Latest News

Members of the public are advised that Orkney’s public toilets will be closed for one day this Sunday.

These facilities can sadly become a target of vandalism on Halloween and therefore it is normal practice that on 31 October the facilities are closed to the public.

Two local charities  - Orkney Blide Trust and The Youth Café - are to benefit from an equal share of £2,500 following the successful auction of more than 100 “hats for George”.

Orkney Library & Archive and the George Mackay Brown Fellowship auctioned off 111 hats which were knitted and donated from around the world as part of the celebration events for the centenary of Orcadian poet and writer George Mackay Brown who would have celebrated his 100^th birthday on 17 October 2021.

A new agreement has been reached to put skills and training at the heart of Orkney’s recovery from the pandemic.

Scapa Flow's potential as an Arctic gateway harbour is high on the agenda following an Orkney appearance at the Arctic Circle Assembly last week in Iceland.

Orkney Islands Council is to host a series of online discussion groups in the first week of COP26 – aimed at bringing the community together to lead the fight against climate change.

‘COP in the Community’ will focus in on four key themes around climate change in Orkney – nature, energy transition, transport and adaptation.

Orkney Islands Council is advising it’s waste team has been unable to complete part of Area 7 (Kirkwall South) household waste collections today (26 October).

St Magnus Cathedral – our medieval marvel – has been named as one of Europe’s top 100 Cathedrals by a best-selling author and respected church historian.

Part of Victoria Street remains closed to vehicles, with Main Street also closing from Tuesday 26 October for around a week.

Plans for two “meritorious” community projects in Birsay and North Ronaldsay moved a step forward last week.

At Thursday’s meeting of the Community Development Fund sub-committee (21 October), Councillors agreed to submit funding applications on behalf of the Birsay Heritage Trust and North Ronaldsay Trust to the second stage of the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

The Council is appealing for registered private landlords who hold family accommodation which would be suitable for Afghan families, to come forward.

Councillors recently gave their support to assisting Afghan households if at all possible, and agreed to approve seeking two private rental sector properties as part of the UK-wide resettlement programme.