Most of the Isle of Wight Council’s operations will remain open until 16:00 on Thursday (24th December), but there are a number of changes to services over the Christmas and New Year period.
After the festive break, Council services will reopen on Monday 4th January. There will, however, be special arrangements for certain services.
Adult social care
Offices close 16:00, Thursday 24th December and reopen 08:30 Monday 4th January.
Adult social care will be providing a duty service for adult social care and safeguarding emergencies on 29th, 30th and 31st December between 09:00 and 17:00, tel: 814980. The hospital social work team (adult services) will operate on a duty service basis on the same days, tel: 534227. Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 17:00, Thursday 24th December and reopen Tuesday 29th December at 08:30.
If an urgent matter arises when the office is closed then callers should contact the out of hours service on 0300 300 0117.
If a child is in immediate danger of being harmed, or if a child is home alone, the police should be called on 999.
Coroner’s office
The coroner’s office closes at 16:00 on Thursday 24th December and is closed on Monday 28th December. It is open Tuesday 29th December, Wednesday 30th December and Thursday 31st December between 09:00 and 16:00. It reopens as normal on Monday 4th January.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Crematorium
The Book of Remembrance and Gardens of Remembrance are open the following hours over the Christmas period:
Monday 21st December (09:00 to 17:00).
Tuesday 22nd December (09:00 to 17:00).
Wednesday 23rd December (09:00 to 17:00).
Christmas Eve (09:00 to 16:00).
Christmas Day (14:00 to 16:00).
Saturday 26th December (14:00 to 16:00).
Sunday 27th December (12:00 to 16:00).
Monday 28th December (14:00 to 16:00).
Tuesday 29th December (09:00 to 17:00). .
Wednesday 30th December (09:00 to 17:00).
Thursday 31st December (09:00 to 16:00).
New Year’s Day (14:00 to 16:00).
Saturday 2nd January (12:00 to 16:00).
Sunday 3rd January (12:00 to 16:00).
Monday 4th January (09:00 to 17:00).
The public can access the grounds at all times.
All cremation papers, burial forms and music should be delivered to the crematorium at least three clear working days prior to each cremation or burial.
Help centres – Newport, Ryde
Newport and Ryde Help Centre offices close at 16:00 on Thursday 24th December.
County Hall, Newport reopens at 08:30 on Monday 4th January. The help centre in Ryde Library reopens at 09:00 on Monday 4th January.
Highways emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc – please contact Island Roads, tel: 822440 or visit the website www.islandroads.com.
Housing
On-call arrangements for emergencies via Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Leisure service facilities
The Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown, Medina Leisure Centre and Medina Theatre in Newport and Westridge Squash and Tone Zone in Ryde will all have seasonally adjusted opening hours over the Christmas and new year holiday between Saturday 19th December and Monday 4th January. Full details of opening times will be available in all centres or to download from the website www.iwight.com/leisure or by calling the venues direct: The Heights, tel: 823881, Medina Leisure Centre, tel: 823882, Medina Theatre, tel: 823884, Westridge Squash and Tone Zone, tel: 823883.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge will operate a normal service, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when the service will start at 06:30.
On New Year’s Eve the last crossing from East to West Cowes will be at 01:10 and the last crossing from Cowes to East Cowes will be at 01:20.
Libraries
Cowes Library – closes 17:00, 22nd December; reopens 10:00, Saturday 2nd January.
Freshwater Library – closes 16:30, 23rd December; reopens 09:30, Saturday 2nd January.
Newport Library – closes 13:00, 24th December; reopens 09:00, Saturday 2nd January.
Ryde Library – closes 19:00, 23rd December; reopens 09:00, Saturday 2nd January
Sandown Library – closes 13:00, 24th December; reopens 09:00, Saturday 2nd January.
Ventnor Library – closes 18:00, 23rd December; reopens 09:30, Saturday 2nd January.
The mobile library is operating the following special schedules over the Christmas period:
Friday 18th December – Route E.
Monday 21st December – Route A.
Tuesday 22nd December – Route B.
Wednesday 23rd December – Route C.
Thursday 24th December – Route D.
See https://www.iwight.com/azservices/documents/1455-Mobile-Routes-v3.pdf for route details.
Record office
The record office at Hillside, Newport will be closed from 12:30 on 24th December, reopening on 4th January.
Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle will be closed on 24th, 25th and 26th December and 1st January.
On all other days it will open from 10:00 until 16:00, with last admission at 15:00.
Register office
The register office closes at 16:00, Thursday 24th December and is closed on Monday 28th December. It is open Tuesday 29th December, Wednesday 30th December and Thursday 31st December from 09:30 to 16:00 (by appointment only). It re-opens as normal on Monday 4th January.
To register a death between 24th December and 4th January, please telephone 823233.
Revenues, Benefits, Local Assistance Scheme, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team & Customer Account Services
The service closes at 16:00, Thursday 24th December and reopens at 08:30 on Monday 4th January.
Online applications remain available for council tax/housing benefit and Blue Badges on www.iwight.com
An automated payment system is available 24 hours a day, tel: 0845 045 0076 or pay online at www.iwight.com – follow the ‘Residents – do it online’ link on the home page.
Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements – please visit www.iwight.com/housingbenefit
Local Assistance Scheme – a limited emergency service will be operated on 29th, 30th and 31st December between 10:00 and 16:00. This limited service will only consider support for priority emergency applications, where alternative support is not available. All non-priority applications will be considered when the office reopens on 4th January.
More information about the scheme and to make an application go to: www.iwight.com/las
To use the Citizen’s Access Portal to view your council tax account online please visit www.iwight.com/revsandbens (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal)
