Trust assure OIC that berth will be ready for Hamnavoe

Scrabster Harbour Trust assured an Orkney Islands Council delegation yesterday that there will be a berth for the new NorthLink ferry Hamnavoe in time for the October changeover.

Trust chairman, John Young said: "Scrabster Harbour Trust is conscious that construction of the new pier at Scrabster is running behind schedule but it is our intention to have a berth available for when the Hamnavoe comes into service later this year.

"The Trust is in regular contact with the Scottish Executive and Northlink to ensure this, as all are aware of the importance of the Scrabster / Stromness service."

Don't touch the selkies - SSPCA

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) have issued a strong reminder that people should not to touch or pick up baby seals over the coming months.

They stress the majority of the baby seals found are not abandoned and should be left alone.

Although October and November is the time of year when grey seal pups are found on the shore, June and July is the season for common pups.

Alternative venue for Biz Ivol court case?

The case against MS sufferer Biz Ivol may have to be heard outwith Kirkwall Sheriff Court – as the building is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Mrs Ivol, who intends to appear in person, received a letter from the Scottish Courts Service asking her to let them know her intentions so they can make alternate arrangements if required.

Mr Ivol's lawyers, Bovey and Bovey, have pulled out of acting for her, claiming they did not want the media or political involvement in the case.

Archive story: Court summons for wheelchair-bound cannabis campaigner

NorthLink rivals have no plans to include Orkney in service

The consortium intending to set up a freight service in competition with NorthLink say they have no plans to include Orkney in their scheme.

Norse Island Ferries involves three major haulage firms - JBT, Shetland Transport and Northwards. They decided to get together and start a rival shipping service because they were unhappy with the freight charges being proposed by NorthLink.

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Drug downgrading will have no effect on pending prosecutions says Crown Office

Orkney cannabis users have been warned they still face prosecution - despite the downgrading of the drug.

The reclassification of cannabis, from a class B drug to class C, will have no effect on pending court cases which will be dealt with using the current legislation, according to the Crown Office.

This is bad news for Orkney MS woman, Biz Ivol, who is due to appear in Kirkwall Sheriff Court next Tuesday charged with supplying, possessing and growing cannabis.

Archive story: Court summons for wheelchair-bound cannabis campaigner

Public health chief resigns to continue E.coli research

Orkney’s director of public health, Dr John Curnow, is resigning from the post at the end of October.

Dr Curnow joined NHS Orkney three years ago and now plans to continue his research into E.coli before securing another medical post within Scotland.

Before the post is advertised, Dr Andrew Fraser, Scotland’s deputy chief medical officer, has been assisting the board in looking at the public health function and how it can be developed to suit the needs of Orkney.

Foot-and-mouth fears allayed

Fears that an Orkney calf had contracted foot-and-mouth disease have been allayed by the Scottish Executive veterinary officer based in Kirkwall.

The concerns were raised last Friday after lesions were found in the mouth of a calf in Rendall.

But Executive vet Mr Willie Stewart said foot-and-mouth had been ruled out after an inspection of the animal.

Councillors rapped for interview leaks

OIC vice-convener, Councillor Jim Sinclair, has censured his colleagues for leaking information about the recent interviews for the post of director of finance and housing.

He said that never in his 21 years as a councillor could he recall an occasion when details about staff interviews had got out into the public.

Convener Hugh Halcro-Johnston added: “We have tried in recent years to ensure that as much as possible is discussed in public. But when we do have to go into private, for whatever reason, we must ensure that that information is not disclosed.”

Social services committee to decide on Christmas bonus

The OIC’s social services and housing committee will have to make recommendations about the future pattern of Christmas grant paid to pensioners, widowed people or the disabled, and to decide whether it should be means tested or not.

It was pointed out this week that there was a budget of £500,000 available to the committee from the council’s Strategic Reserve Fund and it would be up to members to decide priorities for using that money, including the Christmas bonus.

Councillor fails to get Birsay designated housing development area

Birsay and Dounby councillor, Keith Johnson, failed again this week to get the entire parish of Birsay designated as a housing development area, rather than restricting new building to six named sites.

Councillor Johnson was arguing the case for special treatment for Birsay because of its remoteness from Kirkwall and in order to keep a predominantly farming community alive, by allowing people to build houses near their families.

Former Labour man is SSP candidate

Former Orkney Labour Party candidate John Aberdein is among the Scottish Socialist Party list candidates who are due to contest next May's Holyrood elections.

Mr Aberdein, who stood for Orkney and Shetland in two General Elections as a Labour parliamentary candidate, is among eight Highlands and Islands SSP list candidates.

Busy harbour as three liners visit

Kirkwall Bay was a hive of activity on Wednesday with three cruise liners in for a brief visit to the county, along with around 1,600 visitors.

As well as the Astor, there was Albatross, which sailed for Iceland at 1pm, and the Silver Wind, which left for Bergen at 3pm.

Councillor in walkout over cassette discussions

An OIC councillor walked out of the council chamber on Wednesday in protest at fellow members' failure to stay out of discussions on an issue in which they had declared an interest.

Only three of the nine councillors who are Orkney Auction Mart shareholders left the special full council meeting and took no part in the discussion on giving the mart a loan to buy and operate the new livestock cassette system for shipping services to the Scottish mainland.

In response, an angry Councillor Mike Drever left the chamber. The meeting agreed to offer a £4.3 million commercial loan to Orkney Cassette Services Ltd, a wholly-owned mart subsidiary.

£1 million milestone for VAO financial service

Groups in Orkney have attracted more than £1 million in grant funding over the past 18 months - thanks to Voluntary Action Orkney’s financial advisory service.

The service helps people find the most appropriate funding body, helps groups plan their projects, advises on business plans and assists with application forms.

Man faces charges after alleged bar incident

A man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court yesterday afternoon in relation to an incident at the Kirkwall Hotel's Georgian Bar at the weekend.

Chris Scott (31), Caravell, Wyre appeared to face various charges relating to an alleged incident in the Georgian Bar on Saturday, and at Kirkwall Police Station on Sunday.

The case was continued without plea until Tuesday, July 16.

Record-breaking scooter passes through

Three men arrived in Orkney this week as part of a world record - the longest journey on a scooter!

Peter Baldacchino, John Duckworth and Dennis Brown are here as part of a 3,500-mile trip on an 8mph scooter.

They have travelled 800 miles so far and sailed for Shetland on Tuesday, before travelling to Norway, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Holland and back to England.

Scottish Executive turn down OIC transport cash plea

The Scottish Executive have rejected Orkney Islands Council's plea for £500,000 to support internal air and ferry services in the county.

The council said they needed the cash to pay off a shortfall, but in a letter from the Executive they were told there was no money available this year.

Representatives from the OIC are due to meet with Deputy Finance Minister Peter Peacock next month to discuss the issue.

Archive stories: Ferry cutbacks on the cards unless
Executive come up with cash
OIC could switch cash windfall to air and ferry services
Executive help sought over Orkney Ferries overspend

Pipe Band's fundraising marathon

Kirkwall City Pipe Band's fundraising Kirkwall to Stromness march took place in glorious sunshine on Sunday.

The march - to raise money for a planned trip to Japan in 2003 - saw the band members playing along the entire route.

It is thought that £750 was collected on the route alone.

Owner backs calls to restore Happy Valley to former glory

The owner of Happy Valley in Stenness, Professor William Isbister, has called on the council or a historic body to maintain the property and land.

After reading The Orcadian's article highlighting concerns for the future of the property, Prof Isbister said: “My only goals are to retain the cottage as it is and not to bulldoze it down for development, not to sell it to someone who makes a great profit from it by development or letting it as a holiday cottage.”

Prof Isbister added that The Orcadian may have started the wheel rolling towards a resolution of the fate of Happy Valley.

Full archive story: Everything's not so happy in
overgrown Stenness valley

New area procurator fiscal

Mr Graeme Napier has been appointed area procurator fiscal for the Highlands and Islands by Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC.

Mr Napier is one of seven new area fiscals to be appointed in Scotland to help deliver a more modern prosecution service.

The appointments follow recommendations made in a review of the management of the service.