| Additional accommodation contract signed |
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A £3 million contract to fit additional cabins to NorthLink’s ferries Hjaltland and Hrossey was signed today.
The contract was awarded to Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders, of Birkenhead.
There will be detailed discussion in January to determine exactly when the vessels will be taken out of service, but the intention is for the conversion work to be carried out as part of their annual dry-dock period.
The work will see an increase in passenger cabin accommodation with the provision of 22 additional cabins on each ferry providing an additional 76 berths. |
| Police appeal for assault witnesses |
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Police are looking for witnesses to an assault which happened in the early hours of Friday morning.
A man assaulted a woman in a lane off Bridge Street, near to the harbour, around 1am this morning. Police are particularly keen to speak to a man who shouted at the attacker, which caused him to run off.
They are also looking for any information about a Makita drill which was removed from the old IT offices at Orkney Islands Council between December 15 and December 18.
Anyone with information should phone Kirkwall Police Station on 01856 872241. |
| R. B. Flett staff's last working day |
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Staff at R. B. Flett Ltd, based in Orphir, were working their last day on Friday.
The company is in negotiations with potential buyers for its assets and has recieved interest from a number of other parties. However, because a deal has not been reached, staff will finish up today.
The company announced two weeks ago that it would cease trading after 32 years, making 25 employees redundant. It has operated as the John Deere dealership in Orkney in Caithness and also has an outlet at Orkney Auction Mart. |
| Ball in Minister's court regarding Orkney's eldery care crisis |
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“The ball is now very much in the Minister’s court to identify a fuller response to Orkney’s acknowledged elderly care needs.”
That was the reaction of Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, following a meeting with Deputy Health Minister, Lewis MacDonald on elderly care in Orkney,
The meeting was also attended by OIC Convener, Stephen Hagan, the Chairman of the social work committee, Keith Johnson and the OIC Director of Community Social Services, Harry Garland.
Mr Wallace said: “I believe we put a compelling case to the Minister, highlighting Orkney’s needs, both in terms of home care packages and residential care. We were given a hearing, and significantly, Lewis Macdonald acknowledged the scale of the problem being faced by the Council.” |
| MSP's disappointment over a lack of air ambulance progress |
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Jim Wallace MSP has expressed disappointment after a meeting with Health Minister Andy Kerr, to press the case for the restoration of a Kirkwall-based air ambulance service for Orkney.
Stating that no substantial progress was made, Mr Wallace said: "The real frustration is that the Scottish Ambulance Service appears to believe that the service overall is improving.
"Moreover, the representative from Gama Aviation present could not understand how a pilot in Kirkwall could make a more informed judgement about flight conditions than a pilot receiving weather forecasts from Inverness."
The Minister has agreed to examine in detail every case involving the movement of a North Isles patient since January - including those where the GP opted to send his patient by a scheduled flight or used the lifeboat. |
| Broadband funding welcomed |
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Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, has welcomed a Scottish Executive funding package to extend broadband cover to areas where it is now unavailable.
Mr Wallace said: “Nicol Stephen’s announcement that £1.5 Million already in the Broadband budget, plus a further £3.5 Million of new money, will be used to make access to Broadband as widespread as possible, is very welcome.
“I have, over the last year, flagged up with the Minister a number of areas of Orkney which are out of reach of broadband and asked for them to be given priority when technical solutions are found.”
The Broadband Reach report is available here. |
| I'll come and cheer you up, says funnyman Mark |
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Mark Roberts, billed as one of the Canary Islands’ top comedians, is offering to come to Orkney to cheer people up.
He read last week’s story about the Rev Alec Renshaw’s plans to open up his house over the festive holidays to anyone who is alone or wants a bit of company and decided he too, would like to bring a little Christmas cheer to Orkney.
He is offering to fly to here - providing somebody picks up the cost of his flights and accommodation - to put on a free show.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Mark to come to Orkney, can contact him on 01383 821647.
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| Papa Westray at the centre of a rapid development boom |
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There may be no regular pubs or clubs, fancy leisure facilities, or fashionable shops, but one of Orkney’s smallest islands is enjoying something of a boom. While many outer isles and rural areas are reporting people leaving for good, Papa Westray is a success story like no other in the county.
The island’s population has risen sharply in the past five years - in stark contrast to Orkney's other North and South Isles.
The island’s representative, OIC convener Councillor Stephen Hagan, said the numbers had fallen away to the low 50s a few years ago - but had now risen to more than 70.
“The school, which had three to four kids, is now up at nine or ten. A number of years ago local people made derelict and uninhabited properties available for sale. These are being purchased and refurbished.
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| Cannigall speeders ignore police warning |
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Despite warnings earlier this week, another two motorists have been charged with speeding on the Holm straight – a 60mph road.
A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal after one motorist was caught driving at an alleged speed of 98mph on the stretch of road at Cannigall.
A second speeder received a fixed penalty fine after being recorded driving at 79mph. |
| Man bailed after Thoms Street assault |
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A 39-year-old man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday following an assault and breach of the peace overnight on Sunday.
Michael Windwick, Thoms Street, Kirkwall, admitted the charges and was released on bail. He has been instructed not to go near the Thoms Street property or contact complainer.
Sentence was deferred until January 26. |
| Research results on remote broadband provision expected soon |
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Enterprise Minister, Nicol Stephen, has replied to representations made by Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, on behalf of Rousay residents unable to get a broadband connection.
The problem, which is not exclusive to Rousay, is due to the distance limit between households and broadband-enabled telephone exchanges. The Minister, however, assured that the results of a Scottish Executive study to find a technical solution to the problem will be announced soon.
Mr Wallace commented: “I will certainly be keeping a close watch out for the Minister’s announcement of the outcome of the research and, if a technical solution is found to the reach problem, I will be pushing hard for it to be rolled out in Orkney as quickly as possible.”
Those out of broadband range wishing to formally log their problem with the Scottish Executive can contact Harry Emambocus on 0141 242 5430 or by email. |
| Lib Dems speak out against delivery charges |
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Five Highlands and Islands Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a parliamentary motion criticising “excessive and discriminatory” delivery charges levied by companies for parcel post deliveries to the north of Scotland.
They are calling on the Government to protect island and rural communities who are “prejudiced against by excessive delivery surcharges from mail-order companies”.
They want companies to use the most affordable delivery option, often the Royal Mail Parcel Service, when customers request it. |
| Businessman confirms Kirkwall plans |
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After months of speculation, businessman Neil Stevenson has confirmed his plans for further development in Kirkwall’s Albert Street.
Mr Stevenson is to relocate Grooves into the former Leonards shop in Albert Street while the Edinburgh Woollen Mill will take over the existing Grooves premises at 17 Albert Street.
Grooves will only occupy the ground floor of Leonards, the upper floors being converted into luxury holiday accommodation. The initial move is expected to be completed towards the end of February, with the Woollen Mill expected to open in April. |
| Inspectors' praise for Flotta School |
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Pupils at Flotta Primary School are enthusiastic, eager to learn and enjoy their schoolwork - according to the latest HMIE inspection report.
The school was inspected in September, with the strong partnership between the school, parents and the island community praised by inspectors.
The inspectors made some recommendations and want to see development in several areas, including information and communications technology, to ensure a balance of different aspects, better continuity and progression in pupils’ learning.
- Meanwhile, Kirkwall Grammar School is making good progress in meeting the main points for action highlighted by the HMIE inspection two years ago.
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| Eleven councillors complete severance payment form |
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Eleven Members of Orkney Islands Council have filled in the form regarding the one-off severance payment being offered by the Scottish Executive.
Councillors Cyril Annal, Janice Annal, Mike Drever, Jim Foubister, John Hamilton, Keith Johnson, Bob Sclater, Sinclair Scott, Jim Sinclair, Ann Sutherland and Bryan Taylor have all filled in the form.
All councillors eligible for a severance payment were advised by Council Officers to complete the form and hand it in. They can still stand for election as normal but completing the form means they would be eligible for a severance payment if they decide not to stand. |
| NorthLink's new marketing campaign begins with brochure launch |
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 NorthLink Ferries has launched its 2007 marketing strategy, targeting an upsurge in tourist figures for Orkney, Shetland and the north of mainland Scotland.
The company marked the start of the campaign on Monday with the launch of a new all-encompassing consumer brochure, a comprehensive guide to the Northern Isles.
It is hoped the brochure and the associated marketing campaign will help attract more than 10,000 new visitors in 2007.
The brochure, Simply Inspirational, is a colourful and informative 60-page tourist guide to contemporary social and cultural life in the Northern Isles. |
| Artist selected for Pier Arts Centre project |
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An artist has been selected for the cultural challenge of producing new work inspired by spending a year with Orkney’s farming community.
Photographer Rebecca Marr, 36, will move to the islands in January to take up her appointment as artist in residence for the Pier Arts Centre's Art and Agriculture project.
Carol Dunbar, the Pier’s education development officer, said Rebecca’s enthusiasm and experience made her an ideal choice for an initiative that attracted interest from throughout the UK and as far afield as the United States. |
Restaurant murder arrest soon claims newspaper |
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Police investigating the 12-year-old murder of Shamsudden Mahmood in Kirkwall are expecting to make an arrest “within weeks” according to a report in a national newspaper.
The Sunday Mail claims that advances in DNA fingerprinting have identified a suspect and that an arrest will be made shortly.
Bangladeshi waiter Shamsudden, 26, was murdered by a single shot to the head in front of 14 customers in the Mumutaz Restaurant in Kirkwall, Orkney, in June 1994. |
| Police urge motorists to take care in icy conditions |
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Police are urging motorists to heed the weather conditions following a spate of road accidents over the weekend.
Icy conditions saw a number of vehicles leave the road, particularly on Friday night and the early hours of Saturday. There were no serious injuries.
In separate incidents, four motorists are to be reported to the procurator fiscal for speeding on the Holm straight. |
Staff kept on while negotiations continue |
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Staff at agricultural engineers R.B. Flett Ltd have been kept on an extra week.
The company announced last Tuesday it was to cease trading after 32 years.
A number of staff were due to be made redundant on Friday, but have been kept on while negotiations continue with a potential buyer. |
| Pensioner charged with supplying alcohol |
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A 72-year-old man has been charged with buying alcohol for under-age girls in Kirkwall.
The alleged incident occurred at 9.15pm on Saturday.
A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal. |
