Latest News

Orkney Health and Care has taken the difficult decision to close Older People’s Day Care from 19 December through to 4 January 2023 due to staffing issues.

This affects two Mainland day care centres – Gilbertson and West Mainland.

Orkney Islands Council is to launch two financial support schemes for local households to help them meet the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis

A third scheme will assist Third Sector organisations in the county struggling with rising costs.

They are: Business representatives - Tracey Phillips and Liz Stevenson and Community representatives - Gail Anderson; Lorraine Bichan and Harvey Johnston.

They join reappointed members – Beccy May and Steven Sinclair as business representatives and community representative Beverly Clubley.

The Orkney Museum will close to the public in January to allow the team to carry out a programme of vital behind-the-scenes work.

It’s nearing Christmas, and that can only mean one thing – it’s time to reveal the most popular baby names in Orkney!

A roundup of road works underway or soon to start around Orkney to take you through to early in the new year:

Rockin’ Around the Orkney waters just became that bit safer for Kirkwall RNLI crew and seafarers thanks to the generosity of Council staff who raised around £800 through a festive raffle and Christmas jumper day.

A donation was made to the crew today, Wednesday, on behalf of the Council by the Democratic Services team, who organised this year’s festive fundraiser.

Orkney Islands Council has been advised by the Scottish Government today (21 December) that they have approved planning permission for a six-turbine Council owned wind farm on Faray in the North Isles. 

The project is part of the wider Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, with similar developments also under consideration at Wee Fea in Hoy, and at Quanterness, just outside Kirkwall, both of which received planning approval in December 2021.

Local repair work on the MV Eynhallow’s seized engine is continuing.  The spare parts that are required for the repair arrived today (21 December).

It is expected that work will continue into next week, with the earliest return to service the 30 December. However, this will be updated as required.

Stromness Primary School pupils who wrote sympathy letters and messages of support to King Charles III after reflecting on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II – are delighted after receiving a reply from Buckingham Palace.

The P4/5 class say it’s like “Christmas come early” after the Royal delivery this week.