An Orkney Islands Council contingent has 'lit a fire' under the issue of the funding of a replacement internal ferry fleet as they attended the first ferry taskforce meeting in Edinburgh.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, a second public exhibition event will take place in Orkney in early February for people interested in finding out more about proposals and Environmental Impact Assessments for the Scapa Deep Water Quay and the Orkney Logistics Base at Hatston, ahead of formal planning applications by the Council’s Harbour Authority.

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is embarking on an extended programme of community and stakeholder consultation to help it address the challenges that Orkney Island residents, and people coming to Orkney to work or study in the future, are facing in relation to access to housing.

A number of new Head Teacher appointments have been made across Orkney Mainland schools.

Papdale Primary School is welcoming Emma Billington as Head, while Katie Lucas this week took over at St Andrews (Monday 30 January) and Cathy Mackenzie is the new Head Teacher leading the Hope, Burray and North Ronaldsay.

Any pupils who were born between 01/10/2006 and 28/02/2007 may be eligible to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £30 per week if their household income is below the threshold. Thresholds are £24,421 for households with one dependent and £26,884 for households with two or more dependents.