Orkney victory but suspected injury sees player in hospital

Orkney Rugby Club's First XV beat Moray on Saturday in the latest National League Division Five fixture.

Playing on Saturday afternoon at Kirkwall Grammar School, the Orkney squad beat the visitors 29-7.

Orkney's Roger Hall was taken to Balfour Hospital after a suspected neck injury during the game.

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is pressing the Government to put money into a Marine Energy Test Centre in Stromness.

A site at Outertown, Stromness has been chosen as the best location for the test centre and the Scottish Executive along with Highlands and Islands Enterprise have committed £400,000 for the second phase of the project.

Mr Carmichael has pressed energy minister Brian Wilson to fund the centre from his department, but has not been given any commitment.

"I was disappointed that the Minister was not more forthcoming on the point of funding the establishment of the centre in Stromness," said Mr Carmichael. "I shall now be speaking to HIE and others along with Jim Wallace to see how this project can be kept going."

Cermaq's Orkney operations director will be recommending they withdraw their application to site a salmon farm at Aith Hope in Hoy.

Following public meetings on the island, Bruce Mainland said the general feeling was against any fish farm development in Aith Hope.

Mr Mainland explained that a decision to withdraw the application was not up to him personally, but the Cermaq board. But he was hopeful that the directors would accept his advice and give up on plans to site a fish farm in Aith Hope.

He expected the board’s decision within a matter of days.

Man detained by Immigration Office

A man who appeared in Kirkwall Sheriff court on Wednesday and denied assaulting a woman in a phonebox, is being held by the Immigration Office in Kirkwall Police Station.

Martin Abdul (38), Eastern Spice, Bridge Street, Kirkwall, was an employee at Kirkwall's Indian restaurant.

Halloween generally quiet but police seek witnesses to firework vandalism

It was a fairly quiet Halloween on Wednesday night, with police saying that in general revellers were better behaved than last year.

However, they are seeking information after a house in the Clay Loan was targeted by fireworks around midnight. A window in the property was smashed by a firework, while several others struck the walls.

Cash funding available for Orkney environmental projects

Scottish Natural Heritage are on the lookout for local environmental initiatives in Orkney that need financial support.

Each year SNH award grants in the county to assist projects that benefit the natural heritage and help people access, understand and enjoy it.

The local projects supported by SNH range from £1,000 for environmental packs for schools to £9,600 to the local Biodiversity Project Group for a project officer.

Details of the grants are available from SNH, 54/56 Junction Road, Kirkwall. Telephone 875302.

Kirkwall police are investigating allegations of theft of a number of artefacts from a German wreck scuttled in Scapa Flow.

A member of Orkney’s diving community contacted Historic Scotland -who recently scheduled the wrecks as ancient monuments -claiming historic items had been stolen by a group of divers recently.

It is alleged that the small group of divers may have come from Liverpool.

Click here for the full story

Orkney Meat are to close Stromness butchers, D. A. Leask, in Graham Place at the end of next week, after buying over the firm in a move which will see them enter the wholesale market.

They are to employ the previous owner, Mr David Leask, as a further-processing manager with the company to develop new products for new outlets.

Transitional arrangements have been put in place which will mean that Leask’s butcher shop will cease trading from Friday, November 9.

Click here for the full story

An employee from Kirkwall’s Indian restaurant denied assaulting a woman in a phone box at the Pierhead in the town.

Appearing from custody on Wednesday, Martin Abdul (38), Eastern Spice, Bridge Street, Kirkwall, pled not guilty to assaulting Sarah Bayliss, on Tuesday.

A trial date was fixed for December 4 at Kirkwall Sheriff Court and Abdul was released on bail.

Council could withdraw grants following Regulating Order decision

The council could scrap cash grants to local inshore fishermen following the industry's decision not to support a Regulating Order in Orkney.

At Wednesday's economic development committee meeting, councillors agreed that financial support for inshore fishermen should be put on hold, because they had not backed plans for an order which, the council say, would conserve stocks.

OIC principal development officer Shona Croy explained that the current lack of restrictions had led to an expansion of the fleet and a properly managed Regulating Order was vital to protect stocks for the future.

Currently, the OIC hands out reserve fund grants to fishing boats, but Councillor Halcro-Johnston questioned why public money should be given to fishermen when he said they were effectively sweeping up remaining stocks by overfishing and therefore destroying the industry.

NorthLink put shore activities out to tender

NorthLink Ferries are to put the provision of the shore activities required to service their ferries out to competitive tender.

The move effectively snubs the P&O Scottish Ferries management buy-out bid for that part of the service, though NorthLink say they will be welcome to submit fresh proposals under the new process.

NorthLink’s contract with the Scottish Executive to operate the ferry services from October 1, 2002 does not include the provision of shore-based activities such as haulage and the consolidation of small loads for onwards transport by ferry.

Council's fund to promote archaeology could triple

A council fund which awards grants for archaeological work in the county looks set to triple in value.

Currently worth £10,000 a year, money from the fund is spent on encouraging archaeological work in Orkney by helping towards the costs of excavations.

Official recommendations were to increase the fund to £20,000, at Wednesday's meeting of the economic development committee Councillor Keith Johnson proposed putting £30,000 a year in the fund.

Before winning support for his proposal by six votes to four, he added: "It would be a signal to many people that we are serious about our heritage."

Body of missing woman found in quarry

The body of a woman found in a quarry on the outskirts of Kirkwall on Wednesday morning has been confirmed as that of missing woman Myra Barnett.

Ms Barnett (73), was reported missing from her home in Berstane Road, Kirkwall in the early hours of Wednesday. At 8am her body was found in the water-filled quarry - known as Cattie Maggie's Quarry - at Heathery Loan, St Ola.

A doctor was called but Ms Barnett was declared dead at the scene. Police said that there are no suspicious circumstances and that a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Chris battles the waves to complete fundraising Papay swim

Chris Bradley arrives on Papay. (Picture: Jemima Edell)

Chris swam from Cleat on Westray to Minister's Rock on Papay in around 90 minutes. It took 30 minutes to reach the half-way mark before the three feet high waves slowed him down.

The 1.5 mile swim was to raise cash for the Westray youth football club and primary swim club travelling expenses.

Chris's return swim to Westray was cancelled because of the water temperature and failing light.

Lynn Road housing development gets the go ahead

Planning permission has been given for the latest large-scale housing development for Kirkwall.

The OIC have approved plans by the Orkney Housing Association to build 40 houses in the Lynn Road area of the town.

Planning officials recommended that the development should go ahead, but that the Housing Association should comply with a list of 18 conditions, including details of how building on the site would be phased and the landscaping proposals.

The police are appealing for people in Orkney to cut out Halloween vandalism and damage.

Halloween, they say, should be a fun night for the family, and are urging that people do their best to prevent mindless acts and needless damage.

A police spokesman said: “Most people enjoy Halloween and indulge in the odd practical joke or dress up and do a spot of trick or treating, unfortunately, there is a small minority of people that go too far and spoil it for the rest of us, resulting in instances of vandalism and public nuisance which cannot and will not be tolerated.”

Ola Gorie appoint new managing director

He left his job with Ortak this week and is taking on the new job from November 12, with current Ola Gorie MD Duncan McLean moving on to become chairman of the company.

Mr Stout, who lives in Kirkwall, started his working life with Orkney Islands Shipping Company and moved to Ortak eight years ago. His appointment follows a three-month recruitment when candidates from England and Scotland, as well as Orkney, were interviewed.

Police blame Pickaquoy fuel spill on construction damage

Police say a burst underground fuel pipe at Kirkwall’s Pickaquoy Centre was more than likely caused by damage during construction.

Management at Pickaquoy first noticed something was wrong when fuels bills started soaring a few months ago.

It is thought up to 2,000 litres of oil leaked into the surrounding soil before finally reaching saturation point.

There will be more police officers on the beat in Kirkwall following a sharp rise in crime in the town centre. And police are warning troublemakers that their behaviour will not be tolerated following another weekend of assaults and vandalism.

Inspector Paul Eddington said this week that there will be a strong police presence on the streets of Kirkwall over the coming weekends.

“There will be a fairly strict response to any disorder witnessed by police,” he said. “Last weekend was particularly notable by the number of disturbances and fights – it will not be tolerated.”

Planning permission for a new tenpin bowling alley was granted by only one vote on Tuesday, despite the serious reservations expressed about the design of the building.

Members of the OIC’s planning committee agreed, by six votes to five, to approve plans by George Drever for an eight-lane bowling alley and café at the lorry park off Great Western Road, Kirkwall.

Describing the proposed complex, one planning official said: “There is no hiding the fact that it is basically a shed.”

The planning committee agreed to accept the proposed style of building, although a move was made to refuse it on the grounds of bad design.

The wartime Ness Battery in Stromness is set to be bought up by Orkney Islands Council who want to preserve it as a historical site.

A financial bid for the battery is due to be sent to the Ministry of Defence following support for the proposal by councillors at Monday’s recreation and cultural services committee.

Committee chairman Councillor John Brown said the price would remain confidential because the MoD had said there was another bidder interested.

Joint manager of the Flotta Oil Terminal, Mr Tom McMillan is leaving Flotta at the end of the month. He is taking on the job of offshore manager on the Claymore Platform.

He will be replaced by Maurice Ullman, the current terminal superintendent.

Thorfinn engine trouble disrupts sailings

Sailings to Eday, Sanday and Stronsay were disrupted on Monday afternoon after the Orkney Ferries vessel MV Thorfinn developed engine trouble.

According to Orkney Ferries services manager, Mr Alistair Learmonth, the MV Varagen took over the runs.

“It was a very minor fault and everything is back to normal today (Tuesday),” he said.

Stromness Town Centre Partnership launch meeting

Following last Wednesday's Town Centre Partnership meeting in Kirkwall, a second meeting took place on Tuesday night, this time in Stromness.

With the Partnership aiming to prepare a strategy and action plan for the Stromness Town Centre, the council again invited interested parties to the meeting in the Stromness Community Centre.

Work on Stronsay wind generator site to begin

Work on a new wind farm on Stronsay is expected to get under way this week.

Three new wind turbines are being constructed at Rothiesholm on the island. A spokesman from East Anglia based utilities company TXU Europe confirmed on Tuesday that the first stage of construction work is expected to begin this week.

Civil contract work should be complete by Christmas, with the turbines' towers erected by February 2002.

Assurances given that Kvaerner financial problems will not affect Flotta Staff

Predictions that engineering and construction firm Kvaerner were facing bankruptcy will not affect the workforce at the Flotta oil terminal.

The assurance was given on Monday by Flotta joint manager Mr Tom McMillan following speculation that the Anglo-Norwegian firm would have to split their assets following a cash crisis.

There are currently 45 full-time Kvaerner workers on Flotta and five part-time staff who form the operations teams and carry out some of the administrative support.

Contract awarded for Hatston ferry terminal project

The multi-million pound contract to create new pier facilities at Hatston has been awarded to Glasgow firm, R J McLeod (Contractors) Ltd.

Orkney Islands Council announced on Monday that the winning tender price of £14.4 million had been chosen ahead of "several other highly competitive bids."

Work on the new pier, which will serve the new NorthLink ferry from October, 2002, is due to start around November 5.

Ron Ferguson bids farewell to St Magnus Cathedral

Ron and Cristine Ferguson at the retiral function on Friday night. (Picture K. Pirie)

The congregation of St Magnus Cathedral said goodbye to their minister on Sunday, with Rev Ron Ferguson retiring after 11 years in the charge.

Over 300 members of the Cathedral congregation gathered on Friday night to mark Mr Ferguson's retirement. There, among the other gifts, the retiring minister was presented with a Cowdenbeath Football Club jersey signed by the promotion winning squad from last season.

Mr Ferguson is remaining in Orkney and intends to concentrate on writing and broadcasting.

See also: Reflections on 11 years as minister of St Magnus

Orkney Library construction work begins Wednesday

Work is due to start this week on a new £4 million Orkney Library and archive in Kirkwall.

The library will be built on the site of the former auction mart on Junction Road.

Local firm Casey Construction Ltd won the contract to demolish the mart buildings and build the library after submitting a £3,470,665 tender. They are due to start work on the site on Wednesday, with the contract due to be completed May 2003

Archive story: Artist's impression of the new Orkney Library

Cutbacks see Dial A Bus lose vehicle

Orkney's Dial A Bus service has fallen victim to cash cutbacks, losing one of the three minibuses which serves elderly and disabled people in the county.

In a letter to members chairman Mrs Dorothea Parton has said the decision to decommission the bus had been a difficult one and had resulted in the driver being made redundant.

"Costs have continued to increase and funding applications last year were not enough to cover the expenses incurred by the operation," she said. "Recently, we have been told that we will be losing our Esso fuel card and this will further add to the costs of running Dial A Bus."