Orkney News

Stromness Councillor Ian Johnstone has appealed for members of Stromness community council to have their say on the Stromness Urban Design Framework (masterplan) document which was approved at a full meeting of Orkney Islands Council last week.

Loganair has announced a new scheduled air service between Kirkwall and Bergen, in Norway, from the summer of 2009.

An emotive public meeting on anti-social behaviour was held in Kirkwall last night when about 30 people turned up to question Orkney Islands Council's housing allocations policy.

A male has been reported to the procurator fiscal following an incident at Kirkwall Airport at the weekend.

Two men were remanded in custody after appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court today.

The RSPB in Scotland is calling for tighter controls on the marine environment following a third oil spill in the Pentland Firth in six months.

Due to major increases in oil, gas and electricity prices, Richard Gauld, of Orkney Sustainable Energy Ltd, is inviting people to an open day at 4 North End Road, Stromness, on Monday, from 2-6pm, to learn about wood pellet boilers.

OIC councillors agreed on Thursday to refer a decision to remove the vehicle concession element of the concessionary travel scheme back to a future meeting of the transport and infrastructure committee.

Kirkwall-based butchers, Donaldsons of Orkney, have gained more national recognition, after winning a silver award in the 'Meat To Go' event in Perth.

The first sailings of MV Hamnavoe across the Pentland Firth, were cancelled this morning.

A sign to The Tomb of the Eagles has been removed at the junction of the A961 and Church Road, St Margaret's Hope.

The Scapa Flow container transhipment terminal project has taken a major step forward with agreement reached between Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the Crown Estate to establish a partnership to progress the next phase of work.

Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, attended a protest outside the Scottish Parliament today, campaigning against the Scottish Government's plans to raise the legal age for buying alcohol in shops and supermarkets to 21.

In a week which NorthLink's Pentland Firth service has been plagued by problems, the company's annual report has revealed near 100 per cent service levels for punctuality, reliability and customer services.

A date has been set for the trial of a New Zealand teenager charged with murdering Orkney backpacker Karen Aim.

It has been announced that an arts scholarship is to be set up in New Zealand in memory of Karen Aim.

Over 400 people around Orkney took part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning last Friday.

Divers working on the NorthLink ro-ro ferry MV Hamnavoe, which was taken out of service for most of Tuesday and Wednesday, have removed the port stabiliser for repair.

Orkney Islands Council's environment, planning and protective services committee yesterday granted outline planning permission for a new school in Kirkwall.

Due to an adverse weather forecast, MV Hamnavoe's sailings across the Pentland Firth tomorow have been revised.