A planning application for a wind turbine in Firth has been lodged with the OIC planning department.

The application, by Orkney islands councillor Eoin Scott, Redland, Firth, is to site a single 2MW turbine in an arable field, just off the main Finstown to Evie road.

If approved, the turbine would feed renewable energy straight into the grid at Redland and will provide power to Finstown, Norseman and the surrounding households.

Work to install a grass-covered roof on the best-preserved Neolithic house at Skara Brae is due to be completed by the end of the month.

After extensive environmental monitoring of the conditions within the House Seven, experts conceded that the metal and glass roof, fitted in 1930, should be replaced with a lightweight timber structure supporting a hydroponic mat roof with planted sedum grass on the top. 

Almost £200,000 worth of grants were approved by HIE Orkney last month.

Among the £198,774 worth of approvals were £100,000 to Orkney College to establish a commercial archaeology unit, £6,181 to the St Magnus Festival for its forthcoming Spiegeltent project and £9,900 for the establishment of a jewellery business in Burray.

The OIC has decided against buying the Wideford Hill reservoir and water treatment works.

Scottish Water had given the authority the first option on the sale of the redundant reservoir but councillors at Friday ’s meeting of the land and property sub-committee heard that ongoing maintenance, including obligations under the Reservoirs Act 1975, would result in an estimated additional annual cost of £15,000.

Councillors have given the green light to the purchase of land in Eday to create a ‘Gateway House’ for the island.

Members of the land and property sub-committee agreed on Friday to purchase the site, at Millbounds, from Orkney Housing Association for £8,500.

The results of the Flotta Community Council election have been published.

The seven people elected are: Phyliss Gee, Peter Robertson, David Sinclair, Isobel Smith, Mary Luckett, Marina Sinclair and David Bugh.

Due to an administrative error, the e-mail address for Councillor Russ Madge published in Orkney Islands Council's 'Meet Your Council' booklet last week is incorrect.

The correct address is russ.madge@orkney.gov.uk and the OIC is asking householders to amend their booklets accordingly.

Orkney Motor Club is the second club in Orkney to reach the bronze level of sportsmark – a scheme run by the OIC’s sports development service highlighting good practice and recognises the effort volunteers put into their clubs.

OIC recreation services manager, Kieran Henderson, said: "We congratulate Orkney Motor Club on their success, which shows that they have key elements in place for a successful club and are working to best practice.  We were impressed with their portfolio and we are looking forward to working with them in their future development.”

Councillor Rob Crichton was elected vice chairman of the OIC development committee after a closely fought contest at Thursday’s meeting.

The OIC development committee approved a grant of nearly £200,000 for VisitOrkney on Thursday.

However, a funding shortfall is likely to mean a reduction in the Kirkwall Tourist Information Centre opening hours and the possible winter closure of the Stromness TIC.

Orkney the Brand looks set to receive £130,000 in 2007/08.

Councillors at Thursday’s development meeting heard of the success of the scheme to-date. However, it was stressed that the effort needs to continue in order to keep up the momentum.

Four Breakfast and After School clubs in Orkney will close in July due to a lack of demand.

The OIC announced on Thursday that the clubs at Glaitness, Firth, St Andrews and Dounby will close when funding from the Big Lottery Quality Childcare programme ends in July.

One club in Kirkwall and the club based in Stromness will continue to run.

Following completion of a £4.5 million project, the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness will re-open its doors to the public on Saturday, July 7.

For a quarter of a century the centre has comprised of two historic buildings.

A new 21st century building has been added to extend the gallery while the charm and character of the original Pier Arts Centre has been lovingly preserved during the two-year project.   

The case for laying long-distance subsea cables from renewable energy projects in the islands to highly-populated areas south is far from clear-cut under current regulations, according to a consultants' report.

The review was prepared for island authorities, together with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Executive, to investigate options for transmitting power from renewable energy projects to the mainland

Under the current method of basing investment on known demand, it is likely that short subsea cable connections to the mainland and reinforcement of onshore cable infrastructure presents as the most viable options.

In Orkney, this would be two 180MW cables connecting from Skaill Bay to Murckle Bay in Caithness.

Full report available here.

Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson has welcomed a commitment to greater co-operation between Orkney and Caithness in order to maximise the wave and tidal energy potential of the Pentland Firth 

Mr Gibson has lodged an amendment to the motion from Orkney MSP Liam McArthur on renewable energy developments in Orkney.

Islands councillors were amongst those taking the opportunity to have a look around one of the newest additions to the Shetland inter-islands ferry fleet.

The Dagalien stopped off in Kirkwall on Wednesday, en route to Shetland after refit.

Sinclair Breweries Ltd – the company which owns the Orkney Brewery in Quoyloo – has appointed a new business development manager.  

The new chairman of the social work and housing committee, Councillor Roderick McLeod, outlined on Tuesday his aspirations for the future of the services.

While supporting the provision of additional residential care for the elderly, he said people must not lose sight of other forms of care available.

As to housing provision, he said: “We need to seek imaginative solutions to affordable housing. I think we should seriously consider building new council houses. What an old fashioned idea, but I think we should look to that in this term of office.”

• Meanwhile, Councillor Russ Madge was elected vice chairman of the committee, unopposed.

The acquisition of land for the proposed care home to cover Burray and South Ronaldsay has been concluded.

Alan Moar, OIC head of corporate property, told members of the social work committee at Tuesday’s meeting that legal work had been completed and that the non-specified site is now in council ownership.

The proposed new accommodation unit for people with learning disabilities looks likely to be built within the Orkney Housing Association Wellington Street development in Kirkwall.

A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal after police stopped a vehicle on Kirkwall’s Pickaquoy Road on Monday afternoon.

Police inquiries are continuing after a parked vehicle was damaged outside the Kirkwall Hotel on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police station on 872241.

Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, has lodged a motion backing a petition calling for improved support for community halls.

Mr McArthur said, “In the past, Orkney halls have made good use of the various funding sources to refurbish and upgrade their buildings, but funding is becoming increasingly difficult to find. On top of that, new regulations put an increasing burden on the volunteers who give their time and effort to keep the halls going.”

He added: “Good support for the petition will highlight the value people put on their local halls and will help the campaign to get them improved support. I hope that the many Orcadians who value their local hall will support the campaign.”

A local charity fundraiser raised over £7,000 at an auction in Kirkwall on Friday night.

Organiser of the campaign, Gillian Wolstenholme, said: “The running total now stands at £9,746, following a donation from Orkaid.”

“We are just blown away. Orkney has done it again.”

The OIC is reminding the public that they are welcome to attend council committee meeting, with the first of these getting under way this week.

The cycle began with Social Services and Housing on Tuesday, with development and land and property on Thursday and Friday respectively. The public meetings can be viewed from the council chamber’s viewing gallery.

Information on all the Council’s meetings, including dates, times, minutes and agendas is all available online at www.orkney.gov.uk.

The Longhope lifeboat was launched on Saturday to assist a tanker laden with sulphuric acid in trouble in the Pentland Firth.

The Maltese-registered West Sailor, with 17 crew on board, was carrying over 5,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid, reported problems with its cooling system at 9.45am on Saturday morning.

However, by the time the lifeboat reached the vessel the tanker was under way and travelling under its own steam. She was then escorted out of the Pentland Firth.

After the election on May 29, the results for another two of the county's community councils have now been announced.

Seven members have been elected to both the Eday and Papa Westray community councils. The percentage turnout was 62.26 per cent and 59.65 per cent respectively.

Full details of the new community council members are available on the OIC website.

Cat owners can get their felines neutered for free thanks to a new campaign by Cats Protection’s Orkney Islands Branch, supported by local vets.

In an effort to tackle the ongoing problem of stray and feral cats, the charity will pay the cost of the operation for anyone on a limited income – but owners should act fast as the offer is on a first-come, first-served basis.

To request one of Cats Protection’s neutering vouchers – which will be accepted by veterinary surgeries – call the branch on 01856 761631.