Skara Brae launch for Orkney tourism strategy

Orkney’s tourism strategy for the next few years was officially launched in Sandwick on Saturday.

Scotland’s Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Elaine Murray, launched the document at the Skara Brae Visitor Centre.

Funding increase hit by cancellation of college construction payments

An increase in Orkney College funding has been affected by news that the funding body are stopping payments towards the college's original construction costs.

When the college was built, the Scottish Office agreed to pay £180,000 a year, but the funding council are to phase this out at 20 per cent a year for the next five years. This means Orkney College lost £37,000 this year, will lose £74,000 next year and over the five years, the complete £180,000.

College principal Dr Bill Ross said. “I think there must have been some kind of misunderstanding at the funding college. We are going to challenge it.”

Eastbank Hospital up for sale

NHS Orkney have been given the go ahead to sell the former Eastbank Hospital and have appointed local solicitors Lows Orkney to assist in the sale.

An NHS spokesman said that proceeds from the sale of the four acre site in Kirkwall will be reinvested in Orkney's health services.

It is hoped the property will be advertised by the summer.

New chairman and deputy for Orkney Enterprise

The new chairman is local businessman Brian Kynoch, managing directory of DAG Kynoch Ltd. Farmer. Farmer and local councillor Stephen Hagan takes up the appointment of deputy chairman.

Postal strike called off

Orkney's postmen won't be striking next week after a national pay deal was agreed.

Members of the national Communications Workers Union had been due to walk out on Wednesday over a long-running pay dispute.

Kirkwall man in Berriedale car crash

A Kirkwall man was taken to hospital in Wick on Thursday after a road accident at Berriedale on the Scottish mainland.

Police said Barry Learmonth (29) from Torness was driving north on Thursday afternoon when a vehicle coming from the opposite direction skidded on hailstones and was in collision with his vehicle.

The accident blocked the A9 for around two hours while the emergency services freed the three motorists. All were taken to hospital in Wick, a spokesman later confirming their injuries were not "thought to be life threatening."

Keep island issues at forefront says commission chairman

The delegates from Majorca, Sicily and the Azores at today's CPMR international conference in Kirkwall.

President of the Islands Commission, Jean Baggioni, has called for a meeting with the chairman of the EU’s Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions to ensure that island issues are kept at the forefront of policy making by the European Commission.

Mr Baggioni was addressing the annual conference of the Islands Commission in Kirkwall on Thursday.

He reminded delegates they were not there to represent a particular island group, but were all representative of ‘the island community’ who faced similar problems of demography and geography.

Orkney woman in line for learner award

An Orkney woman is one of the finalists in the Adult Learner Awards 2002.

Kirkwall-resident Yvonne Bryan took up woodwork at the Grainshore Training Centre and is now one of five finalists up for the award, which will be presented on May 16.

Shellfish industry in crisis after Food Standards Agency declassification

The Orkney's shellfish industry found itself in crisis this week, after confirmation that the Food Standards Agency has declassified 50 per cent of the harvesting sites in the county, claiming there has been insufficient sampling.

This means that gatherers will only be able to gather shellfish from four sites, Inganess Bay, Swanbister, Watersound in Burray and Millsand, Deerness.

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Orkney hosts international conference

Politicians from more than eight different countries have been in Orkney attending a meeting of the European Union’s Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).

Reports were delivered in the native languages of the speakers and translated simultaneously by a team of linguists.

The conference was held at Kirkwall's Pickaquoy Centre.

Orkney woman wins unfair dismissal case

An Orkney woman has won her case for unfair dismissal from a local building firm and has been awarded £5,104 in compensation by an industrial tribunal.

Mrs Patricia Long of Langbigging, Stenness, took her case to the tribunal after being sacked from Casey Construction in September 2000.

Westray winter warmers are a resounding success

A promotion to encourage winter visits to Westray has been hailed a resounding success.

New figures show that visitors booked more than 430 accommodation nights in the island during the first three months of 2002 – nearly double the figure for the same period last year.

The Westray Winter Warmers initiative encouraged people to take out-of-season mini breaks – with the offer of free ferry travel for visitors making two and three night stays on the island.

Ryanair service to Orkney 'unlikely'

It looks unlikely that the low-cost airline, Ryanair, will operate services into small regional airports such as Kirkwall in the near future.

That was the outcome of a meeting between chief executive of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), Mr Bob Macleod, and representatives of the budget airline.

But the HIAL boss indicated that Ryanair might be willing to think about operating feeder services to and from Inverness if charges and costs can be successfully negotiated.

Investigation after pilot falls from tanker

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, when the pilot was climbing a ladder between the shuttle tanker Petrotroll and the harbour department's pilot boat.

A council spokesman confirmed that the pilot was uninjured and was quickly recovered from the water.

Council take steps towards better access in the county

The consultation covers a range of access issues including footpaths, bridleways, cycle tracks, access to beaches and archaeological sites, coastal walks, disabled access and safe routes to school.

As well as producing a questionnaire, OIC officials are holding public meetings inviting landowners and anyone with an interest in walking to attend.

Orkney pilot area for tiered scallop testing

Orkney is to be used as a pilot area for the tiered testing of king scallops.

This will allow parts of the shellfish to be sold for consumption although others have shown high levels of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). Previously this would have automatically meant the closure of the whole area.

The trials follow a breakthrough decision taken by the European Standing Veterinary Committee.

Lengthy rescue for Stromness lifeboat

Stromness lifeboat was called out at the weekend after a Scrasbter fishing boat fouled her propeller in severe weather conditions.

The lifeboat was launched on Friday afternoon when the crew of the Faith Ann, around 50 miles to the north-west of Birsay, called for help. The vessel, with her five crew, was stranded in gale force 10 winds and heavy swell.

After a number of attempts, a line was put on board the stricken vessel and she was towed to Scrabster harbour, arriving at 2.45am on Saturday morning.

Education advisers appointed

Orkney Islands Council have appointed three new officers to their Education department.

Mr Graham Bevan, Mrs Penny Aberdein and Ms Tina Smith have been appointed "advisers" who will fulfil a number of roles within the department.

A light aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Flotta on Friday afternoon.

Kirkwall police have confirmed the aircraft was en route from Reykjavik in Iceland, to Wick, when it experienced difficulties due to the weather. A full emergency was declared at Wick Airport but the aircraft eventually landed at the disused Flotta airstrip. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was uninjured, a police spokesman said.

It is understood that the aircraft was undamaged.

May visit confirmed for Princess Royal

It has been confirmed Princess Anne is to visit Orkney for one day at the end of May to open the new Orkney Cheese factory. She also due to visit the Longhope Lifeboat Museum.

Princess Anne was last in the county in March 1999, when she officially opened the newly completed Pickaquoy Centre.

Stromness charity cyclist hits the saddle

Stromness cyclist Larry Yeomans set off on Saturday on his cycle ride to raise money for charity.

The 25-year-old already estimates he has sponsorship worth around £2,500, but says the forms will be in Stromness shops and Bobby’s Cycle Centre in Kirkwall until his return in seven weeks.

It will take Larry on a 3,500-mile journey from Stromness through Scotland, England, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Shetland and back to Orkney.

See also: Seven countries to visit on Larry's charity cycle trip

Two charged after Aberdeen death

Two young drivers have been charged after an Orkney teenager was involved in a collision in Aberdeen last weekend.

Robert Banks (16) of King Harald Kloss, Kirkwall, died from his injuries last Sunday. Grampian Police said that two 20-year-old drivers had been charged in connection with the incident.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information should contact Grampian Police on 01224 386000.