Barriers reminder as windy season starts

With the windy season getting underway, Orkney Islands Council and local emergency services partners are reminding drivers in the county how they can keep informed about conditions at the Churchill Barriers.

Throughout the winter months, the Council’s Roads team keeps a close eye on weather forecasts, wind direction, and tide and swell predictions.

Pre-empting potential poor conditions at the Barriers is aided by coastal flood forecasting available around Orkney from SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

When forecasting suggests there could be wave overtopping at the Barriers, the Council’s Roads team issues an alert on its 24/7 Twitter (now known as ‘X’) feed www.twitter.com/oic_roads. These early warnings are mirrored on the Council’s OIC Updates Facebook page, and provided to local press as soon as practicable.

Once the windy weather hits, and armed with forecast updates and tide predictions, the Council’s Roads team sets a review time with Police Scotland colleagues to check conditions on the ground leading up to high tides.

Decisions on whether or not to close the barriers are made jointly between Police Scotland and the Council, drawing on the information set out above - SEPA flood forecasting, wind forecasts, tide times, and conditions observed on the ground.

Lorna Richardson is Head of Neighbourhood Services for the Council: “Our Roads team aim to where possible give 24 hours advance notice to the public via our dedicated twitter feed when we think conditions could deteriorate.

“This is so people can look ahead and make their own contingency plans for getting to important appointments and the like.

“Wherever possible this early alert is also passed to local press, and posted on the OIC Updates Facebook page and the Council's website.

“We also update on twitter at each stage after that early alert – so, whether we will be reviewing conditions and if so what time, and whether or not the barriers are open - or if folk just need to drive with care.

“Again, wherever possible, and as technology allows, these updates are shared wider.

“We do our utmost to update folks as close as possible to stated review times, but there are times when there will be delays – for example, if our Policing colleagues have had to attend an emergency and are delayed from attending a review with us, or if conditions are borderline and it’s felt a few more minutes observation is required.

“It’s worth noting that with recent changes at Twitter (now known as X) folks can’t view our Roads team’s updates direct from Twitter without having a Twitter/X account. It’s a move at Twitter we have no control over, but meantime our Roads team is still tweeting, and we’re using an app to ‘push’ those alerts straight onto the Council’s OIC Updates Facebook page and the Council website. Folks of course may still wish to consider creating a Twitter/X account at www.x.com for that added layer of resilience."

The decision on whether or not to close the barriers is made jointly between Police Scotland and the Council, drawing on the information set out above - SEPA flood forecasting, wind forecasts, tide times, and conditions observed on the ground.

Local Police Scotland Chief Inspector Scott Robertson says making decisions on closing the Barriers is not an exact science: “Even when the barriers are open, drivers should exercise their own judgement on whether to cross - with caution and attention to the conditions they may encounter.”

If the decision is made to close the barriers, the Coastguard team at St Margarets Hope is called in to see if they can assist - where possible they staff the closure at the south end of the barriers, as well as erect the advance signage on the main A961 just outside Kirkwall and St Margarets Hope to alert drivers when the barriers are closed, and help save wasted trips.

Chief Inspector Scott Robertson adds: “We know delays due to closures can be unsettling and frustrating, with varying opinions on at what point barriers should close - but please don’t take it out on personnel who staff the closures. They are simply carrying out their duty, in very poor conditions, to prevent folk coming to harm when mother nature shows her brute strength. Remember there may be folk not accustomed to conditions at the Barriers using the road too.

“Instead, during winter, make sure you keep yourself informed – keep an eye on weather forecasts and tide times via your favourite news service or app, and the twitter feed. If you have somewhere to be, check the weather ahead of time and plan your journey accordingly, taking into account the best times of day to cross the barriers will be at low tide and in daylight wherever possible.

“We endeavour to keep closures to a minimum and reopen as soon as conditions allow - to minimise disruption to everyone, but public safety is paramount.”

Anyone without a Twitter/X account can alternatively can check the Council’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/oic_updates or the Council website www.orkney.gov.uk where all the Council’s social media posts are published.

In poor conditions:

• Have a clean windscreen and make sure wipers are working
• Check all your lights are working too – headlights, indicators and hazard lights
• Drive in an appropriate gear
• Especially when visibility is low due to spray, drivers may wish to let oncoming vehicles already on the barrier cross before driving onto the barrier themselves.