Weather disruptions - Thursday 8 February 2024

A rolling update of disruptions to Council services due to weather, for Thursday 8 February 2024.

Road conditions:

As at 7:30am - roads crews are working on Priority 1 routes. There's been a light covering of snow last night on most of the main roads - with some areas experiencing deeper snow in parts including Buan to Voy, Brig of Wait to Houton and in Stromness. All roads are passable with care but you should drive to the local conditions.

Waste and Recycling collections

If conditions allow we are going to attempt catch up on Wednesday's (7 February) missed collections across Thursday and Friday.  If your waste or recycling is due to be collected today (8 February) - or was due to be collected yesterday, Wednesday - please put your bins out at their normal collection point from 8:00am - and keep an eye out for updates on the Council's facebook page.

Public transport

• As at 12 midday - All Stagecoach services are suspended for the rest of today, including school transport they operate.  Check their Twitter feed for updates. 

Centre closures

• All Day Care Centres are closed today.

School closures:

The following information is provided as at 7:45am. Parents/carers should regularly check the School Transport Facebook page and the usual channels with their school for any further updates.

• Stromness nursery - No early bird session
• Westray School will now open, however, no school transport will operate.
• Stronsay school will now open , however, school transport will be delayed.

The following schools are closed:

• Burray
• Hope
• Dounby
• Evie
• Firth
• Orphir
• Stenness
• Rousay
• Willow Tree Nursery

All other schools will open. This includes Orkney College

School Transport:

The following information is provided as at 7:45am. Parents/carers should regularly check the School Transport Facebook page and the usual channels with their school for any further updates.

• Stagecoach services are cancelled.
• Peaces services are cancelled.
• Craigies Taxi's services are also cancelled today.

If there is no school transport due to bad weather, parents must decide whether it is safe to transport their children to school. We expect parents to base this decision on the conditions in their area. We do not expect that all parents will be able to transport their children. Should a parent decide that it is not safe to put their child to school, then they must contact the school by their usual means stating that the absence is weather-related, and the absence will be marked as authorised.