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Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan has described the latest communication from the Scottish Government on their intentions around the funding of a replacement internal ferry fleet for Orkney as ‘extremely promising’. 

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 19 December.

As the festive season approaches OIC Transport team and Stagecoach have pulled together a ‘quick guide’ to the late night bus services available on a Friday and Saturday night, for anyone out and about over the next few weekends - and have launched a survey to gather feedback from the public.

The Orkney Ferries fleet – supported by charters – are working together to ensure a service continues to all islands following the Eynhallow’s engine troubles. 

The vessel, which serves Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre, suffered a seized engine on Monday this week and is undergoing repairs locally. The Eynhallow will resume service as soon as possible and updates will be provided.

The school kitchen team are Papdale are certainly in the festive spirit as they dished up a delicious Christmas lunch to the bairns and staff yesterday!

Well done team Papdale – sure to have brought a smile to the faces of many!

Our waste and recycling teams are out and about today trying to reach as many properties as possible despite the tricky conditions.

Please bear with them though as the roads are challenging in some areas and it simply may not be safe for them to try and manoeuvre – the last thing we want is for them to get stuck.

We are on the Christmas countdown now and wanted to give you the heads up of the closure period at the St Magnus Care in Kirkwall.

The facility will close at 15.00 on Friday 23 December, reopening at 09.30 on Wednesday 4 January 2023.

Staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

The Council's Trading Standards team is highlighting a food recall in relation to tinned anchovies:

An exciting opportunity has arisen thanks to the Orkney Local Employability Partnership (OLEP) delivery of a one-off grant scheme aimed at further tackling employability barriers.

The Innovation Challenge Fund of up to £2,000 is open to Third Sector organisations delivering an employability service to folk in the county.

The grants are part of Scottish Government funding in support of No One Left Behind.

The Scottish Government is making plans to extend the deadline by which hosts of short-term lets in Scotland, including Orkney, need to get a licence by six months.

However, before this can happen the Government must get legislative approval for the amendment from the Scottish Parliament, with a decision expected in January 2023.