Realignment of A961 comes to Planning Committee

An application will come forward to Orkney Islands Council’s Planning Committee this next week for changes to the A961 road between Kirkwall and St Mary's in Holm.

The application will allow for a right hand turn lane for potential future use of the Deepdale area as a deep water quay facility, similar to the one that serves Hatston Pier from Grainshore Road in Kirkwall

Any future deep water quay and the access road down to the site would be the subject of separate planning applications.

Regular users of the road will also be aware that the existing bend into, and out of, what's locally referred to as the 'Holm Straight' can cause issues for drivers in terms of reduced visibility and blind spots. 

With an average of 2000 cars passing through the area every day, the proposed changes also aim to address these issues and improve road safety in the area.

The proposed new section of carriageway would be built parallel to the existing road.

Full details are available on the planning portal at www.orkney.gov.uk