Council arrangements for day of Queen's funeral

All non-essential Council services and Council buildings – including schools and nurseries - will be closed on Monday 19 September for the national bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.

This will also mean a revised waste collection timetable – further details below - and no leisure and culture facilities.

Essential services, such as 24/7 care and some harbour operations, will continue, although the Harbour Office at Scapa will be closed. Day Centres will also close, this includes - West Mainland Day Centre; Gilbertson Day Centre; Lifestyle Service; St Colm’s and Kalisgarth day service.

Orkney Ferries services will continue to operate as normal.

Loganair has announced a timetable change on Monday so there are no aircraft flying between 10:30am – 13:00 and Stagecoach plans to operate a school holiday timetable.

Orkney College will also be closed.

It was announced on Saturday that the day of the funeral would be a national bank holiday.

The state funeral will take place at 11am at Westminster Abbey in London attended by King Charles III, the royal family and leaders and heads of state from around the world.

The Council’s Interim Chief Executive, John Mundell, said: “On Monday, 19 September, a bank holiday has been granted for a day of national mourning for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

“On this day the Council will continue to provide essential services, but all other services including schools, nurseries and Orkney College will close. Information is being sent directly to parents and carers.

“This will allow individuals to pay their respects to the Queen and commemorate Her Majesty’s reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.”

Waste and recycling revised arrangements for Monday 19 September

The revised uplifts for each of Monday’s planned routes are now as follows:

• Area 6 recycling (plastic and glass) and the Westray collection will be brought forward and uplifted this Friday, 16 September.
• Area 1 recycling (plastic and glass) and Area 9 refuse, will be delayed until the following day, Tuesday 20 September, as will all trade waste collections usually collected on the Monday.

You can check relevant area details here www.orkney.gov.uk/mybins

With a large liner due to call in on Friday, it is planned to carry out additional litter bin emptying, deliveries and special collections on Saturday 17 September. A smaller cruise ship is due to arrive on Sunday, so staff will be tasked to see to the litter bins from Tuesday onwards.