Here is the availability of all of the Isle of Wight Council services over the incoming festive period.
For special arrangements for certain services, please see the information below.
Adult social care and Housing Needs
Offices close at 16:30 on Friday 23rd December and reopen at 08:30 on Wednesday 28th December. They then close again at 16:30 on Friday 30th December and reopen at 08:30 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare by calling (01983) 821105.
If you are worried about a vulnerable adult, contact Wightcare on (01983) 821105 (24 hours).
Adult Social Care webpages: Adult social care(iow.gov.uk)
Housing Needs webpages: Housing (iow.gov.uk)
You do not need to know everything about a vulnerable adult and what is happening before you contact us.
IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999.
Bereavement Services
The opening and closing times for the Bereavement Service will be:
Christmas Eve 24th December (closed)
Christmas Day 25th December (closed)
Monday 26th December (closed)
Tuesday 27th December (closed)
Wednesday 28th December (09:00 to 16:30)
Thursday 29th December (09:00 to 16:30)
New Year’s Eve (09:00 to 16:30)
New Year’s Day (closed)
Monday 2nd January (closed)
Crematorium Grounds and Book of Remembrance:
The grounds can be accessed at any time, but if the gates are closed, please park in the road outside and use the pedestrian gate. The Book of Remembrance will be closed on 25th, 26th ,27th December and 1st January.
Office hours are as above for weekdays, except for bank holidays, when the office is closed.
All cremation documentation, burial forms and music should be delivered at least three clear office working days prior to each service, especially over this period.
Building Control
Building Control will continue to operate a Dangerous Structure out of hours service over the festive period.
If there is immediate danger and a threat to life, call 999. For all other situations, please call (01983) 821105.
Surveyors will still be available for site inspections and enquiries during normal working hours (08:30-16:30 on 23rd, 28th, 29th and 30th Dec) with a limited service, operating normally from 3rd January.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 16:30, Friday 23rd December and reopen Wednesday 28th December at 08:30.
If you are worried a child is, or at risk of, suffering, neglect or abuse contact the Children’s Reception Team:
Tel 0300 300 0117 (available 24 hours a day).
If you are concerned, it is important that you talk to someone about this.
You do not need to know everything about the child and what is happening before you contact the Children’s Reception Team.
IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999.
Contact Centre and help centres
The Contact Centre closes at 18:00 on Friday 23rd December. It will then reopen at 08:30 until 17:00 on Wednesday 28th December and Thursday 29th December and 08:30 until 16:30 on Friday 30th December. It re-opens at 08:00 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Newport Help Centre will operate the same hours of opening as above but open at 08:30 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
The Help Centre, at Ryde Library, will close at 16:30 on Friday 23rd December and will reopen at 09:00 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Coroner’s office
The Coroner’s Office closes at 16:00 on Friday 23rd December. It is next open Wednesday 28th December to Friday 30th December with the hours of 09:00 – 16:30pm. Closed Monday 2nd January and reopens as normal on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Cost of Living support
Visit our website at: www.iow.gov.uk/costofliving
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare on (01983) 821105.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge Christmas and New Year operating schedule:
Christmas Eve – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
Christmas Day – 07:00 to 12:30 (Service suspended between 4pm and 6pm)
Boxing Day – 07:00 to 00:30 (next day)
27th December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
28th December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
29th December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
30th December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
New Year’s Eve – 05:00 to 01:30** (next day)
New Year’s Day – 07:00 to 00:30 (next day)
2nd January – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
3rdJanuary – 05:00to 00:30 (next day)
** Last crossing from East Cowes 01:10, last crossing from West Cowes o1:20.
Check the Floating Bridge website for live status before travel as the above timetable may change due to any potential adverse weather.
Highway’s emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, highway obstruction, traffic lights not working etc – please contact Island Roads on 01983 822440.
Non-emergency highway issues can also be reported online at fms.islandroads.com
General information is available via the website www.islandroads.com
Isle of Wight Coronavirus Helpline
The Isle of Wight Coronavirus Helpline will close at 16:30 on Friday 23rd December.
It will re-open:
Wednesday 28th December 09:00 to 17:00
Thursday 29th December 09:00 to 17:00
Friday 30th December 09:00 to 16:30
It is then closed until 09:00 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Leisure Services facilities
The Heights:
19th to 23rd December – 06:00 to 21:00
24th December – 08:00 to 14:00
25th to 26th December – CLOSED
27th to 30th December – 06:00 to 18:30
31st December – 08:00 to 14:00
1st January – CLOSED
2nd January – 06:00 to 18:30
3rd January – 06:00 to 21:00
Medina:
19th to 23rd December – 06:00 to 21:00
24th December – 08:00 to 14:00
25th to 26th December – CLOSED
27th to 30th December – 06:00 to 18:30
31st December – 08:00 – 14:00
1st January – CLOSED
2nd January – 06:00 to 18:30
3rd January – 06:00 to 21:00
Theatre:
The theatre will be open for the following performances of Jack and the Beanstalk.
20th to 23rd December: Show starts 14:00
24th December: Shows start 10:30 and 14:00
Christmas Day: CLOSED.
Boxing Day: show starts 14:00
27th December: Show starts 14:00 and 19:00 (Adult only)
28th December: Show starts 14:00
29th December: Shows start 14:00
30th December: Show starts at 14:00
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Westridge:
19th to 23th December – 6am to 9pm
24th to 26th December – CLOSED
27th to 30th December – 06:00 to 18:30
31st December – CLOSED
1st January – CLOSED
2nd January – 06:00 to 6.30pm
3rd January – 06:00 to 9pm
Libraries
Cowes Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 10:00, Tuesday 3rd January.
Freshwater Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 09:30, Tuesday 3rd January.
Newport Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 09:00, Tuesday 3rd January.
Ryde Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 09:00, Tuesday 3rd January.
Sandown Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 09:30, Tuesday 3rd January.
Ventnor Library – closes 12:30, Saturday 24th December; reopens 09:30, Tuesday 3rd January.
Heritage Service
Record Office
The Record Office at Hillside, Newport is currently open by appointment only (823820).
It will be closed from 4pm on Friday 23rd December. It will be open by appointment between 10:00 and 16:00 on 29th and 30th December. It will then reopen with its usual opening hours of 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30 from Wednesday 3rd January 2023.
Dinosaur Isle Museum
Dinosaur Isle Museum will be closed on 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th December inclusive. It will also be closed between the 1st, 2nd January, reopening on 3rd January 2023.
On all other days it will open from 10:00 until 16:00, with last admission at 15:00.
Cowes Maritime Museum
The same opening hours as Cowes Library, above.
Museum of Island History
The museum will close on Tuesday 13 December at 1pm and will open again on Tuesday 17 January at 10am.
Newport Roman Villa
The villa is closed for the winter period.
Parking services
Parking services closes at 16:00 on Friday 23rd December. It is next open Wednesday 28th December to Friday 30th December with the hours of 08:30 – 16:00. Closed Monday 2nd January and reopens as normal on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Planning
The planning department will be operating within office hours of 08:30 -16:30 on 23rd, 28th, 29th and 30th December with pre-booked appointments only. Closed on Monday 2nd January and operates as normal from Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Planning Enforcement complaints, including reporting any alleged illegal works to protected trees, and a range of other online Planning actions can continue to be made anytime online at iow.gov.uk/planning
Recycling and waste collection
Recycling, waste and garden subscription collections are changing for one week over Christmas due to Boxing Day falling on a Monday.
This will mean that all waste, recycling and garden waste collections for the week beginning Monday 26th December will run one day later than usual.
Collections will be back to normal from Monday 2nd January 2023.
In addition, there will be no bulky waste or free reuse collections on:
Monday 26th December
Tuesday 27th December
Monday 2nd January 2023
Household Waste and Recycling Centres
Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh Household Waste and Recycling Centre’s will be closed on Christmas Day: 25th December. Other than this, normal opening hours apply.
Book your tip trip by visiting the Isle of Wight Council’s website or by calling (01983) 823777.
Register office
The Register Office closes at 16:00, Friday 23rd December. A telephone appointment service only will run on Wednesday 28th December, Thursday 29th December and Friday 30th December from 09:30 to 16:00. The office at Seaclose will open as normal on Tuesday 3rd January.
To register a death between 24th December and 2nd January, call (01983) 823233. For the out of hours emergency service call Wightcare on (01983) 821105.
Regulatory and Community Safety Services (Licensing, Environmental Health, Housing Renewal, Community Safety and Trading Standards)
The service closes at 16:00, Friday 23rd December and reopens Wednesday 28th December at 08:45. If you wish to talk to a specific officer, make an appointment. Closed Monday 2nd January and reopens as normal on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.
Revenues, Benefits, Blue Badges and Payments Team
Online applications remain available for council tax/local council tax support/housing benefit and Blue Badges.
Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements Those expecting a Housing Benefit payment on 26th December will receive this payment earlier than usual due to the Christmas break. It will be credited on 23rd December instead.
To use the Citizens Access Portal to view your council tax account online visit iow.gov.uk/council-tax
To use the Citizens Access Benefits Portal to apply and notify a change of circumstances visit Housing Benefit and support (iow.gov.uk)




























































































When are they ever available…
WHEN ARE IW COUNCIL GOING TO LAY DOUBLE YELLOW LINES ALONG
GREAT PRESTON ROAD RYDE
TO STOP IDIOTS PARKING ON PAVEMENTS
????????????????????????????????????????
It’s the Morons living at No.90
They think they own the Pavement!
I blame the Council, they should make it clear to Households what pavements are for.
You would expect them to know better, considering their
Son in law works for Island Roads.
“Not a good advert for Island Roads”
Just because YOU have a drive, the builder who pays taxes to keep the likes of you hasn’t room to park a works van.
Try moving elsewhere where spongers have new estates to live and park upon, see if they will tolerate your constant moaning, OR go round and speak to Mr M in person instead of using false names on here, you spineless shrimp.
Gerard, it is the charming south african lady who thinks she owns the road, despite living in a rented council house. Has caused trouble for others along that road to lazy to walk with idiot child to take to school and expects everyone to avoid parking by ‘her’ or the benefit paid for house.
Uses others name to get them the blame as sly.
I know her, the ginger tubby one. Stuck a note on my niece’s car for parking there.
A nasty person, thinks she is back in SA ordering the locals about I think, need evicting back there asap.
Not just Ryde all over the island on grass verges even white vans and scaffold lorries churn up the verges where ppl pay in the top bands council tax
Disgrace
Two thousand and never
Do you mean when will the resume ripping us off
Whell thats easy they don’t stop
Other than that nothing will be noticed
PS IE why cant we comment on the Italy and iow section?
Floating bridge was never running normally in the first place!!! 🙂 haha!!!