Christmas and New Year Holiday Period - Council offices opening hours

The Council Offices reception will be closed to the public from 4.00 pm on Friday 22 December 2023 and will thereafter remain closed until 10.00 am on Wednesday 3 January 2024. Other specific arrangements are detailed below:

Customer Services

The Customer Services phone service will close from 4.00 pm on Friday 22 December 2023 and will re-open at 10.00 am on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Registration – Births, Deaths and Marriages

For information/advice on registrations between 27 - 30 December 2023 please contact 07860 448271.

Emergency out-of-hours 'Homeless Service'

For those requiring accommodation in an emergency (e.g. homeless) please contact the Out of Hours Officer on 07921 582962.

Orkney Health and Care - Social Work and Social Care services

For emergencies, Out of Hours Duty social work services can be contacted through the Balfour Hospital on 01856 888000 for the duration of the holiday period for the following services:

• Criminal Justice
• Children and Families
• Adult Social Work
• Community Occupational Therapy and Selbro Store

For all Care at Home enquiries please contact 01856 888390, the office will be staffed as usual from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm each day over the holiday period.

Occupational Therapy will have emergency cover on Tuesday, 26 December 2023 and Tuesday, 02 January 2024. Please call the Intermediate Community Therapy number – 01856 888234 if you require urgent support. NHS Orkney Occupational Therapy teams will be open for their regular hours on the 27, 28 and 29 December 2023.

Selbro will open from 0900 – 1330 on the 27, 28 and 29 December 2023.  

Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure

Normal procedures will apply for emergencies.

Housing and Other Council Owned Property

For reporting emergency repairs required to Council owned housing and other Council owned property please telephone Kirkwall (01856) 873430

You will be directed to employees who are on standby.  Please hold until you get a response.

Roads, Footways And Street Lighting/Severe Weather

For reporting emergency defects relating to roads, footways and street lighting or during severe weather conditions and flooding please telephone Kirkwall (01856) 876338. If it is not an emergency please use the Council’s Website

You will either be able to speak to employees who are on standby or leave your message on the answering machine. The messages on this machine are checked several times each day.

To contact the Police in an emergency dial 999. For all other non-emergency enquiries please contact the Police on 101.

The Police Crimestoppers number is 0800 555 111 and this offers a confidential option.

Pay And Display Car Parks

Fees require to be paid in the car parks as usual except for 25 and 26 December 2023 and 1 and 2 January 2024. Any queries can be made at the Council Offices on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Public Conveniences (including Travel Centre And Ferry waiting conveniences)

Public toilets operated by the Council will close on Christmas Eve and re-open on 27 December, and close again on 31 December re-opening on 3 January 2024. Note they may close earlier (on 24 and 31 December 2023) and re-open later (on 27 December 2023 and 3 January 2024) than usual opening times. Ferry waiting rooms are only open on days there are ferry sailings.

Business Gateway (Queen Street)

Closed from 1 pm Friday 22 December 2023 and reopens 9.00 am Wednesday 3 January 2024.

St Magnus Cathedral

Open from Monday 18 December to Saturday 23 December (inclusive) 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Sunday 24 church service at 11.15 am

Monday 25 December - Closed

Tuesday 26 December - Closed

Open from Wednesday 27 December to Saturday 30 December (inclusive) 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Sunday 31 December 2024 - church service at 11.15 am

Monday 1 January - Closed

Tuesday 2 January 2024 – Closed

Wednesday 3 January - Closed

Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday 4 January 2024.

The Orkney Museum, Tankerness House

Closed from 3.00 pm on Friday 22 December 2023, open again at 10.30 am on Thursday 1 February 2024.

Warehouse Buildings, Stromness (Including Stromness Library)

Open from 9.15 am to 3.45 pm on Friday 22 December 2023 and reopens Wednesday 3 January 2024 at 9.15 am.

Orkney Library and Archive

Closed from 3.00 pm on Friday 22 December 2023, open again at 10.00 am on Monday 8 January 2024. (Both the library and archive will be carrying out essential stocktaking between the 3 and 6 of January). Book return boxes will be CLOSED from 2pm on 22 December 2023 to 9am on 3 January 2024 at both libraries.

Kirkwall & St Ola Community Centre

Closed from 3.00 pm Friday 22 December 2023, open again 9.30 am on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Stromness Community Centre

Closed from 3.00 pm on Friday 22 December 2023, open again on Thursday 4 January 2024 at 9.30 am.

Stromness Academy Community School

Closed from Thursday 21 December 2023, open again on Monday 8 January 2024.

Dounby Centre

Closed from Friday 22 December 2023, open again on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

All Healthy Living Centres

Contact each Healthy Living Centre for details

KGS Sports Centre 

KGS Sports Centre will be open as follows during the festive period:-

Closed Sunday 24 December 2023 to Wednesday 27 December 2023 inclusive.

Thursday 28, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 December 2023 – Open 9.30 am – 12.30 pm

Closed Monday 1 January until Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday 4 January.

Stromness Swimming Pool and Health Suite & Fitness Suites

Closed Sunday 24 December 2023 to Tuesday 26 December 2023 inclusive.

Wednesday 27 December 2023

7.45 am – 10.00 am            Lane Swimming

10.00 am – 11.00am           Wellness Session

11.00 am – 12.00 pm          Public Session

12.00 pm – 1.00 pm            Lane Swimming

7.45 am – 1.00 pm               Fitness and Health Suite

Thursday 28 December 2023

4.30 pm – 5.30 pm              Fun Session

5.30 pm – 6.30 pm              Public Session + 2 lanes

4.30 pm – 6.30 pm             Fitness and Health Suite

Friday 29 December 2023 

7.45 am – 10.00 am            Lane Swimming

10.00 am – 11.00 pm          Wellness Session

11.00 am – 12.00pm           Parents and wee ones

12.00 pm – 1.00 pm            Fun Session

7.45 am – 1.00 pm              Fitness and Health Suite

Closed Sunday 31 December 2023 until Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday 4 January.