SNH reverse decision on Peerie Sea eel fishing

Scottish National Heritage has reversed its decision about eel fishing and told Orkney Islands Council it should not go ahead with trials.

The matter was raised earlier this year after the OIC received a request to fish commercially for eels in the Peerie Sea.

Julia Partridge of SNH said: "When first consulted by the council informally we did not object but we did raise a few concerns and advised that it would have to be fished sustainably. However, since we gave that advice the European Commission adopted that communication (for the management of European eels) and we gave the council the new advice."

New sheriff appointed

A new sheriff for Orkney and Shetland has been appointed to succeed Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie, who is due to retire at the end of the year.

Mr Graeme Napier (46) is currently the Area Procurator Fiscal of Highland and Islands.

Energy watchdog welcomes electricity subsidy scheme

The announcement will see all electricity supply companies pay towards the subsidy - the scrapping of which was announced last month. While energywatch acknowledges this may still lead to an increase in electricity bills, the proposals will lessen the impact.

When the scrapping of the hydro benefit was announced, concerns were raised that it would see a massive increase in electricity bills in Orkney.

Archive story:Subsidy cut will not affect
Orkney customers says Hydro Electric

Future looks bright despite resignations says new Tourist Board chairman

That’s the view of new OTB chairman John Hinkley, who took over the post last week in the wake of the resignations of Stewart Anderson and Gareth Crichton.

Both Mr Anderson and Mr Crichton declined to comment on the reason for their sudden departure, which appeared to centre on a row over Mr Anderson’s non-elected position as chairman.

Click here for full story

New exhibits in Orkney museums

The Orkney Museum and Stromness Museum both have new exhibits on display.

The Stromness Museum's display contains a wide range of artefacts including material from the Northern Lighthouse Board, Cree Indian beadwork and wooden bowls from Africa.

The Orkney Museum's latest items include models of a Viking longship and a sailing ship as well as children's toys and domestic artefacts.

Click here for full details

Absent staff cost NHS Orkney £260,000

The cost of staff absence at NHS Orkney was an estimated £260,000 for the first half of this year.

And 41 per cent of the total hours lost through sickness related to nursing staff.

Stephanie Lawton of NHS Orkney said that measures were to be looked at to deal with the level of absence among staff, which was above the national average.

Ferry staff face drug and alcohol tests

NorthLink ferry staff could face the sack if they are drunk at work.

The company's chief executive, Bill Davidson, said there are breathalysers on board each of their three vessels and that bosses could test any workers they suspected were unfit to work because of alcohol or drugs.

"Unfortunately, there have been one or two occasions in the past 14 months when people have failed the test," he said.

Several months before any Orkney Towage redundancies take effect

It will be several months before any redundancies take effect at Orkney Towage - if at all - according to Orkney Islands Council transportation chairman Captain Bob Sclater.

The job losses in question would apply to the crews based on the tugs at Scapa pier.

It is believed that a decline in the amount of oil coming into the county has made it almost inevitable that jobs will have to be sacrificed.

Figures predict significant customer loss for Northern Isles post offices

The figures, released by MP Alistair Carmichael, show that the Government's plan to scrap the pension book will see a significant revenue loss for the post office network - particularly worrying for the islands' rural post offices.

Mr Carmichael said: "This change will rob post offices of vital revenue and therefore accelerate the rate of closures."

MP calls for "robust case" for Northern Isles fishermen

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has called on Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw to make a robust case for Orkney fishermen ahead of the fisheries council meeting later this month.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael said: "This debate is not about fish alone, but about people living in communities that depend on fish. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this issues to my constituency."

NHS Orkney offer assistance to Scapa Medical Group

The health board will be assisting with the provision of locum doctors until the practice is able to recruit to the posts made vacant by the recent resignations.

NHS Orkney is also assisting with longer-term plans, which will ensure the practice is able to provide sustainable services for the future.

Cash grant to Cromarty Hall

A project to expand and refurbish the Cromarty Hall in South Ronaldsay has received a cash boost from the lottery backed Scottish Land Fund.

The grant of £7,749 will go towards purchasing a plot of land beside the hall to allow the addition of a kitchen, cloakroom and exhibition area and provide disabled access..

The hall is also to receive £1,937 from the HIE Community Land Unit.

Gather facts on CAP urges president

The president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland was in Orkney On Tuesday for a meeting on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

NFU Scotland president John Kinnaird urged the members to gather all the facts before making their views known through the Orkney branch of the NFUS.

Councillors agree to floating hotel plans despite local protests

Plans to allow a floating hotel to berth at the former Northern Lighthouse Board pier in Stromness have been given the go ahead by islands' councillors.

The decision at Tuesday's meeting of the OIC full council follows concerns raised by a group of Stromness residents last week who likened the project to a "parasite" sucking the good out of the town.

Two out of the three Stromness councillors voted to allow the proposal, which will see a small cruise ship berthed in Stromness and used as a 200-bed hotel between May and October.

Archive story: Residents hope to torpedo hotel plan

Top marks for St Andrews School

The school premises, pupils' behaviour and staff commitment were the key strengths identified by an inspection report of the St Andrews School published on Tuesday.

Among the suggestions to enhance the school, the Education Inspectors suggested improved monitoring and evaluation procedures and provide more opportunities for writing and mathematics problem solving.

Copies of the full report are available at www.hmie.gov.uk.

Crowds take the opportunity to view new Orkney Library building

The new Orkney library building on Junction Road opened its doors to the public for the first time on Tuesday.

With queues forming prior to the doors opening at 10.30am, the new £3.5 million library building saw a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.

The library officially reopens on Thursday at 9am, but a second open day on Wednesday allowed the public a second chance of a preview.

CCTV cameras put to use

CCTV camera installed on top of the Kirkwall Hotel last week

Among the incidents captured overnight on Saturday were acts of vandalism and disturbances.

The three cameras were switched on last Tuesday night, on Harbour Street, Broad Street, and Great Western Road.

Orkney groups urged to take advantage of new funds

The New Ideas Fund will see grants of up to £10,000 to help groups develop ideas that can help improve their and regenerate their communities.

The Seeing is Believing Fund will allow community and voluntary groups to visit and learn from successful regeneration projects or access other learning opportunities to help them. Grants will vary between £50 and £5,000 for groups in disadvantaged areas.

For more details see www.scr.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.

Young Farmers talk their way to success

Orkney clubs scooped the pool in the Young Farmers Club's North Region speechmaking competition at New Deer, north of Aberdeen.

Winners were Sandwick 'D': Lauren Stanger, Steven Stanger and Ian Ritch. Harray 'B': (Christina Copland, Julia Price, Charles Copland) was second, and Sandwick 'C': (Carly Drever, Cally Stanger, Samantha Rendall) third.

Carly Drever took best chairman outwith the winning team, Cally Stanger best proposer outwith the winning team, and Charles Copland best opposer outwith the winning team.

All three teams now go to the national finals in Livingston on January 12.

Executive cash for Orkney's vulnerable

Orkney is to receive over £350,000 from the Scottish Executive as part of the national "Supporting People" programme.

The programme provides housing support for vulnerable people - including the homeless, victims of domestic abuse and the elderly - allowing them to move to independent living.

The £357,044 goes to Orkney Islands Council and will go towards services already in place or scheduled to start on March 31, 2004.

Orkney First XV, in the red hoops, against Caithness.

Orkney Rugby Club's Second XVs won their match against Caithness Seconds at Pickaquoy on Saturday morning, lifting the Seconds Cup by 46 points to ten.

In the afternoon, in Orkney's First XV match against Caithness in the BT National League Division Four, Orkney lost 7-14.

After what was a very even first half, the Caithness backs dominated the second period, and deserved to take the points.

Butcher's shop re-opens after fire

The newly refurbished shop which re-opened on Saturday morning.

G. Donaldson & Sons, Butchers, re-opened their newly refurbished shop in Kirkwall's Albert Street on Saturday morning.

It had been shut since August 18 after a serious fire seriously damaged the premises, on the same day as it re-opened as a self service shop.

Orkney's new £3.5m library set for opening

The new £3.5m Orkney Library and Archive in Junction Road, Kirkwall will open this week.

Two Open Days - "Your chance to view the full facilities and check out the new opportunities" - will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9 and 10, from 10.30am to 7.30pm.

The library will then open for business at 9am on Thursday, December 11.

2001