Latest News

The North Isles ballot boxes are opened.

9:20am Count Staff began opening the ballot boxes for the North Isles.

The Council's Returning Officer, John Mundell, has outlined the process which lies ahead as the Local Government elections count has begun with the opening of the first ballot boxes for the Stromness and South Isles Ward.

Further updates and ward results will be shared throughout the day.

An update on roadworks underway and starting soon in the county:

Historic sailing vessel the Swan, LK243, is to visit Orkney this month to offer sail training days for young people, and two day trips for the public, one exploring the coasts around Kirkwall and the other sailing from Kirkwall to Westray.

Described as one of the finest boats in the Scottish fishing fleet when launched in 1900, the Swan was one of hundreds of Fifies to be found fishing around Scotland and further afield.

1st Rousay Rainbows, Brownies and Guides took part in Bag the Bruck recently. The volunteers tidied up around Rousay pier and the Heritage Centre ready for all the visitors due this year. Ten bags of bruck were collected!

Well done to all!

The Council has established a working group to plan for and support the arrival of refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan into Orkney.

The Ukraine and Afghanistan Refugee Resettlement Working Group is made up of members from the Council, Police Scotland, NHS Orkney, the Third Sector and Orkney Housing Association Ltd and meets fortnightly at present.

Frances Troup, the Council’s Head of Community Learning, Leisure and Housing, is chair of the group, she said: “Orkney Islands Council, like all other local authorities throughout the UK, will play a vital part in the resettlement of refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan. While our finance and staff resources may be limited, the will and drive of us all to help is plentiful.

The Council’s Summer Transport Guide will be available for use from Sunday 8 May.

The guides will be available from operators as well as Kirkwall Travel Centre, Stromness Travel Centre, Orkney Library and Customer Services in Stromness and Kirkwall.

The summer timetables for both ferry and bus services starts on Sunday 8 May and will also be available online at www.orkney.gov.uk/transport.

If you have any queries please contact the Transportation Service on 873535.

Historical links between Orkney and Norway have been reaffirmed with the digital resigning of the twinning agreement between Orkney and Vestland county.

Parents, carers and young people are being advised of a number of changes to testing, contact tracing and isolation that comes into effect from Sunday 1 May.

Latest advice on the way COVID-19 is being managed by Public Health means that from 1 May a “stay at home” message replaces self-isolation for people who have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID.