Fears over future of vital Orkney ferry service amid funding shortfall
A leading transport union has written to the First Minister demanding action over a £1.5million funding shortfall for Orkney's vital inter-island ferries.
Orkney Islands Council
Orkney sheltered housing to lose overnight workers
Orkney Islands Council has agreed to remove overnight staff at a sheltered housing scheme in Stromness - a decision condemned by union leaders.
Scapa Flow scuttling descendants sought
A search is on to find descendants of the victims of the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet in Orkney for centenary commemorations.
Outrage at plans to axe sheltered housing sleep-in warden cover
Union leaders have blasted plans to axe sleep-over provision of wardens at an Orkney sheltered housing scheme – to save around £40,000.
Island council make public apology after flattening hundreds of gravestones
An island council has made a public apology after flattening hundreds of gravestones without warning in a bungling bid to comply with updated safety guidelines.
Two new tug boats heading for Orkney
Two new tug boats worth £6.1million each are making their way to serve Orkney.
Multi-million pound development proposed for Kirkwall
Plans for a 60-bed care facility in Orkney have been unveiled as part of a multi-million pound development.
Funeral poverty fears as further hike planned to ‘scandalous’ charges
As part of the P&J’s week-long series on the challenges grieving families face when a loved one dies, Calum Ross today investigates the soaring cost of funerals.
Revealed: Dozens of local cemeteries on the brink of running out of graves
Graveyards are on the brink of running out of space for new burials in dozens of communities across the north and north-east, it can be revealed.
Scapa Flow scuttling to be remembered 100 years on
The scuttling of the German naval fleet in Orkney’s Scapa Flow following the end of WWI is to be marked 100 years on.
New principal appointed for Orkney College UHI
A new principal has been appointed for Orkney College UHI with Professor Eddie Abbott-Halpin set to take up his post in early January.
Clean-up of contaminated Orcadian naval base to cost over £400,000
A council is asking the Ministry of Defence to help pay for a £400,000-plus clean-up of contaminated land at an old naval base on an Orcadian island.
Orkney council leads the way towards a carbon neutral economy
The leader of Orkney Islands Council has said they must take the lead to promote a carbon neutral economy following plans to spend £40,000 on two new electric vehicles.
Five stories you might have missed this week
From an owl-crash landing on an oil rig to Travis frontman Fran Healy paying a visit to Aberdeen - here are five stories you might have missed this week.
£6m project approved to eradicate stoats and save Orkney’s birds of prey
A £6million scheme to eradicate stoats from Orkney to save the rest of its wildlife population has been approved.
Public sector chiefs bill taxpayers for hundreds of meals and thousands of pounds
A budget-cutting local authority boss doubled the amount of cash he claimed back from taxpayers for expenses in just three years.
Probe ordered into Orkney Council bullying claims
Orkney Islands Council bosses are probing serious claims of bullying and harassment which have been revealed in a staff survey.
Concern over ‘vast disparity’ in classroom assistant numbers
Concerns have been raised after new figures exposed a “vast disparity” in the number of classroom assistants in schools across Scotland.
Contractor appointed to renovate Kirkwall Airport’s air traffic control tower
The contractor tasked with undertaking renovation works to Kirkwall Airport’s air traffic control tower has been announced as Bell Contracts and Co, based in Inverness.
NorthLink Ferries announce passenger numbers soar by 10%
NorthLink Ferries announced yesterday passenger numbers to the Northern Isles have soared by 10% since the firm took over the ferry service in July 2012.
Specialists called after masonry falls in Orkney cathedral ahead of major festival opening
Specialists were called in to Orkney’s historic cathedral on the eve of one of the island’s biggest festivals.
Orkney’s wartime guns to embark on lengthy journey south
Two anti-aircraft guns are to embark on a journey just shy of 400 miles to their new location in Dumfries.
Stromness regeneration plan scoops prestigious award
The plans used to regenerate the Orkney fishing town of Stromness have scooped a prestigious national award.
Hopes raised as ministers decide to put northern isles ferries out to tender
Hopes have been raised that the northern isles could soon secure improved ferry services after it was confirmed that the routes will be put out to tender again.
Orkney council to have ‘community conversations’ about cash
Cash-strapped Orkney Islands Council is holding meetings in local communities to look for ideas to save money or generate income.
Orkney mother in battle to keep isles language unit open
An Orkney mum has launched a petition against the island council’s decision to close a dedicated language unit, fearing for the impact it will have on her son.
Orkney airfields compete against major city airports in national competition
It has echoes of a David v Goliath battle.
Artist sought for £30,000 Kirkwall public art project
Orkney Islands Council is to carry out an ambitious £30,000 public art project in Kirkwall to tell the story of the historic island town.
Isles beauty spots poised for £480,000 boost to prepare for tourist influx
Popular beauty spots on Skye and Orkney will benefit from almost £500,000 of Scottish Government funding to prepare for the coming tourist season.
Budget deal secures £40million extra for north and north-east – but cuts threat remains
A budget deal has handed councils across the north and north-east a £40million boost – but leaders warned that threat of severe service cuts remained.
Councils across Scotland considering plastic straw ban
Councils across Scotland are considering banning plastic straws after a campaign which began with a school trip to the Highlands.
New council funding revealed after Holyrood “blunder” claims
Grants for Scottish councils have been re-calculated just weeks before they set their budgets – with Moray and Aberdeen City among the authorities losing out.