Passengers on Orkney’s buses have been hit by the decision to close Kirkwall Travel Centre early on Friday afternoons, from 15 March.

Persistent anti social behaviour by youths in and around the travel centre, especially on Friday afternoons, has caused alarm to those using the centre and damage to property.

Explaining the action taken Orkney Islands Council’s Transportation Service Manager, Laura Cromarty, said:

“We are still experiencing ongoing issues at the Kirkwall Travel Centre whereby the building is left in a mess each evening, youths are speaking inappropriately to other users (to the extent that people do not feel safe enough to use the building) and there has been evidence of drug use, which has since been reported to the police for further investigation.

“We have had to send out a building inspector to examine potential tampering of plugs, which is not only dangerous to the person themselves, but also a potential fire hazard.

“There is no respect given to others and the cleaners have a terrible mess to clean up at the end of the day. We have found that Friday afternoons are particularly problematic, so as a last resort we are going to trial an early closure of the facility from 12noon each Friday for a period of time.

“We appreciate this early closure will affect all other users, but feel we have no choice but to take action.”

The travel centre is not only used by Orkney’s bus passengers but by the many visitors that come to the islands. Tour buses and buses serving the cruise ships also use the centre. The first cruise liner is due to visit Orkney on Monday 18th of March.

It seems the people being punished for the vandalism and abuse are the innocent passengers and visitors to Orkney rather than the perpetrators of these crimes.

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor David Dawson, said:

“This type of senseless and needless behaviour, with no consideration for others – particularly some of the more vulnerable members of our community who have intimated that this makes them feel unnerved – is quite honestly shameful. I am sure the vast majority of our young people do not behave in this manner and certainly would not wish for their elderly relatives to be subjected to this sort of intimidating behaviour, but a minority are spoiling it for others.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure our communities are safe for everyone, to look out for one another. To those youths causing fear and alarm, be warned, the police have successfully detected those causing issues at the Travel Centre in the past.”

The Police Station is located very close to the Travel Centre and well within its view which makes the fact that those committing these crimes can get away with it even the more galling.

Orkney Police Sergeant Simon Hay said:

“We have been made aware of antisocial behaviour at the Kirkwall Travel Centre, including a recent report of alleged drug misuse, which is being followed up.

“In response to this, and as resources allow, we will continue to carry out proactive patrols of the area. Should you see any antisocial behaviour or anything criminal please do report it. Either nip into the station or call us on 101.”

Fiona Grahame