Churchill Barriers: Row over Orkney causeway lockable gates plan

However Hayley Green, the corporate director for neighbourhood services and infrastructure for the Orkney Islands Council, said the gates would make “very little difference” for residents.

Emergency services will be given a key to the gate, but if the vehicle decides to cross the barrier when the road is closed, it will be at their own risk.

Mrs Green said: “As has always been the case, should there need to be a medical evacuation, then we have helicopters, we have the RNLI and those resources will be brought in to place as they always have been.

“So again there is no difference.

“I do think people need to be aware that the decision is not taken lightly. Nobody wants to close that road. It’s only taken when the decision is that the conditions are particularly unsafe.”

Ch Insp Scott Robertson said deploying a police officer to stand at the barrier was not the best use of resources.

“Times change and we’ve got to move with the changes,” he said. “This means both Hailey and myself can redeploy resources and put them to other use until the review time.

“I hope that the residents will understand they’re actually getting more from the council and police in that regard.”