Streamline Invergordon route latest

Scottish Executive transport officials are looking into the possibility of making arrangements for Streamline's Kirkwall-Invergordon service to qualify for tariff rebate subsidy for freight.

Transport Minister Sarah Boyack is expected to report back to Orkney MSP Jim Wallace on Monday.

According to Mr Wallace, Mr Stuart Roberts, managing director of Streamline, has indicated that depending on the outcome of the investigation, the service may yet be saved.

Fifth annual Jazz Festival underway in Stromness

The three day festival kicked off on Friday evening, and drew to a close on Sunday evening.

Among the visiting artists were the Dave Keir Hot Four and the Louisiana Ragtime Band.

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Eleventh hour attempt to save Streamline service

An eleventh hour bid to save the Kirkwall-Invergordon ferry service was made by Orkney MSP Jim Wallace late Thursday night.

Mr Wallace worked into the early hours of the morning on a proposal to extend the current tariff rebate subsidies which could help continue the operation of the service.

Staff on the boat held a token protest on Thursday afternoon until they saw the terms and conditions of their redundancies. They refused to load the vessel until they saw a copy of the letter, which was promised to them at the start of the week.

Heart of Neolithic Orkney under scrutiny this weekend

Until tomorrow, experts on all aspects of archaeology, history and culture are meeting to look at how research on the World Heritage Site - the area surrounding the Ring of Brodgar - should be progressed.

A document will then be prepared outlining areas of future research they feel should be looked at further.

New Kirkwall Police Station gets the go ahead

A new police station for Kirkwall was given the go ahead on Thursday at the meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board in Kirkwall.

The likely site for the new station is the former Burgh Yard on Burgh Road in the town - currently used as a long stay car park.

An additional phase of the new development could incorporate other emergency services such as ambulances and coastguard.

Council appoint new social work senior manager

Mrs Gillian Morrison (39) is currently head of social services with Perth and Kinross Council. As Strategic Services Manager, Mrs Morrison will now lead the development of joint working between the OIC and the Orkney Health Board on the integration of community care and health provision within the county.

Director of community social services, Mr Harry Garland, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we've been able to recruit someone of Gillan's calibre to the post."

"Her enthusiasm for the job and the way of life in Orkney shone through in the interviews, and her obvious skills will mean that the process of integration of community care and health care in Orkney will be progressed even further than they have been to date," he added.

Public satisfied with Orkney's Force

Northern Constabulary Chief Constable, Bill Robertson, has praised the findings of a report which shows the Orkney public are more satisfied with their policing than anywhere else in the force area.

The results of the police community consultation survey revealed that the top three concerns regarding crime in Orkney are speeding, dog excrement and drink and drugs driving.

The three most local social concerns highlighted were boredom - a lack of things to do for young people, dog fouling, litter, dumping, drugs, alcohol and solvent abuse.

Mr Robertson said on Thursday that it was gratifying to see that 90 per cent of those who responded were at least fairly satisfied with contact with the local police.

Long service medals for two local policemen

A police stalwart usually seen walking the beat on the streets of Stromness and a special constable in St Margaret's Hope were awarded long-service medals in Kirkwall this week.

Sergeant David Matheson, from the Stromness station, has served 27 years and Jim Dick, of the 'Hope, has carried out volunteer work as a special constable for 11 years.

They were both presented with long service medals by convener of the Northern Joint Police Board, Mrs J. Home.

Papay's St Ann's Kirk rededicated

The newly refurbished St Ann's Kirk on Papa Westray was rededicated on Thursday night.

The church, built in 1843, had deteriorated in recent years and lacked basic amenities. But a partnership between Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Health Board has been given a new lease of life with the new facility including a doctor's surgery, nurse's consulting room and a high standard of community and church space.

Among the guests at the service of rededication was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Right Reverend Dr Andrew McLellan.

More "redundant" staff back to work at Flotta

Mr Buchy said he and Mr Tom McMillan, who assumed joint responsibility for Flotta on March 21, this year, had re-employed six core members, all of whom he believed had accepted redundancy packages at the time of the takeover.

The increase was attributed to a revision of staff needs within certain areas of the terminal, he said, and not as has been claimed in the past, as a matter of safety.

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Local crewman selected to represent Scotland at relief lifeboat ceremony

One of Orkney's veteran lifeboat crewmen, Smith Foubister, has been selected to represent the Scottish division of the RNLI at the naming of a new lifeboat in Poole.

Mr Foubister, second coxswain on Kirkwall's lifeboat, Margaret Foster, will travel to Poole for the naming ceremony of the relief lifeboat, the Volunteer Spirit on May 8.

He will join other specially selected crewmen from lifeboats around the UK for the honour - representing the hundreds of other Scottish lifeboat crewmen.

Despite talks, Streamline's Invergordon service is finished

Talks between Streamline managing director Mr Stuart Roberts and Orkney's MSP Mr Jim Wallace had looked like securing a deal to keep the service going, with Mr Roberts saying that, given the right deal from the Scottish Executive, the service could continue for another four weeks.

But in an about-turn on Wednesday afternoon Mr Roberts said: "Despite last-minute attempts to find a solution that would enable us to continue operating the Kirkwall-Invergordon ferry service, it has become apparent that no long-term assistance for the route will be forthcoming. Unfortunately, in the face of mounting losses, we have no alternative but to cease the trade and tie up the vessel, pending sale."

Island Games - still "all systems go"

Fears that this year's Island Games in the Isle of Man would not take place, following the cancellation of the island's TT race, were allayed today.

Local athletes were concerned that if Manx authorities were prepared to cancel the famous motorcycle event in the light of the present foot-and-mouth outbreak, the Island Games might also be a casualty.

However, local team manager Kieran Henderson, confirmed yesterday that he had been in contact with games administrator who had told them that the TT decision did not affect them and that it was "all systems go".

North Ronaldsay cut off as phone link fails

North Ronaldsay was cut off from the outside world on Tuesday after technical problems knocked out the island's telephone system.

The islanders were without telephones from 3am until 6pm. It is understood that technical problems on Sanday knocked out the microwave link to North Ronaldsay.

The coastguard were contacted and maintained radio contact with the island in case of emergencies.

Ba' involvement issue referred back to committee for reappraisal

Debate at Tuesday's full council over the ancient game followed an earlier decision to end council involvement in Ba' arrangements and damage payments.

But speaking at the meeting Councillor Mike Drever said there was a fear that the Ba' was under severe threat while Councillor Bob Sclater argued that the council had to take a more responsible attitude.

"I do not believe that the council can wash its hands of the Ba'," said Councillor Sclater. "We have to take some responsibility within the streets which come within the jurisdiction of this council."

Following protests the decision was referred back to the finance and general purposes committee for further consideration.

Archive story: Councillors call for involvement in Ba' game to cease
Leave Ba' Alone - Councillor

Councillors' attempt to block bowling alley grant fails

Kirkwall businessman George Drever intends building a bowling alley and has gained outline planning permission for the scheme.

His application for reserve fund cash was also recommended for approval, but at Tuesday's full council meeting a failed attempt was made to prevent the grant being handed over.

Councillor Jack Moodie said he was not against the bowling alley being privately run, but insisted it should be located at the Pickaquoy Centre while Councillor Mike Drever described the idea of handing £55,000 to the private developer as "crazy."

Slight drop in population of Orkney

The population of Orkney has fallen by -0.6 per cent - 120 people - during 1999-2000 according to figures released this week.

The General Register Office for Scotland statistics show that in Orkney on June 30, 1999, the population stood at 19,600. By the same time in 2000, the figure had fallen to 19,480.

There were less births than deaths - 163 compared with 220 deaths - during the year, accounting for some of the population decline, with migration given as the reason for the rest.

A Royal Navy spokesman said that the main operation planned for this summer to "hot-tap" 1,500 tonnes of oil from the hull were being delayed to 2002 so further survey work could be carried out to find which sections in the hull contain oil, and whether the removal of oil will have an effect on the vessel's stability.

Redundancy letters for Contender crew

The 'silent protest' banner on the stern of the Contender at Kirkwall Pier. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

The crew of the Contender received formal notification of redundancy, indicating that their services will no longer be required after Thursday, the deadline set by operators Streamline, who say they will stop operating the route after that date because of unsustainable losses.

Crewmen on the Contender held a "silent protest" at Kirkwall Pier on Monday hanging a banner over the stern of the ship saying: "OIC, We Saved The Farmers, Who Will Save Us!"

The crew feel they have been "used" to clear the backlog of livestock awaiting shipment out of Orkney since the beginning of the foot-and-mouth crisis, and that their livelihoods have now been sacrificed by P&O undercutting Streamline's rates for cargo and livestock.

Until Monday, the Contender has been the only vessel licensed to take livestock out of Orkney during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But animal movement restrictions have been relaxed sufficiently in the last week to allow the P&O vessel St Rognvald to carry livestock.

Streamline's managing director, Stuart Roberts, held talks on Monday with Orkney MSP Jim Wallace, to see if a rescue package can be put in place to save the service.

A 38-year-old diver suffering from the "bends" was taken to the recompression centre in Stromness on Sunday.

Shetland Coastguard have praised the quick actions of Orkney dive boat, Jean Elaine, after their fast response led to the man beginning treatment in the ICIT-run chamber in just over an hour.

The unnamed man had made a rapid ascent, missing crucial stops on the way, after he became ill on a dive on the wrecks in Scapa Flow around 1pm on Sunday.

The diver's condition is unknown, although a coastguard spokesman said that once in the chamber he began to make a fast recovery.

Six cars parked at Tingwall ferry terminal have been "interfered" with over the weekend, according to Kirkwall Police.

Petrol caps were either prised off or taken off the vehicles between Saturday night and Sunday morning, but police say it is unclear whether or not any fuel has been removed.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious at the time is asked to call Kirkwall Police on 872241.

Longhope man competes in London Marathon

An Orkney resident was in London at the weekend, to compete in Sunday's London Marathon.

George Burdett from Longhope took part to raise funds for a profiling bed for Balfour Hospital's St Ninian Ward.

George, who has been in training since December, completed the course in four hours and thirty-six minutes. He said after the event that he was exhilarated and surprised that he never encountered a pain barrier and managed a sprint finish.

Lack of funds puts Vintage Club's show centre on hold

Orkney Vintage Club have been forced to withdraw from the millennium fund after failing to raise sufficient funding from bodies other than the council.

Vintage Club secretary, Sandy Bremner confirmed: "We had no option. We can't get partnership funding for the project. We're still after the thing, but we can't achieve it in the timescale."

Nevertheless, he added, the Vintage Club still intended to continue with the project.