Latest News

Work started this week on construction of a roadway in Kirkwall’s Bignold Park, a project being managed by Orkney Agricultural Society with financial support from Orkney Islands Council

The Council is issuing a reminder not to handle dead birds, as Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales declare an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across the whole of Great Britain.

The Council is supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service plea for folk to attend organised public Bonfire Night events rather than family displays – with an additional reminder to be Covid-19 safe even though outside.

Those who are choosing to host or attend private garden displays are urged to take care when buying fireworks and reminded that the law in regard to fireworks has changed in Scotland. It is now illegal to set off fireworks before 6pm and after 11pm – extending to midnight on 5 November and 1am on Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali.

Orkney Islands Council’s Housing Services Annual Report 2020-2021 has been published and details a strong performance across a number of areas.

The Annual Report looks at how the service is performing in comparison to last year and against similar local authorities – Shetland and Highland - and the Scottish average using national performance measures.

NHS Orkney Public Health and Orkney Islands Council continue to work closely on the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and, to date, no major clusters have been identified.

In following Scottish Government and Public Health guidance “warn and inform letters” have been sent to parents of children in P3, 6 and 7 advising them of a potential situation at Papdale Primary School.

Dear COP

Against the backdrop of the COP26 discussions in Glasgow, everyone’s talking about climate change.

Orkney Islands Council is advising there may be short delays in the centre of Kirkwall, Stromness and St Margarets Hope over coming days as preparations for festive lighting continue.

Around 800 households in Orkney are set to benefit from the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget announcement on Wednesday 27 October in relation to the Universal Credit taper reduction.

This reduction from 63 per cent to 55 per cent means that anyone claiming Universal Credit who has a job will get to keep more of their earnings before it starts to affect the benefit.

The most prestigious awards in Orkney sport has returned, as the search to crown the county’s most outstanding athlete of the last year gets under way.

The Orkney Sports Awards, organised by Orkney Islands Council’s Active Schools team and sponsored by The Orcadian, celebrate and recognise the county’s vast sporting achievement and success over the past year.

An update on the road closures associated with current flagstone repairs in Kirkwall and Stromness.