With the winding up of Norse Island Ferries on Saturday, NorthLink are to carry out an urgent evaluation of freight requirements with a view to filling any market gap left by the firm's departure.

NorthLink's Gareth Crichton said: "Obviously, we have been aware of the impact that the NIF operation has had on the market, and while we have been carrying the bulk of the volume every other night, it is clear that when the St Rognvald has sailed that we carry much less.

NorthLink respond to MSP's concerns over summmer service disruption

A spokesman said: "We are acutely aware that some passengers will be inconvenienced by the Hrossey dry-dock arrangements but we have done everything within our power to choose a period when as few passengers as possible were affected."

He added: "After consultation with MCA and the Lloyds Classification Society we agreed with the principle that the Hrossey repair should be done sooner rather than later."

See also: MSP presses for answers over Hrossey withdrawal

Papermaking workshops in Westray

Joanne Kaar will spend the week at Seatters Gallery, covering subjects ranging from recycling waste paper to decorative techniques such as silkpaper and rainpaper.

For further information on the Seatters Gallery papermaking and bookbinding workshops or to book a place contact Sandy MacEwen.

Norse Islands Ferries cease trading

NIF was created nine months ago when three principal road haulage companies serving Shetland saw the opportunity to beat NorthLink's freight rates. But according to NIF today, NorthLink brought its freight rates into line with market requirements.

An NIF spokesman said: "As a customer of NorthLink I am content that they have now addressed the issues of price and capacity that threatened to damage the islands' producers and exporters."

Atchive story: NorthLink rivals have no plans to include Orkney in service
Click here for all NIF archive stories

Anchor Buildings pair sentenced

Carl James Howley (19), who also admitted breaking into the OIC housing department in January, was sentenced to 15 months, backdated to February 3.

Benjamin Peter Wishart (22), who was sentenced to 13 months in prison in February, had four months added to his current sentence.

October opening for new library?

Islands' councillors heard this week that the Junction Road building would be handed over from the contractors on August 15.

It is expected that it will take a further two months until the facilities are ready for the public.

Councillors appoint vice-chairmen

Councillor Stockan was voted in by seven votes to four over the OIC’s former director of environmental health, Councillor Allan Leslie, who also nominated for the post.

Meanwhile, Councillor Angus Hutchison, member for Stromness South, Graemsay and North Hoy, was appointed vice-chairman of the social services and housing committee.

MSP presses for answers over Hrossey withdrawal

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has written to NorthLink over his concerns that the Hrossey will be taken out of service next month to have welding cracks repaired.

Mr Wallace has asked for details on alternative arrangements for passengers already booked to sail on the Hrossey.

He wrote: "I am obviously concerned that, if satisfactory alternative arrangements are not made, for example by increasing the number of sailings of the Hjaltland by adding daytime sailings, then tourists planning to visit Orkney may cancel and Orcadians travelling south on holiday will have their plans seriously disrupted."

Councillor criticises housing association for lack of disabled access

The attack on the association’s decision to provide only stairs to get to the upper floors of flats was launched by Kirkwall councillor, Roderick McLeod.

He reminded members of the OIC’s environment, planning and protective services committee that the Housing Association had won an “open door” award in 1995 for their efforts to provide accommodation which was accessible for disabled people.

Customs target illegal fuel users

Red diesel is a rebated fuel for use in agricultural machinery and not for use in road vehicles.

After seizing three vehicles three weeks ago, Customs officers last week caught another 14 further offenders in Orkney, while detecting four vehicles using illegal fuel on Rousay and two on Shapinsay.

Crime rate increases by almost 20 per cent

Crime in Orkney has risen by nearly 20 per cent over the past year.

The rise, said Police Inspector David Miller, is due mainly to an increase in the number of acts of vandalism and dishonesty. A fact that has once again raised the question of CCTV in Kirkwall's main streets.

In total 1,364 crimes were comitted in the county in 2002/03 - out of which police solved 1,196.

Tourist Board resume left luggage service

Orkney Tourist Board has resumed its summer left luggage and tourist information service at the Kirkwall Bus Station in Great Western Road.

Opening hours are 8.00am to 6.00pm seven days a week until September.

Illegal immigrants deported after police swoop

Two illegal immigrants - believe to have been working at the Eastern Spice Indian Restaurant in Kirkwall - have been deported.

Immigration officers from Aberdeen and two policemen descended on the Bridge Street premises and removed two men - an Indian national and a Nepalese national.

They were taken to Kirkwall Police station for questioning and deported after being found to have committed immigration offences.

Deerness farmland targeted in deliberate attack?

Areas of land on farms in Deerness have been damaged by chemicals, in what looks to be deliberate attacks, according to police.

Police inquiries are continuing and anyone with information is asked to call the police on 872241.

Fish quota scheme must end says EC

The European Commission has declared that a fish quota purchasing leasing system operated by the Orkney and Shetland islands' councils must end.

In Orkney, the quotas are acquired by the OIC and then leased to local fishermen on preferential terms. But this, says the EC, breaks European Community rules and has to stop.

The scheme has already attracted criticism, with some saying it provides an unfair advantage to Orkney and Shetland fishermen and has caused an increase in the price of UK fish quotas.

Cameron escapes public vote but gains a nomination

Big Brother's Orcadian housemate Cameron Stout has escaped eviction this week, but although he is not up for the public vote, he received his first nomination by Tania.

Meanwhile, Cameron's popularity rating on the Big Brother website has dropped slightly since last week - to 60.4 per cent - but he remains fourth favourite.

Click here for the official Big Brother website

Aberdeen man jailed after road race death

The driver who killed Orcadian teenager Robert Banks during a race through the streets of Aberdeen has been jailed for 18 months.

Pedestrian Robert Banks (16) died in hospital from his injuries on April 21, 2002, after being struck by a vehicle driven by Christopher Stalker (21) of Aberdeen.

Two new dentists recruited for new Kirkwall dental centre

NHS Orkney has recruited two new dentists who are due to start work in August when it's hoped new premises will be ready in the centre of Kirkwall.

Work has already started on a new NHS dental clinic on Great Western Road. The premises, formerly used by builders Leslie Tait, is being converted into three modern surgeries and will be called the Station Dental Centre.

Hrossey to come out of service to allow weld repairs

The hairline fissures, which came to light during a routine inspection, do not constitute a safety issue and have been temporarily repaired.

It has been decided to implement permanent repairs sooner rather than later and the vessel will go to drydock on Monday, July 7, returning to service on Tuesday, July 15.

Multi-million pound investment in Flotta and Hoy water supplies

Scottish Water have indicated that there are plans to establish a £1.7 million water treatment plant to serve South Hoy and Flotta, together with a further investment of £1.5 million to replace much of the old pipework currently being used to supply customers.

Work on both is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Ten nurseries hit by industrial action

OIC protest on Tuesday morning

Ten nurseries in Orkney a closed on Tuesday as a result of industrial action by the county's nursery nurses.

The two day strike over pay and conditions sees a number of local-authority run nurseries closed for the two days (click here for full details of schools affected).

In addition, the striking nurses held a demonstration outside the Orkney Islands Council buildings in School Place in the morning.

Police seek witnesses to alleged assault at Deerness eclipse party

The police were called to the marquee at Creya in Deerness around 3am on Saturday.

No one has been charged but anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Teenager hospitalised after assault

A 16-year-old girl was assaulted in Kirkwall during the early hours of Sunday morning.

She was taken to Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital and detained overnight after the incident.

Kirkwall police are appealing for witnesses to get in touch on 872241.

May is record-breaking month for The Orcadian Online

May saw The Orcadian Online's visitor record broken again, with a total of 108,163 page views and 55,692 visits in the month.

The latest visitor statistics show that in May the site averaged 3,489 page views each day, with an average 1,796 daily visits daily.

Click here for full visitor statistics

John Jolly pick up award for St Magnus Festival sponsorship

Kirkwall shipbrokers John Jolly picked up an award at Friday night's 16th annual Arts & Business Scottish Awards in Edinburgh.

The firm won the first time sponsorship award after sponsoring a production of HMS Pinafore in last year's St Magnus Festival.

Talisman Energy, who won Best Festival Sponsorship in 2002, and Loganair were shortlisted.

2001