Work is to begin on a runway refurbishment project on the Orkney Islands.

Recycled road surface material will be used to resurface the runways at Sanday and Westray airfields.

Works are expected to take around two weeks to complete, starting with Westray.

The council's engineering team and contractor BDS Plant Hire and Contractors have planned the scheme so scheduled flights will be able to be carried out without disruption during the works.


The material to be used for the project is processed and graded at Cursiter Quarry, before being transported to the airfields to be placed in a series of thin layers to build up the runway's new surface.

Last year, the runways at Papa Westray and Stronsay were similarly resurfaced, with Eday and North Ronaldsay's runways also earmarked for the treatment in future years.

Peter Bevan, the Council's Engineering Services Manager, said: "Aside from the environmental and cost benefits, as the recycled road material contains bitumen, it packs down well to provide a long wearing surface - and as there is no curing time, we can carry out the work between flights."

(LM/MH)