Barrier alerts now on Telegram app

A new service has been introduced to allow local folk to receive updates on the Churchill Barriers direct to their personal devices via the Telegram app.

The move follows positive feedback from the public about Orkney Ferries’ use of Telegram.

Head of Neighbourhood Services, Lorna Richardson, said: “While the Roads team uses Twitter as it integrates nicely with their operational system, we wanted to see if Telegram would work too, as it has worked so well for Orkney Ferries customers.

“So we’ve come up with a system which pushes out Twitter alerts to Telegram too.

“The great thing about Telegram is that people can download the app to their mobile personal devices and set the app to notify them each time an alert is added to the Barriers channel – so in that way it offers a direct service to customers.”

To access this service, visit www.t.me/OIC_Roads and follow the instructions on how to set up your account. The channel is also able to be viewed without an account (via the ‘Preview Channel’ link), but we would recommend signing up to receive real-time notifications.

Lorna adds: “We’ll be continuing to post Churchill Barrier updates on X (Twitter) and on the Orkney Islands Council (OIC Updates) Facebook page.

“New this winter, alerts also appear on the Orkney Islands Council website, in a dedicated social media panel near the top of the homepage www.orkney.gov.uk

“Again, these other options for Barrier alerts are all pushed automatically from our Roads team’s Twitter feed – meaning our team can process updates as usual in their day-to-day operational system, and it then is broadcast to several places.

“This is a huge bonus when the team may be flat out dealing with many issues during bad weather - and we’ve shared some of the techniques we use with the team at Orkney Ferries too.

“So there’s now several options for folk to keep themselves informed about the situation at the Barriers in severe weather, and I’d recommend people use whatever works best for them.”

You can find out more about how conditions are monitored at the Churchill Barriers, and the decision making process regarding closures, on our FAQ page www.orkney.gov.uk/barriersFAQ

Churchill Barriers alerts and updates are posted 24/7 at:

Telegram: t.me/OIC_Roads
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oicupdates
X (formerly Twitter): www.x.com/oic_roads
Our website: www.orkney.gov.uk

You can also check and sign up for SEPA flood warnings (Floodline) at www.sepa.org.uk/flooding