[Stronsaylimpet] OIC update at 17:30 on Wed 7 Jan

[Limpet editor]

Hi folks - Kirsty from the Council here – with my last ‘weather’ update 
of the week at 17:30 on 7 January.
Things are starting to return to a bit of normality after quite the week 
– and we’ll now revert to bringing you any updates on an as and when 
basis, rather than the very frequent ones you’ve been seeing.
Here's the main things you need to know tonight though:
👉 Weather and road conditions are improving but it still pretty cold 
for the next few days.  A thaw is underway but it might take a while – 
and that brings a whole set of new challenges like ice and standing 
water.  Please continue to be careful as you walk or drive around.
👉Our teams are out early in the morning and in the early evening 
gritting Priority 1 roads and footpaths – after we’ve finished them we 
are then moving on the Priority 2, 2S and 3 roads and footpaths. It will 
take some time.  We’re enormously grateful for the efforts of our staff 
and the community and if everyone can continue to their bit – gritting 
or clearing the pavement outside their house for example - it’ll make 
such a difference.
👉OLECG – the Orkney Local Emergency Coordination Group – has been stood 
down, but partners will continue to monitor their individual areas of 
responsibility and work together to solve any issues as required.
👉All schools, nurseries and UHI Orkney are fully open tomorrow, apart 
from Willow Tree Nursery.
👉Sports and Leisure facilities are all open tomorrow
👉Day care Centres are open tomorrow.
👉 Customer Services at School Place and the Warehouse Buildings will be 
open to the public tomorrow
👉School transport wise everything is back to as close to normal as we 
can get it for now. It is likely that Stagecoach will run similar routes 
to today, but an update will be provided on OIC School Transport first 
thing tomorrow. Where your transport is with another conveyor there may 
be changes around side roads etc but they'll contact you directly if 
there is anything you need to know.
👉Papdale Halls of Residence is open again from tomorrow - folk can drop 
their bags off at the Halls before they head into school from 8:00am
👉We are restarting or catching up on waste collection arrangements 
tomorrow – but only waste (so grey bins/black bags) and not recycling 
(green bins).  There’s full details here –
https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/waste-and-recycling-collection-arrangements-january-8-and-9-2026.
👉 Whilst we understand that folk might be frustrated at missing another 
recycling collection on the back of the festive break, we need to do it 
this way so that we can get all the black bags picked up.  Things should 
return to normal next week all being well.
👉 Household recycling centres at Hatson, Garson, Bossack and the Hope 
will all be open tomorrow.
That's it for tonight.  Thanks again for all the help folk have been 
giving in dealing with the snow situation - snow clearing, gritting, 
checking in on neighbours, lifts in 4x4s and tractors, posting updates 
about local road conditions etc - it has been an immense effort all 
round and we all deserve a big round of applause.
Tune into BBC Radio Orkney tomorrow for any updates