The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed changes to its services over the festive period, with most operations remaining open until 16:30 on Friday 24th December.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day falls over the weekend this year so closure for that will carry over across Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December – bank holidays in lieu.
The Council is advising that many services will reopen on Wednesday 29th December through to Friday 31st December before closing again for New Year’s Day (and Monday 3rd in lieu). Services will reopen as normal from Tuesday 4th January 2022.
For special arrangements for certain services, see the information below.
Isle of Wight Coronavirus Helpline
The Isle of Wight Coronavirus Helpline will close at 16:30 on Friday 24th December. It will re-open:
Wednesday 29th December – 09:00-17:00
Thursday 30th December – 09:00-17:00
Friday 31st December – 09:00-16:30
It is then closed until 09:00 on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Adult social care and Housing Needs
Offices close at 16:30 on Friday 24th December and reopen at 08:30 on Wednesday 29th December. They then close again at 16:30 on Friday 31st December and reopen at 08:30 on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
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). In an emergency call the Police on 999.
Bereavement Services
The opening and closing times for the Bereavement Service will be:
Christmas Eve 24th December – 09:00-16:30
Christmas Day 25th December – Closed
Boxing Day 26th December – Closed
Monday 27th December – Closed
Tuesday 28th December – Closed
Wednesday 29th December – 09:00-16:30
Thursday 30th December – 09:00-16:30
New Year’s Eve – 09:00-16:30
New Year’s Day – Closed
The Crematorium Grounds and Book of Remembrance can be accessed at any time, but if the gates are closed, park in the road outside and use the pedestrian gate. 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 3 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, call 01983 821105.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 16:30 on Friday 24th December and reopen Monday 27th December at 08:30. If you are worried about a child or young person, contact Isle of Wight Children’s Services on 0300 300 0117 (24 hours). In an emergency call 999.
Contact Centre and help centres
The Contact Centre closes at 16:30 on Friday 24th December. It will then reopen at 08:30 until 17:00 on Wednesday 29th December and Thursday 30th December and 08:30 until 16:30 on Friday 31st December. It re-opens at 08:00 on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Newport Help Centre will operate the same hours of opening as above but open at 08:30 on Tuesday 4th January 2022. The Help Centre, at Ryde Library, will close at 16:30 on Christmas Eve and will reopen at 09:00 on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Coroner’s office
The Coroner’s Office closes at 16:00 on Friday 24th December. It is open Wednesday 29th December to Friday 31st December. It reopens as normal on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, contact Wightcare on 01983 821105.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge Christmas and New Year (hopeful) operating schedule:
Christmas Eve – 05:15-00:30 (next day)
Christmas Day – 08:00-14:00
Boxing Day – 07:00-00:30 (next day)
27th December – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
28th December – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
29th December – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
30th December – 06:30-00:30 (next day)
New Year’s Eve – 05:00-00:30 (next day)**
New Year’s Day – 06:30-00:30 (next day)
2nd January – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
3rd January – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
4th January – 05:00-00:30 (next day)
** Last crossing from East Cowes 01:10, last crossing from West Cowes 01:20
Highways emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc – contact Island Roads on 01983 822440 or visit the website.
The Island Roads Hub will be closed from midnight 24th December to 07:00 27th December and from midnight 31st December to 07:00 on 2nd January 2022. Emergency calls received during these times will be diverted to the duty engineer and dealt with accordingly.
Leisure Services facilities
The Heights and Medina:
19th to 23rd December – 06:00-20:00
Christmas Eve 24th December – 06:00-15:00
Christmas Day 25th December – Closed
Boxing Day 26th December – Closed
27th to 30th December – 06:00-18:00
New Year’s Eve 31st December – 06:00-15:00
New Year’s Day 1st January – Closed
2nd January – 08:00-16:00
3rd January – 08:00-18:00
Theatre:
The theatre will be open for performances of Cinderella. See http://www.medinatheatre.co.uk/article/cinderella-most-magical-pantomime-them-all.
Westridge:
19th to 23tf December – 07:00-20:00
Christmas Eve 24th December – Closed
Christmas Day 25th December – Closed
Boxing Day 26th December – Closed
27th to 28th December – 07:00-16:00
29th to 30th December – 07:00-18:00
New Year’s Eve 31st December – Closed
New Year’s Day – Closed
2nd January – Closed
3rd January – 07:00-16:00
Libraries
Cowes Library – closes 16:00 24th December; reopens 10:00 Tuesday 4th January (same applies for Cowes Maritime Museum)
Freshwater Library – closes 16:00 24th December; reopens 09:30 Tuesday 4th January
Newport Library – closes 16:00 24th December; reopens 09:00 Tuesday 4th January
Ryde Library – closes 16:00 24th December; reopens 09:00 Tuesday 4th January
Sandown Library – closes 16:00 24th December; reopens 09:00 Tuesday 4th January
Ventnor Library – ccloses 16:00 24th December; reopens 09:30 Tuesday 4th January
Record Office
The Record Office at Hillside, Newport is currently open by appointment only. It will be closed from 12:30 on Friday 24th December. It will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 on 29th, 30th and 31 December. It will then reopen with its usual opening hours of 09:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30 from Wednesday 5th January 2022.
Dinosaur Isle Museum
Dinosaur Isle Museum will be closed on 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th December inclusive. It will also be closed between the 1st and 3rd January, reopening on 4th January 2022. On all other days it will open from 10:00 until 16:00, with last admission at 15:00.
Museum of Island History
The museum will close on Thursday 16th December at 13:00 and will open again on Tuesday 18th January at 10:00.
Newport Roman Villa
The villa is closed for the winter period and will re-open on 1st April 2022.
Planning
The planning department will be operating within office hours with pre-booked appointments (no walk-ins). Planning Enforcement complaints can continue to be made anytime online and this can include reporting any alleged illegal works to protected trees.
Recycling and waste collection
This year there will be no day changes or alterations to the household waste and recycling collection service.
Remember to set out your wheeled bins/gull-proof sacks and food waste by 07:00 on the correct day of your collection or they will not be collected.
The bulky waste and free re-use collection service will also be available on weekdays as normal over the festive period.
Between Monday 20th December and Friday 14th January, you can leave out extra polystyrene to the side of your black bin or black gull sack for collection, provided it is in clear or white sacks and contains no other items. Any excess black sacks will not be collected.
If you have an active Garden Waste Subscription you can also dispose of real Christmas trees as part of the service. The tree should be clear of all decorations and pots and can be left to the side of your garden bin on your collection day between Monday 3rd January and Friday 14th January.
Register office
The Register Office closes at 16:00 on Friday 24th December. A telephone appointment service only will run on Wednesday 29th December, Thursday 30th December and Friday 31st December from 09:30-16:00. The office at Seaclose will open as normal on Monday 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 Services (Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards)
The service closes at 16:00 on Friday 24th December and reopens Wednesday 29th December at 08:45. If you wish to talk to a specific officer make an appointment. Note the public reception at Jubilee Stores is not open at this time. An out of hours service will run on 1st January as normal, call Wightcare on 01983 821105.
Revenues, Benefits, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team
Online applications remain available for council tax/local council tax support/housing benefit and Blue Badges.
For Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements visit www.iwight.com/housingbenefitpayments.
To use the Citizens Access Portal to view your council tax account online visit www.iwight.com/revsandbens (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal).
To use the Citizens Access Benefits Portal to apply and notify a change of circumstances visit www.iwight.com (selecting under the ‘Save time do it online’ Housing Benefits).
if they were really critical services, they wouldn’t be closing for four days.
I didn’t realise the concil gave any services I thought all they do is take take take