Green light for Tormiston developments

Planning permission has been granted for major development work at Tormiston Mill, Stenness.

The proposals, which after lengthy discussion, was approved by members of OIC planning committee, will involve widening the Upper Twatt road to allow access to a new, larger car park and building an underpass beneath the Kirkwall-Stromness road to allow visitors to access Maeshowe.

The development, said applicant Historic Environment Scotland, could potentially more than double the number of visitors to the Neolithic chambered tomb.

Members approved the plans, despite concerns about road safety issues relating to the increase of visitors and traffic in the surrounding area.