More Orkney news from The Orcadian Online

New moon cradles the old...
	The "New Moon" cradling the "Old Moon". The picture, from Rousay astronomer John Vetterlein was taken from Rousay on Wednesday, May 7, at 11 34pm. The bright star a little above the Moon is Elnath in Taurus. Click the image for an enlargement.
Three architects shortlisted for Stromness pierhead redevelopment
	Orkney Islands Council has selected three architects to produce design concepts for the redevelopment of Stromness Pierhead. From the 21 initial expressions of interest, a shortlist of three architects has been drawn up by a judging panel, which included Stromness councillors James Stockan and Ian Johnstone. The shortlisted architects are Graeme Massie Architects, Malcolm Fraser Architects, and Reiach and Hall. They will now receive an updated brief for the project and an exhibition of their concepts will be held during this year’s Shopping Week. The public will have the opportunity to comment on each concept at the exhibition.
Council confirm status of Ayre House as apartment development mooted
	Plans to construct a four-storey complex of apartments overlooking the Peerie Sea will come before Orkney Islands Council’s planning committee in the next few months. The private development, west of the Peerie Sea, will see the existing house - Ayre House - demolished. An OIC document, dating from 1999, stating the building is listed was dismissed as a mistake by the council this week. A spokeswoman said that although the council recognised the document was received by the then owner in March, 1999, checks with the Scottish Government have confirmed that Ayre House is not a listed building. She added: “We're unsure as to how it was suggested in 1999 that this was the case. We can only assume that there has been some confusion between Ayre House and Ayre Mills.”
Fresson anniversary commemorated
	At noon today, two aircraft from the pioneering days of Captain Ted Fresson will marked the 75th anniversary of the beginning of air travel in the Highlands and Islands with a fly past over Wideford Brae. The date commemorates the anniversary of the world’s longest continually running air route, between Kirkwall and Inverness. Cairns are also being unveiled at Kirkwall’s original Wideford airstrip site, and the Longman site of the original Inverness Airport.
Theatre suggested for power station site
	The future of the power station site on Great Western Road was discussed at this week’s Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council, with a new arts theatre mooted as one preferred option. Member, Alastair MacLeod, raised the matter at the meeting claiming he had been “reliably informed” that the power station was going to be decommissioned and the building closed down in the next five or six years. Chairman, Spencer Rosie, commented: “There is no doubt, if they do decommission the power station, it is a wonderful opportunity. It is one of the worst eyesores for Kirkwall. “The building itself, is a fine building, it would make a wonderful arts theatre.”
Tesco due to submit planning application
	Tesco is due to submit a planning application to Orkney Islands Council this week for their planned store extension. The supermarket giants, who took over the Somerfield store in Kirkwall on Saturday, met with council officials recently. A spokeswoman from Orkney Islands Council said: "They undertook to get a planning application in this week but it has not been received as yet. Any planning application will have to go through the normal planning channels."
Chairman and vice-chairman re-elected to Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council
	Spencer Rosie and Bryan Taylor were re-elected chairman and vice-chairman respectively of Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council last night. Mr Rosie thanked his fellow members for having the confidence in him for another year. "This is my ninth year as chairman and I think ten years is probably enough. I should do a Tony Blair, but I won't as I want to stay on as a back bench member!"
New Rousay GP starts Thursday
	Dr Sue Macalister is due to start as the new resident GP for Rousay on Thursday. According to NHS Orkney, the appointment will offer the island residents a period of stability while work continues through the NHS Orkney Shaping Up Programme to agree the future delivery of primary care services. NHS Orkney would like to thank the community nursing team and Rousay practice staff for continuing to support provision of services to the community.
Public invitation to NHS workshops
	NHS Orkney is looking to find better ways of involving the public in planning and delivering health care services in Orkney. Health Board staff, patients and anyone with an interest in health are invited to workshops in the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, on Thursday, May 15, to air their views. Rhoda Walker, lead director for patient focus and public involvement, said: “Public involvement is a key area of all the work we do and we hope this event will help to get views on how folk want to be involved and how we can communicate to keep them involved and informed.” Anyone interested in attending should contact 888044.
New study into MS in Orkney
	A major study looking at Multiple Sclerosis has been launched in Orkney by Dr Jim Wilson, of the University of Edinburgh. He is appealing for people with the condition to come forward after attracting funding of £215,000, over two years, from the MS Society of Scotland. He said it was important to understand why the rates are so high in Orkney and Shetland. GPs will be writing to patients known to have the condition to ask them to come forward, but Dr Wilson wants anyone with MS, whether an Orcadian living at home or away, and those who moved to the county with the condition, to get in touch. For more information or to take part contact Kay Lindsay, project manager, on 0131 651 1643 or e.mail orkney@ed.ac.uk.
Eday resident charged with drink driving
	A 60-year-old man from Eday appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Friday charged with being four-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit. A police spokesman said the driver was stopped on Broad Street in Kirkwall after coming off the ferry. The case against him was continued without plea and he will appear at court again later this month.
Record number of passengers at airports
	Passenger number at Kirkwall airport continue to grow, according to figures published by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. The annual total for 2007/08 as 149,924 – an 8.8 per cent increase over the previous year. A spokesman for HIAL said: “Increases to frequency and capacity on routes operated by Loganair have been a significant contributory factor to the growth achieved this year, helping to make the region’s remotest locations more accessible.” Over the Highlands and Islands network as a whole, passenger numbers reached a record high of 1, 270, 023 in the past year.
Orkney Economic Review released
	The new Orkney Economic Review 2008 was released on Friday and is available to download at the Orkney Islands Council website. The document contains a range of statistical information including data on population, industry performance and transport. It also contains the latest employment figures and information on ferry and airport use. A limited number of hard copies are also available from the Council’s Customer Services Reception and at Kirkwall and Stromness libraries.
Historic flyby to mark Fresson anniversary
	At noon on Thursday, two aircraft from the pioneering days of Captain Ted Fresson will mark the 75th anniversary of the beginning of air travel in the Highlands and Islands. The date commemorates the anniversary of the world’s longest continually running air route, between Kirkwall and Inverness. A cairn will be unveiled at Kirkwall’s original Wideford airstrip site topped by a bronzed casting, created by Orcadian sculptor, Gary Gibson. Meanwhile, at 11am on May 8, Scott Grier, chairman of Loganair, will unveil a brass plaque at Kirkwall Airport to commemorate the occasion.