Christmas and New Year Holiday Period

The Council Offices will be closed to the public from 16:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 and will thereafter remain closed until 9:00 on Friday 3 January 2020.

Other specific arrangements are detailed below:

Customer Services

The Customer Services functions in Kirkwall and Stromness will close from 16:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 and will re-open at 9:00 on Friday 3 January 2020 in Kirkwall and at 9:15 on Friday 3 January 2020 in Stromness.

Registration – Births, Deaths and Marriages

For information/advice on registrations between 27 – 31 December 2019 please contact 07860448271.

Emergency Out-of-Hours ‘Homeless Service’

For those requiring accommodation in an emergency (e.g. homeless) please contact the Out of Hours Officer on 07921582962.

Orkney Health and Care – Social Work and Social Care services

Emergency Out of Hours Duty social work services can be contacted through the Balfour Hospital on 01856888000 for the duration of the holiday period.

Additionally, on Friday 27, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December 2019 the following social work and social care services will be contactable on 01856886470 between 9:00 and 13:30 each day:

• Criminal Justice.
• Children and Families.
• Adult Social Work.
• Community Occupational Therapy and Selbro Store.
• Urgent Telecare referrals will be processed those days also.

Please note: the council building will not be open, but access to the above services will be available via telephone for Social Work and Social Care service enquiries only.

Any matters relating to non-Orkney Health and Care enquiries, for example payments or Council Tax cannot be handled during this time. Please note you will not receive a reply on the Council’s normal switchboard number.

For all Home Care enquiries please contact 01856888390, the office will be staffed as usual from 7:00 to 22:00 each day over the holiday period.

Gilbertson and West Mainland day care centres will be open as usual on, Friday 27, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December 2019, weather permitting.

Development and Infrastructure

Normal procedures will apply for emergencies.

Housing and Other Council Owned Property

For reporting emergency repairs required to Council owned housing and other Council owned property please telephone Kirkwall 01856873430.

You will be directed to employees who are on standby. Please hold until you get a response.

Roads, Footways and Street Lighting/Severe Weather

For reporting defects relating to roads, footways and street lighting or during severe weather conditions and flooding please telephone Kirkwall 01856876338.

You will either be able to speak to employees who are on standby or leave your message on the answering machine. The messages on this machine are checked several times each day.

To contact the Police in an emergency dial 999. For all other non-emergency enquiries please contact the Police on 101.

The Police Crimestoppers number is 0800555111 and this offers a confidential option.

Pay and Display Car Parks

Fees require to be paid in the car parks as usual except for 25 and 26 December 2019 and 1 and 2 January 2020. Any queries can be made at the Council Offices on Friday 3 January 2020.

Refuse Collection and Waste Sites

Information on refuse collection, waste sites opening times can be obtained here:

Commercial Domestic Collections

Refuse Collections Isles

Waste Management Sites Christmas

Business Gateway (Queen Street)

Closed from 13:00 Tuesday 24 December 2019 and reopens 9:00 Friday 3 January 2020.

St Magnus Cathedral

Open during normal working hours except Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December 2019 and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 January 2020.

The Orkney Museum, Tankerness House

Closed from 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019, until 10:30 on Friday 3 January 2020.

Warehouse Buildings, Stromness (including Stromness Library)

Open from 9:15 to 16:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 and reopens Friday 3 January 2020 at 9:15.

Orkney Library and Archive

Closed from 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 and reopens Saturday 4 January 2020, 9:15.

Kirkwall and St Ola Community Centre

Closed from 16:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 until 9:00 on Friday 3 January 2020 (St Magnus Café closes at 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December).

Stromness Community Centre

Closed from 12:30 on Tuesday 24 December 2019 until Friday 3 January 2020 at 9:30.

Stromness Academy Community School

Closed from Friday 20 December 2019 until Sunday 5 January 2020 inclusive.

Dounby Centre

Closed from Saturday 21 December 2019 until Sunday 5 January 2020 inclusive.

All Healthy Living Centres

Contact each Healthy Living Centre for details.

Westray

westray.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01857677568.

Sanday

sanday.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01857600795.

Shapinsay

shapinsay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01856711346.

Rousay

rousay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01856821443.

North Walls

northwalls.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01856791085.

St Margaret’s Hope

hope.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01856831793.

Stronsay

stronsay.hlc@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

01857616449.

KGS Sports Centre

KGS Sports Centre will be open as follows during the festive period:

Closed Tuesday 24 December 2019 to Thursday 26 December 2019 inclusive.

Friday 27 December – Open from 17:30 – 20:00.

Saturday 28 December – Open from 9:30 – 13:00.

Sunday 29 December – Open from 13:00 – 16:00.

Closed Monday 30 December 2019 until Saturday 4 January 2020 when normal opening hours will resume.

Stromness Swimming Pool

Stromness Swimming Pool and Health Suite & Fitness Suites

Saturdays 21, 28 December 2019 and 4 January 2020.

10:00 – 13:00.

Sundays 22, 29 December 2019 and 5 January 2020.

10:00 – 12:00 (noon).

14:00 – 15:30 (Family Fun session – Limited numbers).

Mondays 23 and 30 December 2019.

8:30 – 10:30.

9:15 – 10:00 Exercise in Water (30 December only).

15:00 – 19:00 (17:30 – 18:30 2 lanes available for lane swimming).

Tuesdays 24 and 31 December 2019.

Open 8:30 – 10:30.

Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December 2019 – Closed.

Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 January 2020 – Closed.

Friday 27 December 2019.

8:30 – 10:30.

15:00 – 19:00 (2 lanes available).

Friday 3 January 2020.

8:30 – 10:30.

15:00 – 19:15 (Deepend 18:30 – 19:15).

18:30 – 19:15 Aqua Zumba.