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Local people are being reminded to take a closer look at proposals for the future management of the world-renowned Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site (WHS)  - and give their feedback via an online survey option newly added to the consultation website.

The establishment of a full School Counselling Service in Orkney got the backing of Councillors this week.

A part-time in-school counselling service has been available for some time in Orkney’s senior secondary schools, however the Scottish Government aims to see this rolled out further to make counselling available for all children and young people aged ten and over. Funding of £166,000 has been allocated by the Scottish Government for Orkney for 2021/22.

The pre-winter deployment of coastal flood protection systems in Kirkwall, St Margaret’s Hope and Holm will be carried out during an exercise next week (16 and 17 September).

Within Kirkwall the various flood gates will be deployed in sections on Thursday 16 September from 9am. This will have a temporary impact on the Waterfront West-Shapinsay Slip carpark and the wider Kirkwall harbour area, but deployment will be carried out in sections to minimize disruption.

Orkney’s magnificent St Magnus Cathedral has enjoyed a little facelift.

Conservation works included repointing stonework with lime mortar on the interior and exterior of the West Front. The works are completed for now and the scaffolding is coming down.

Orkney Islands Council is hosting a flood resilience community engagement event this month (September) with a visit from the Scottish Flood Forum (SFF).

There are 680 residential and 460 non-residential properties deemed to be at risk of flooding in Orkney according to the 2015 Flood Risk Strategy for the islands. Over 90% of identified risk is from the sea with the remainder from surface water and overtopping watercourses.

Orkney Islands Council is reminding members of the public who use a Post Office card account to receive their benefit payments that these accounts are being discontinued from November.

Seven local third sector services have been awarded a total of £100,783 from the first round of the OIC’s Third Sector Emergency Covid Fund.

Orkney Islands Council’s Environmental Health team are reminding local food businesses that new legislation which requires food businesses in Scotland to include detailed ingredient and allergen information on labels for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods will become law on 1 October 2021.

As of Thursday lunchtime (9 September) there were 13 positive PCR test results and a further 6 positive lateral flow results that are awaiting PCR tests from the West Mainland cluster.

NHS Orkney Consultant in Public Health, Sara Lewis, said the Public Health team was working with education colleagues to contain the spread of the virus in our community.

An “inspiring” Orkney teacher who works tirelessly to make society a better place for everyone has been named as the first ever recipient of the Saroj Lal Award in recognition of his outstanding work in challenging discrimination and promoting equality.