Latest News

The section of cyclepath / footpath between Pickaquoy Loan and Muddisdale Road (running behind Glaitness School and on towards the Picky Centre) will close from 10.am tomorrow (Thursday 1 November).

Kirkwall’s Christmas tree – a gift from Norway - will be lit up this Saturday (December 3) as part of a series of outdoor tree lighting ceremonies.

As in previous years, the Christmas tree – which will stand on the Kirk Green outside St Magnus Cathedral - has been gifted by the county of Vestland in Norway, the county formed by the merger of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland, which has gifted the tree for many years.

Orkney Islands Council has launched an online survey seeking input from the community on where they want spending and saving prioritised, ahead of the Council’s annual budget setting process which will start in earnest in the new year.

Community groups and individuals around Orkney are being thanked for their input so far into the national Remembering Together project for Orkney, and are invited to a drop-in at the Pier Arts Centre, on Saturday 10 December between 10.30am and 5pm.

The 3km protection zone around the avian flu infected premises in Firth has been lifted as of 27 November, Scottish Ministers have confirmed.

This follows the completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection, and mandatory surveillance requirements. The 10km surveillance zone in the same area remains in place.

Further information can be found in this Declaration

A number of sports clubs in Orkney have launched a county-wide appeal for volunteers to help bolster numbers and secure their future.

Those already helping out are warning that depleted numbers may see some clubs have to reduce what they can offer. 

At a recent Community Sports Hub meeting of sports clubs, members stressed that the lack of volunteers is becoming unviable.

Three wooded areas managed by the Council will be undergoing specialist maintenance works soon to ensure they continue to thrive and are a safe space for people to enjoy.

Voting is open to select a second Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) candidate to represent Orkney.

From 5 December 2022, public bus service 7 (Birsay via Dounby) will depart ten minutes earlier from Kirkwall in the evenings, with a new departure time from the Kirkwall Travel Centre of 5:32pm. (5.28pm from the Balfour Hospital)

Changes to the X1 bus service between Stromness, Kirkwall and St Margarets Hope are coming in from Monday 5 December – including tweaks to improve timings for workers travelling to/from Kirkwall, and a much requested late night service for Friday and Saturday nights on a trial basis til March 2023.