Latest News

The Scottish Government is raising awareness around the new short-term lets licensing and what hosts need to do as part of the application process.

Like all local authorities throughout Scotland, the Council has been tasked with administering the new scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government and a number of hosts have successfully applied for their new licences through OIC – and a number of others are within the system.

The small staff team at Braeburn Court Housing Support Service are “respectful and delivered care and support in the way residents would wish” – but there were failings around leadership which had left the service weak or adequate in parts, according to a recent Care Inspectorate report.

An unannounced inspection was carried out by the Care Inspectorate at Braeburn Court in St Margaret’s Hope between 20 February and 1 March this year, with the findings published this week (20 March).

An innovative programme being run from Kirkwall Airport -  which is set to deliver the blueprint for net zero regional aviation in the UK - has picked up a major industry accolade.

The Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) programme secured the Aerospace and Defence award at the seventh annual Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) awards which are led by The Engineer magazine.

A very special musical event is being held in the Gable End Theatre, North Walls when two schools will come together to perform for the community – and raise money for the Longhope Lifeboat.

Pupils from Gordonstoun School in Moray are joining those from North Walls Community School to put on a concert in the Theatre on Monday 27 March at 2pm.

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?