Isles
- Festive opening hours for Waste Management Sites
- Overview of waste and recycling arrangements for householders and trade
Business Gateway (Queen Street)
Closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopens 9am Monday 6 January 2025.
Public Conveniences (including Travel Centre and Ferry Waiting conveniences)
Public toilets operated by the Council will close on Christmas Eve and re-open on 27 December, and close again on 31 December re-opening on 3 January 2025. Note they may close earlier (on 24 and 31 December 2024) and re-open later (on 27 December 2024 and 3 January 2025) than usual opening times. Ferry waiting rooms are only open on days there are ferry sailings.
Kirkwall Travel Centre opening hours
| Date | Opening hours |
| 24/12/2024 | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| 25/12/2024 | Closed |
| 26/12/2024 | Closed |
| 27/12/2024 | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| 28/12/2024 | 08:30 - 18:00 |
| 29/12/2024 | Closed |
| 30/12/2024 | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| 31/12/2024 | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| 01/01/2025 | Closed |
| 02/01/2025 | Closed |
| 03/01/2025 | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| 04/01/2025 | 08:30 - 18:00 |
| 05/01/2025 | Closed |
St Magnus Cathedral
- Wednesday 25 December - Closed
- Thursday 26 December - Closed
- Open from Friday 27 December to Tuesday 31 December (inclusive) 9am-1pm and 2-5pm
- Sunday 29 December 2024 - church service at 11.15am
- Wednesday 1 January 2025 - Closed
- Thursday 2 January 2025 – Closed
Normal opening hours will resume on Friday 3 January 2025.
The Orkney Museum, Tankerness House
Closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024, open again at 10.30am on Monday 3 February 2025.
Warehouse Buildings, Stromness (including Stromness Library)
Closed from 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopens Monday 6 January 2025 at 9.15am.
Orkney Library and Archive
Closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024, open again at 10am on Monday 13 January 2025. (Both the library and archive will be carrying out essential stocktaking between the 6 and 11 of January). Book return boxes will be closed from 2pm on 24 December 2024 to 9am on 6 January 2025 at both libraries.
Kirkwall and St Ola Community Centre
Closed from 3pm Tuesday 24 December 2024, open again 9.30am on 6 January 2025.
Stromness Community Centre
Closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024, open again on Monday 6 January 2024 at 9.30am.
Stromness Academy Community School
Closed from Friday 20 December 2024, open again on Monday 6 January 2025.
Dounby Centre
Closed from Monday 23 December 2024, open again on Monday 6 January 2025.
All Healthy Living Centres
Contact each Healthy Living Centre for details.
- Westray - westray.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01857 677568.
- Sanday - sanday.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01857 600795.
- Shapinsay - shapinsay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01856 711346.
- Rousay - rousay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01856 821443.
- North Walls - northwalls.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01856 791085.
- St Margaret’s Hope - hope.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01856 831793.
- Stronsay - stronsay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk - 01857 616449.
KGS Sports Centre
KGS Sports Centre will be open as follows during the festive period:-
- Closed Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Thursday 26 December 2024 inclusive.
- Friday 27 December and Saturday 28 December open 9.30am-1pm. Sunday 29 December open 10am-1pm.
- Closed Monday 30 December to Friday 3 January 2025.
Normal opening hours will resume on Saturday 4 January 2025.
Stromness Swimming Pool, Health and Fitness Suite Sessions
- Closed Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Thursday 26 December 2024 inclusive.
- Open Friday 27 December 2024 to Monday 30 December 2024 inclusive.
- Please see timetable on for swimming, health and fitness sessions.
- Closed Tuesday 31 December 2024 until Friday 3 January 2025 inclusive.
Normal opening hours will resume on Saturday 4 January 2025.
