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.