WWI commemorations push back start date for Broad Street improvements

Orkney Islands Council is planning a later start date for work on improvements to the Broad Street area of Kirkwall to avoid a clash with events marking the centenary of the First World War.

In May next year Orkney will host the UK’s national commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, with a service of remembrance at St Magnus Cathedral followed by a ceremony at the Royal Naval Cemetery at Lyness.

As part of the event the department of culture media and sport hope to broadcast the services at big screens on Broad Street, as well as at the Pickaquoy Centre and Lyness.

Gavin Barr, the council’s executive director of development and infrastructure, said: “Our original intention was to start work in Broad Street early in 2016.

“But it would be important that this work was completed well in advance of the Jutland commemoration.

“After careful consideration, we feel it would be better to start the Broad Street improvements later in the year to ensure there is no possibility of any disruption to the Jutland event.

“Our aim is to move the start date to September next year, once the summer visitor season is over.”

He added: “We will make good use of the time before the work in Broad Street gets underway.

“We will agree final design details and the choice of materials to be used and put these on show at an exhibition in Kirkwall early in the New Year.

“As the final stages of the project develop, we will keep the public fully informed.”