The Isle of Wight Council have confirmed the opening times of vital services across the Island for the Christmas and New Year period.
Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 16:30 on Monday 24th December. After closing for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, many services will reopen on Thursday 27th December through to Friday 28th December and Monday 31st December.
After closing for New Year’s Day, services will reopen as normal on Wednesday 2nd January.
Adult social care
Offices close at 16:30 on Monday 24th December and reopen at 08:30 on Thursday 27th December. They then close again at 16:30 on Monday 31st December and reopen at 08:30 on Wednesday 2nd January.
Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare on 01983 821105. If you are worried about a vulnerable adult, also contact Wightcare (24 hours). In an emergency contact Police by dialling 999.
Bereavement Services
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.
Crematorium Grounds and Book of Remembrance:
- Friday 21st December (09:00 to 16:30).
- Saturday 22nd December (10:00 to 14:00).
- Sunday 23rd December (10:00 to 14:00).
- Christmas Eve (09:00 to 16:30).
- Christmas Day (Closed).
- Boxing Day (Closed).
- Thursday 27th December (09:00 to 16:30).
- Friday 28th December (09:00 to 16:30).
- Saturday 29th December (10:00 to 14:00).
- New Year’s Eve (10:00 to 14:00).
- New Year’s Day (10:00 to 12 noon).
The grounds 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.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 16:30 on Monday 24th December and reopen Thursday 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 contact Police on 999.
Contact Centre and help centres
The Contact Centre closes at 16:30 on Monday 24th December. It will then reopen at 08:30 and until 17:00 on Thursday 27th December, 08:30 until 16:30 on Friday 28th December and 09:00 until 13:00 on Saturday 29th December. On New Year’s Eve, the centre will be open from 08:30 until 16:30 and then reopen at 08:00 on Wednesday 2nd January.
Newport Help Centre will operate the same hours of opening as above, but will not be open on Saturday 29th December.
Ryde Help Centre, at Ryde Library, will close at 16:30 on Christmas Eve and will reopen at 09:00 and until 16:30 on Friday 28th December. On New Year’s Eve, the centre will open from 09:00 until 16:30 and then reopen at 08:00 on Wednesday 2nd January.
Coroner’s office
The coroner’s office closes at 16:00 on Monday 24th December. It is open Thursday 27th December, Friday 28th December and Monday 31st December between 09:00 and 16:00. It reopens as normal on Wednesday 2nd January.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, contact Wightcare on 01983 821105.
Floating bridge Christmas and New Year operating schedule
- Christmas Eve – 05:15 to 00:30 (next day)
- Christmas Day – 07:00 to 00:30 (next day) with a suspension of the service between 16:25 and 18:25 owing to tidal issues
- Boxing Day – 07:00 to 00:30 (next day)
- 27 December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
- 28 December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
- 29 December – 05:00 to 00:30 (next day)
- 30 December – 06:30 to 00:30 (next day)
- New Year’s Eve – 05:00 to 01:30** (next day)
- New Year’s Day – 06:30 to 00:30 (next day)
- 2 January – 05:00 to 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 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 on 2nd January.
Emergency calls received during these times will be diverted to the duty engineer and dealt with accordingly.
Housing
On-call arrangements for emergencies via Wightcare on 01983 821105.
Leisure Services facilities
The Heights:
- 19th to 21st December – 07:00 to 21:00
- 22nd/23rd December – 08:00 to 18:00
- 24th December – 07:00 to 15:00
- Christmas Day – CLOSED
- Boxing Day – CLOSED
- 27th/28th December – 07:00 to 19:00
- 29th December – 08:00 to 15:00
- 30th December – 07:00 to 15:00
- 31st December – 07:00 to 15:00
- 1st January – CLOSED
- 2nd January – 07:00 to 21:00
Medina:
- 19th to 21st December – 07:00 to 21:00
- 22nd/23rd December – 08:00 – 17:00
- 24th December -07:00 to 15:00
- Christmas Day – CLOSED
- Boxing Day – CLOSED
- 27th/28th December – 07:00 to 19:00
- 29th/30th December – 08:00 to 17:00
- 31st December – 07:00 to 15:00.
- 1st January – CLOSED
- 2nd January – 07:00 to 21:00
Westridge:
- 19th to 21st December – 07:00 to 21:00
- 22nd December – 08:00 to 15:00
- 23rd December – CLOSED
- 24th December – 07:00 to 15:00
- Christmas Day – CLOSED
- Boxing Day – CLOSED
- 27th/28th December – 07:00 to 19:00.
- 29th December – 08:00 to 15:00
- 30th December – CLOSED
- 31st December – 07:00 to 15:00
- 1st January – CLOSED
- 2nd January – 07:00 to 21:00
Fairway:
- 19th to 22nd December – Open as normal
- 23rd December to 2nd January – CLOSED
Theatre:
The theatre will be open for performances of Jack and the Beanstalk, details of which can be found on the Theatre’s website.
Libraries
- Cowes Library – closes 16:00 on 24th December; reopens 10:00 on Friday 4th January
- Freshwater Library – closes 13:00 on 24th December; reopens 09:30 Wednesday 2nd January
- Newport Library – closes 16:00 on 24th December; reopens 09:00 on Wednesday 2nd January
- Ryde Library – closes 15:30 on 24th December; reopens 10:30 on Wednesday 2nd January
- Sandown Library – closes 16:30 on 22nd December; reopens 09:00 on Thursday 3rd January
- Ventnor Library – closes 16:30 on 22nd December; reopens 13:00 on Wednesday 2nd January
The mobile library will recommence its Week 1 on 14th January.
Record Office
The Record Office at Hillside, Newport will be closed from 12:30 on Monday 24th December. It will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 on 27th, 28th and 31st December. It will then reopen with its usual opening hours of 09:00 to 12:30 and 13:00 to 17:00 from Wednesday 2nd January.
Dinosaur Isle Museum
Dinosaur Isle Museum will be closed on 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th December inclusive. It will be closed on New Year’s Eve (31st December) and New Year’s Day (1st January) inclusive, reopening on 2nd January 2019. 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 Saturday 22nd December at 16:00 and will open again on Wednesday 2nd January at 09:30.
Recycling and waste collection
If your collection is:
- Monday 24th December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
- Tuesday 25th December, it will be collected on Thursday 27th December.
- Wednesday 26th December, it will be collected on Friday 28th December.
- Thursday 27th December, it will be collected on Saturday 29th December.
- Friday 28th December, it will be collected on Sunday 30th December.
- Monday 31st December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
- Tuesday 1st January, it will be collected on Wednesday 2nd January.
- Wednesday 2nd January, it will be collected on Thursday 3rd January.
- Thursday 3rd January, it will be collected on Friday 4th January.
- Friday 4th January, it will be collected on Saturday 5th January.
All recycling and waste collections will return to normal from Monday 7th January.
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.
Register office
The register office closes at 16:00 on Monday 24th December. It is open Thursday 27th December, Friday 28th December and Monday 31st December from 09:30 to 16:00 (by appointment only). It reopens as normal on Wednesday 2nd January. To register a death between 24th December and 2nd January call 01983 823233.
Regulatory Services (Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards)
Offices close at 16:00 on Monday 24th December and reopen Thursday 27th December at 08:45. If you wish to see a specific officer make an appointment. An out of hours service will run on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th December as normal – telephone 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.
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).
