Barbara Foulkes, Councillor - Kirkwall West & Orphir

I'm Barbara Foulkes, Councillor for Kirkwall West & Orphir. I am passionate about Orkney and believe in local democracy.

Local Support For Local Issues - Barbara Foulkes for Kirkwall West and Orphir.

Best known for leading tourism in Orkney for the past 17 years. A role I am stepping down from at the end of April. Honorary Sherriff and past President of Orkney Agricultural Society, Board member of The Pier. Engaged and interested in local issues and folk.

It’s the small things that matter to folk, that’s the message I have heard time and again while out meeting the residents of Kirkwall West and Orphir. This sits well with the ambition to give local communities more control of services, let’s make it happen.

I believe we deserve a transparent, forward thinking and dynamic local Council. We live in a society of openness, mobile phones and social media have transformed news and how we engage must now follow.
With my experience working with both elected members and officials in the council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other local and national agencies I believe I can help make local government more effective. Large budget cuts are coming and the decisions will not be easy, we need officials and elected members to work together for the best possible way forward for all our community.

Orkney has worked hard to become a popular tourist destination, with many jobs dependent on this industry. Careful management of volume tourism is now required and the Council has a key part to play in this.
Care of our older residents and joint working with Orkney Health Board to deliver services to this part of our community is critical. The new care homes are essential and must be built, and up and running as soon as possible.

Lets make a local difference.