| Gareth Crichton leaving NorthLink |
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NorthLink’s commercial director Gareth Crichton is leaving the company.
Mr Crichton will remain in post until the end of the year before leaving to pursue other business interests. Arrangements are now being made to recruit a replacement.
He joined NorthLink in the summer of 2001, the year before the company assumed control of the Northern Isles ferry routes from previous operators P&O Ferries. Immediately prior to joining NorthLink, Crichton was chief executive of the Orkney Tourist Board, a post he held for three years. |
| Debut for Orkney's new flag |
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 Orkney’s new community flag was flown officially for the first time on Friday – after having received its full authorisation from the Lord Lyon, King of Arms.
The council has given a 6’ x 4’ flag to every community council in Orkney and 15 businesses and organisations across the county, who are set to fly the new flag on Friday morning, including Orkney Golf Club, Highland Park Distillery, the Stromness Hotel and the Pickaquoy Centre.
OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, said: “Only a properly authorised flag can be appropriately used by the public at official civic, community and sporting events and, as this is now our official community flag - let’s fly it with pride.” |
| Livestock movement restrictions lifted |
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At midnight on Thursday, restrictions on moving livestock were lifted
Movement, however, will still be subject to strict conditions and limited to transporting directly between farm premises.
The announcement follows Thursday's lifting of the European ban on meat and live animal exports to Europe. |
| Highland Park on awards shortlist |
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The Highland Park Distillery has been shortlisted in the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink awards 2007.
The distillery is one of four to make the shortleet in the innovation award category.
The premises is not the only Orcadian connection with the awards however, as the judging panel comprises Alan Craigie, of the Creel restaurant in St Margaret's Hope, alongside others.
The winners will be announced at the awards dinner in Inverness on September 14. |
| Final event for local maternity accommodation fundraisers |
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Campaigners behind a fundraising effort to improve the islands' accommodation at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital are gearing up for their final event.
Tickets are on sale, priced £20, for a buffet dance at the Garson hall in Stromness, on September 15, from 7.30pm onwards.
It is hoped the final event of the effort will see the target top £25,000 - well exceeding the original hope to raise £10,000. Tickets are available from organiser Janette Park by calling 01856 850053. |
| Scrabster terminal link-span problems |
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NorthLink’s ferry, Hamnavoe, was delayed on Wednesday because of problems with the Scrabster terminal.
A Northlink spokesman said: “There was a problem with the Scrabster pier link span, the connection between the pier and the boat. They got in fine but took a wee while for the vehicles to be unloaded.”
After overcoming the problem, which is understood to have involved the hydraulics of the link span, the Hamnavoe left Scrabster for her scheduled return journey to Stromness. |
| Conference highlights learning disability services available in Orkney |
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A one-day conference, to be held in the Pickaquoy Centre on August 30, aims to raise awareness of learning disability services on offer in Orkney.
The conference will provide the opportunity for those interested to take part in workshops, find out more about subjects such as health promotion, training, leisure and supported accommodation and have the chance to influence service provision.
The event begins at 9.15am, running throughout the day. Anyone interested in attending or taking part should contact Maureen Findlay on 873217 |
| Statement warns of serious consequences of ferry strike |
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Orkney Ferries is working on strike contingency arrangements – although they say they have yet to be notified of the extent of the industrial action planned by crewmembers.
In a joint statement, Orkney Ferries and Orkney Islands Council, are warning communities in the outer North Isles that the strike may have serious consequences for them.
The statement concludes: “The company sincerely hopes that a solution to the present industrial disputes can be found. With this in mind, the company is available for further talks with all three unions to try and find a way of concluding the present disputes and a way forward for the future.” |
| Minister's OIC meetings hailed a "refreshing change" |
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"A refreshing change" was how OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, described last week’s meetings between the OIC and finance minister John Swinney.
Among the issues discussed were the possible piloting of a project to explore issues around a single public service delivery model for Orkney, the council's overall grant support level and container hub project proposals.
Councillor Hagan said: "There appeared to be a real opportunity with Mr Swinney for local government to achieve a wider role and range of freedoms to deliver the public sector reform agenda. He recognised the constraints placed on local government and the council certainly welcomed his vision for greater responsibilities and new powers for local government - provided it is accompanied by adequate funding." |
| Invitation to experience life on board the Statsraad Lehmkuhl |
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 Next month, the public can experience life on board one of Orkney's most regular summer visitors - the Norwegian sail training ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl.
On Wednesday, September 5, there will be a short cruise from Kirkwall, open to the public and organised in aid of the Orkney Boat Museum. The cruise is scheduled to run from 11.30am until approximately 3pm.
To take part, guests are invited to make a donation to the Boat Museum and can do so in advance at VisitOrkney's office on Broad Street. |
| Four figure reward for cat killer information |
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A four figure reward has been offered in a bid to find the who was responsible for beating and suffocating a pet cat.
Senior SSPCA inspector in Orkney, Mike Lynch said members of the public, “disgusted” by the incident, were putting up the reward anonymously.
The tom cat was discovered inside a plastic bag on Scapa beach on Tuesday last week. Following a veterinary examination it is believed the animal was severely beaten and stuffed into the bag while still alive. |
| Rural affairs secretary plans Orkney meeting |
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Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead will be visiting Orkney next week to gather and discuss the views and concerns affecting the county’s rural communities.
The Minister will host a public meeting at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall at 6.30pm on Wednesday, August 29, answering questions on pressing rural, marine and environmental issues.
Ahead of his visit, Mr Lochhead said: “We are genuinely keen to provide the public with the opportunity to put their concerns and questions directly to us. Along with our senior officials, we want to hear the views of all parts of Scotland.” |
| Star ratings for Orkney accommodation |
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VisitScotland has awarded nine accommodation providers in Orkney higher star ratings.
As part of VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme, and following assessment by the Quality Assurance team, two properties have attained a five star status and a further seven have received four stars.
Receiving the highest possible rating of five stars was Holland House B&B in Harray and Lynnview Self-Catering in Kirkwall. |
| Resident GP changes inevitable on islands - communities urged to have their say |
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Resident GPs on all Orkney’s islands is not sustainable. That was the message from NHS Orkney on Monday.
Chief executive Iain Crozier said: “It is becoming increasingly difficult for NHS Orkney to ensure that our single-handed GP services are safe, simply because the GPs are often working on their own and their work is not reviewed. Many of our isles GPs are approaching retirement and we need to start planning for this now.”
He pointed out that it costs 37 times more to provide a GP for North Ronaldsay than the Scottish average, adding: “We are not planning to withdraw GP services from all islands, but we do need to radically alter the way that services are provided.”
NHS Orkney stressed that there are no plans “cast in stone” as yet and will depend on a forthcoming widespread public consultation. |
| NHS Orkney seek island views on GP provision |
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NHS Orkney will be hosting a series of meetings with island communities next month as part of the way GP services are provided.
The health board has invited a random selection of islanders to attend meetings next month, along with representatives from the community councils, development trusts and local councillors.
NHS Orkney chief executive Iain Crozier said: "We want to ensure that we involve the community in the development of any options for change and identify the needs and concerns of each community ahead of developing options." |
| Livestock can be transported to mainland |
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Orkney livestock can now be transported to the Scottish mainland, but under strict Scottish Executive controls.
Island farms face particular problems at this time of year in moving large numbers of stock to the mainland for grazing and fattening. From Midnight last night, farmers can now despatch to a single farm premises on the mainland.
The effect of this measure, following other relaxations last week, is that agricultural life on the islands can begin to get back to normal. |
