The Ministry of Justice has been pressed for further clarity following its announcement of new security barriers around the Isle of Wight’s prison. Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Garratt and Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley have welcomed news that...

A successful Isle of Wight manufacturing and office supply business is set to expand its distribution and storage facilities, creating 20 new jobs. Planners have approved Betapak’s proposed industrial unit on Pritchetts Way in Rookley, described as an ‘important opportunity’...

Plans for 5 new ‘high quality’ houses in St Helens are facing objections, but a county councillor says the bid is ‘generally supported locally’. Applicants Stratton and Raben applied for planning permission to build 5 homes, classed as ‘market housing’,...

The former leader of the Isle of Wight’s Conservative Party, Clare Mosdell, has resigned from the group. Councillor Mosdell, who represents Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey ward, now sits as an independent councillor. She has declined to comment on the matter....

The former Fever nightclub could be transformed into a retail unit in a bid to make it ‘more marketable’ to tenants, amid a lack of demand for a nightime venue. Otium Properties has submitted plans for a change of use...

Shanklin High Street could soon get 3 new 1-bedroom apartments. Allen Planning has lodged a prior approval application with County Hall for a change of use of the lower ground and first floors of 25-27 High Street. They currently have...

The Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services will come under the spotlight today (Thursday), with figures showing only half of the Island’s secondary schools being graded good or better by Ofsted. The children’s services, education and skills committee (CSESC) will...

The Mayor of Ventnor has said his town council’s finances are in 'dire straits', meaning it could reduce its funding for a local library. Councillor Steve Cooper told Ventnor Town Council (VTC) on Monday that the authority needs to start...

Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council has slammed the ‘premature’ demolition of a house as undermining the planning process. The Parish Council has criticised Mark Pacy’s ‘misleading’ application to replace his home, Tamarisk, on Seaview’s Seagrove Manor Road, with a new...

A commercial boat store at Bembridge Harbour - the former Hoverwork building - will be expanded to increase its capacity, despite concerns flagged by the National Trust. County Hall has accepted OCT Properties’ application for an extension of the Bembridge...