Latest News

Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd has been awarded the contract to build the new nursery at Orkney College with a successful bid of £2.65 million.

The 14-month project will see a new build nursery located next to the College campus. The location lends itself well to opportunities to support Childhood Practice Students as they develop their skills, therefore supporting a key sector which has had recruitment challenges.

SEPA have extended their flood warning for Orkney for tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

The areas now at risk include St Margaret’s Hope, Burray and Ayre of Cara, Stromness, Westray (Pierowall), Hoy and Longhope, and Sanday.

SEPA have now issued a flood warning for St Margaret’s Hope, Burray and Stromness for Wednesday (22 March).

Due to the forecasted high tide and surge, the Council will be deploying the flood defences in St Margaret’s Hope this afternoon (Tuesday 21 March).

Shapinsay residents are reminded wheelie bin collections start on Wednesday, 22 March, and that the temporary recycling bank borrowed from Ness campsite is heading back there on 27 March.

Experts from around the world are gathering in Orkney this weekend for the third, and final, Scotland’s Island Research Framework for Archaeology (SIRFA) symposium.

The event runs from Friday, March 24, until Monday, March 27, and brings together a wide range of archaeologists and heritage-sector stakeholders to agree on gaps in knowledge and understanding of Orkney’s past.

The Scottish Government is carrying out a study into empty homes and, as part of this, want to hear the views of empty homeowners in Scotland, including Orkney.

Do you own a home that has been empty for six months or more – or have you in the last five years?

The Council has been trialling a new gritter tracker system that could give folk in Orkney an extra tool to help them plan their journey in wintry conditions.

The roads team were provided with a couple of demo devices – coincidentally timed to perfection with the arrival of the recent snowfall!

The Orkney Youth Conference, organised by the Council’s Youth Services team, has brought together young people from across Orkney to take part in workshops and hear from keynote speakers on a range of issues.

Over 500 folk have had their say on travel habits in Orkney through the Orkney Travel Matters survey – and the feedback has been exceptional. But we’d love to hear from more households.

An update on road works underway or soon to start in the county - for the week beginning 20 March 2023.