The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed the opening times for its services over the festive period.
Most of the Isle of Wight Council’s operations will remain open until 16:30 on Tuesday 24th December. After closing for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, many services will then re-open on Friday 27th December – and then on Monday 30th December and Tuesday 31st December.
After closing for New Year’s Day, services will reopen as normal on Thursday 2nd January.
For special arrangements for certain services, see the information below.
Adult social care
Offices close at 16:30 on Tuesday 24th December and reopen at 08:3m on Friday 27th December. They then open again on Monday 30th December and Tuesday 31st December, before closing for New Year’s Day and reopening at 08:30 on Thursday 2nd January.
Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, 01983 821105. If you are worried about a vulnerable adult contact Wightcare on 01983 821105 (24 hours).
Bereavement Services
Crematorium Grounds and Book of Remembrance:
- Friday 20 December (09:00-16:30)
- Saturday 21 December (10:00-14:00)
- Sunday 22 December (10:00-14:00)
- Monday 23 December(09:00-16:30)
- Christmas Eve (09:00-16:30)
- Christmas Day (closed)
- Boxing Day (closed)
- Friday 27 December (09:00-16:30)
- Saturday 28 December (10:00-14:00)
- Sunday 29 December (10:00-14:00)
- Monday 30 December (09:00-16:30)
- New Year’s Eve (10:00-14:00)
- New Year’s Day (10:00-12:00)
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.
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.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 16:30 on Tuesday 24th December and reopen at 09:00 on Friday 27th December. They then open again on Monday 30th December and Tuesday 31st December, before closing for New Year’s Day and reopening at 08:30 on Thursday 2nd January.
If you are worried about a child or young person, contact Isle of Wight Children’s Services on 0300 300 0117 (24 hours).
Contact Centre and help centres
The Contact Centre closes at 4.30pm on Tuesday 24 December. It will then reopen at 8.30am until 4.30pm on Friday 27 December, 9am until 1pm on Saturday 28 December, 8.30am until 5pm on Monday 30 December and 8.30am until 4.30pm on Tuesday 31 December. The centre will reopen at 8am on Thursday 2 January.
Newport Help Centre will operate the same hours of opening as above, but will not open on Saturday 28 December. It will reopen at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January.
Ryde Help Centre, at Ryde Library, will close at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve and will reopen at 9am until 4.30pm on Friday 27 December. On Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December the centre will open from 9am until 4.30pm and then reopen at 9am on Friday 3 January.
Coroner’s office
The coroner’s office closes at 4pm on Tuesday 24 December. It is open Friday 27 December, Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December between 9am and 4pm. It reopens as normal on Thursday 2 January.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge Christmas and new year operating schedule:
- Christmas Eve – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
- Christmas Day – 7am to 12.30am (next day) – service suspended between 12.30pm and 4pm due to tidal conditions.
- Boxing Day – 7am to 12.30am (next day).
- 27 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
- 28 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
- 29 December – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
- 30 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
- New Year’s Eve – 5am to 1.30am** (next day).
- New Year’s Day – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
- 2 January – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
** Last crossing from East Cowes 1.10am, last crossing from West Cowes 1.20am.
Highways emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc – please contact Island Roads, tel: 822440 or visit the website – www.islandroads.com
The Island Roads Hub will be closed from midnight 24th December to 07:00 27th December and from midnight 31st December to 07:00 2nd January.
Emergency calls received during these times will be diverted to the duty engineer and dealt with accordingly.
Housing
Offices close at 4.30pm on Tuesday 24 December and reopen at 8.30am on Friday 27 December. They then open again on Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December, before closing for New Year’s Day and reopening at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January.
- Emergencies or urgent calls outside of these times should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Leisure Services facilities
The Heights:
- Friday 20 December – 6.30am to 9pm.
- Saturday 21 December – 8am to 6pm.
- Sunday 22 December – 8am to 6pm.
- Monday 23 December – 6.30am to 9pm.
- Tuesday 24 December – 6.30am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 25 December – closed.
- Thursday 26 December – closed.
- Friday 27 December – 6.30am to 7pm.
- Saturday 28 December – 8am to 6pm.
- Sunday 29 December – 8am to 6pm.
- Monday 30 December – 6.30am to 7pm.
- Tuesday 31 December – 6.30am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 1 January – closed.
- Thursday 2 January – 6.30am to 9pm.
Medina:
- Friday 20 December – 6.30am to 10pm.
- Saturday 21 December – 8am to 5pm.
- Sunday 22 December – 8am to 5pm.
- Monday 23 December – 6.30am to 10pm.
- Tuesday 24 December – 6.30am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 25 December – closed.
- Thursday 26 December – closed.
- Friday 27 December – 6.30am to 7pm.
- Saturday 28 December – 8am to 5pm.
- Sunday 29 December – 8am to 5pm.
- Monday 30 December – 6.30am to 7pm.
- Tuesday 31 December – 6.30am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 1 January – closed.
- Thursday 2 January – 6.30am to 10pm.
Westridge:
- Friday 20 December – 7am to 9pm.
- Saturday 21 December – 8am to 3pm.
- Sunday 22 December – closed.
- Monday 23 December – 7am to 9pm.
- Tuesday 24 December – 7am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 25 December – closed.
- Thursday 26 December – closed.
- Friday 27 December – 7am to 7pm.
- Saturday 28 December – 8am to 3pm.
- Sunday 29 December – closed.
- Monday 30 December – closed.
- Tuesday 31 December – 7am to 3pm.
- Wednesday 1 January – closed.
- Thursday 2 January – 7am to 9pm.
Libraries
- Cowes Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 10am, Friday 3 January.
- Freshwater Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 9.30am, Friday 3 January.
- Newport Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 11am, Thursday 2 January.
- Ryde Library – closes 3.30pm, 24 December; reopens 9am, Friday 3 January.
- Sandown Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 9am, Thursday 2 January.
- Ventnor Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 9.30am, Friday 3 January.
- The mobile library will recommence its week 2 on 6 January.
Museum Service
Record Office
The Record Office at Hillside, Newport is closed on Tuesdays. It will therefore be closed from 5pm on Monday 23 December. It will be open between 10am and 4pm on 27 and 30 December. It will then reopen with its usual opening hours of 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 5pm from Thursday 2 January.
Dinosaur Isle Museum
Dinosaur Isle Museum will be closed on from 23 December to 27 December and on 1 January.
Open as usual from 10am to 4pm from Saturday 28 December to Tuesday 31 December.
It will then reopen on Thursday 2 January.
Cowes Maritime Museum
The same opening hours as Cowes Library, above.
Museum of Island History
The museum will close on Thursday 19 December at 1pm and will open again on Thursday 2 January at 10am.
Recycling and waste collection
If your collection is:
- Monday 23 December, it will be collected on Saturday 21 December.
- Tuesday 24 December, it will be collected on Monday 23 December.
- Wednesday 25 December, it will be collected on Tuesday 24 December.
- Thursday 26 December, it will be collected on Friday 27 December.
- Friday 27 December, it will be collected on Saturday 28 December.
- Monday 30 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
- Tuesday 31 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
- Wednesday 1 January, it will be collected on Thursday 2 January.
- Thursday 2 January, it will be collected on Friday 3 January.
- Friday 3 January, it will be collected on Saturday 4 January.
All recycling and waste collections will return to normal from Monday 6 January.
Please remember to set out your wheeled bins/gull-proof sacks and food waste by 7am on the correct day of your collection or they will not be collected.
Register office
The register office closes at 4pm, Tuesday 24 December. It is open Friday 27 December, Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December from 9.30am to 4pm (by appointment only). It reopens as normal on Thursday 2 January.
To register a death between 24 December and 2 January, please tel: 823233.
Regulatory Services (Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards)
Offices close at 4pm, Tuesday 24 December and reopen Friday 27 December at 8.45am. If you wish to see a specific officer please make an appointment.
Out of hours service, please tel: Wightcare on 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. To apply for a Blue Badge please visit www.iow.gov.uk/bluebadge
Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements – please visit – www.iwight.com/housingbenefitpayments
To use the Citizens Access Portal to view your council tax account online please 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 please visit www.iwight.com (selecting under the ‘Save time do it online’ Housing Benefits).
The Payments Team office closes at 4.30pm on Tuesday 24 December. It will then reopen at 8.30am until 4.30pm on Friday 27 December, 8.30am until 5pm on Monday 30 December and 8.30am until 4.30pm on Tuesday 31 December. The office will reopen at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January.
