The original recommendation of Papdale Farm as the site where a new facility could be built was made at June's social services and housing committee meeting and passed to the land and property subcommittee. Councillors there referred it back to social services and housing over concerns about the site sharing a boundary with Aurrida House, but the committee stuck to their original decision of Papdale Farm.

The vote this morning was tied three all, but the chairman of the subcommittee Councillor James Stockan used his casting vote to approve the Papdale Farm site. He added: "This project is not necessarily going to happen, it's still got to go through the capital appraisal programme."]]>
• Kirkwall chip shop fire - owner's story, and pictures

• Big Brother winner talks politics with local youngsters

• Vandals trash Glaitness School playground toys

• Andrew H Wilson Ltd auction

• Third Orkney salmon farm snapped up

• Hope Primary 1 starters

• Livestock disease researchers visit

• Orkney's August weather statistics

• Loose Talk from Les Cowan

• Anne Cormack's Tales out of School

• Latest OIC planning decisions in full

• Shapinsay School's 40th birthday report

• Operatic society's 85th anniversary concert review

• Radio club's windy Westray weekend

• Motocross Beach Race action

All ONLY in Orkney Today this week]]>
The blog, which has attracted 140 responses so far, gives people the chance to have their say on ways for the council to achieve major savings over the next three years as it prepares for funding cuts.]]>
The Hoy Hopper timetable will change in line with the Hoy Head timetable. Passengers leaving Kirkwall Travel Centre will need to get on the Service bus number 2 at 9:20am, which connects with the ferry at Houton leaving at 10:15am and arriving in Lyness at 10:50am.

On Hoy, the bus will leave Longhope at 9:30am and arrive at Moaness at 10:10am to meet ferry heading to Graemsay. The bus will leave Moaness at 10.10am (ie it will not be able to wait for the ferry arriving at 10.30am) arriving in Lyness at 10:40am to meet the ferry coming in from Houton.

The timetable will continue as scheduled returning to Lyness at 15:05pm. The bus will not return to Moaness in the afternoon. Passengers can visit the Lyness museum and/or cemetery before catching the 16:40pm ferry back connecting with the 17:35pm bus from Houton to Kirkwall.

The cost of the Hoy Hopper has been reduced to £15 to compensate for the shorter day on Hoy.]]>
Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council issued a joint statement following a meeting with the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson which took place on the issue in Edinburgh on Monday.]]>
The seven-day festival - which features speakers from around the world - opened on Thursday. Pushing back the boundaries will be a theme of this year's festival, which highlights the role of science as exploration of the unknown.

Further details and reviews of the festival will be in Orkney Today on Thursday.
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Testing of the water in the previously affected area has confirmed that it is safe to drink and customers no longer need to boil their water. The provisional result from Thursday has not been confirmed by Friday's test.]]>
Kirkwall-based chartered architect Leslie Burgher won the 'new life for old' category for converting the late 19th century store building in the centre of the car park next to the Albert Hotel into a comfortable and practical office building, named Covingtrie House, for Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers.]]>
The panel took the view that the provision of new pharmaceutical services was necessary to ensure adequate provision of services in the neighbourhood.

NHS Orkney is now negotiating a contract with Norsepharm Ltd and the pharmacy is expected to open in the next few months.
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Kirkwall Police would like to hear from anyone who may know anything about who stole these items or where they may be, Tel: 872241.
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This is due to a shortage of relief school crossing patrol officers in Stromness, a situation that the council is currently trying to address.]]>
The detailed planning application for the facility which will provide 40 residential spaces on land north of Glaitness Road, known as Corse West, was approved by councillors.
More details in Orkney Today on Thursday.
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Described as wild and surreal, Henry Adam's scintillating new comedy from the Scottish Highlands sits on the edge of Europe - and sanity. With live music and tremendous craic, it's directed by Matthew Zajac, Fringe First Winner and 2009 CATS Best Actor for The Tailor of Inverness.
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TWO weeks ago, or thereby, the kids went back to school. Yahoo, shouted thousands of mums, following up with a huge sigh of relief - not that they don't love the little darlings, but six weeks of unadulterated small-children-company can have its drawbacks.
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