The Isle of Wight Council has worked to ensure that accommodation providers are shut to holidaymakers as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
While some premises are starting to advertise for when they are permitted to reopen, the council has said there is no evidence to suggest large numbers of holidaymakers are currently on the Island.
The authority has investigated 12 reports from residents alleging some holiday lets are still open to people visiting the Island, or advertising for bookings. 3 complaints related to holiday parks, 4 to holiday lets and 4 to hotels/guest houses or bed and breakfasts.
Just 1 report remains under investigation but in all other cases the complaints were unfounded or the lettings were permitted.
Lockdown restriction laws – known as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 – require all hotels, guest houses, holiday parks and campsites to cease trading unless the accommodation is required for:
• someone who cannot return to their main residence (including key workers who are isolating from their family)
• someone who uses it as their only or main residence
• needs accommodation while moving house
• needs accommodation to attend a funeral
• the homeless
Will Myles, managing director at Visit Isle of Wight, said:
“It is reassuring that most businesses have been following the government guidelines and the message that Visit Isle of Wight continues to issue to our Wight BID levy payers and voluntary contributors.
Article continues below this advertisement “I’d like to thank those businesses that have offered support in the way of accommodation to key workers and the NHS here on the Isle of Wight.
“The Island will be here to welcome tourists and visitors when the time is right to do so, people and businesses need to continue to follow the UK government guidelines.”
Council leader Dave Stewart said:
“We have followed up every complaint received so far to protect our communities and protect our NHS resources. Thank you to everyone who has contacted us about this matter.
“We need everyone to stay at home so we can fight this health crisis together but our message to visitors is to please come back to the Island when all this is over.”
If anyone has concerns or wishes to report a premises they believe is operating, they can contact the council’s regulatory services on 01983 823000 or email [email protected].
I suggest the council should look a little harder at the camp sites who are NOT advertising loudly. When out walking ( my 1 hour exercise ) it was obvious that a lot of caravans are being used, especially in Sandown and Shanklin areas. As for moving the homeless into a caravan, nice to know they can get a few nice bottles of wine in too, as I was walking passed a caravan close to a footpath you could clearly see people inside, drinking heavily, come on council do something better than a little phone call from your cosy offices.
There were cars going up the hill in East Cowes yesterday, mingled in with the freight delivery lorries, (Home Bargains, etc), the cars I saw, one with a canoe attached to its roof and another with an upturned dinghy tied to the top, certainly looked like holiday makers coming here from off the ferry. And that was only the two obvious ones I noticed. there were people out and about everywhere too, and quite apart from the people walking in the park or sitting there, quite a few people with backpacks on, looking more than what anyone would take with them for just a spot of “essential” exercise.
The selfish will kill us all, clearly not intending to self isolate when here. They will go, leaving us with many more cases of killer virus.
Should we become hospitalised our odds of ever leaving alive are those of tossing a coin.
Shame all the ferries were not out of action for non essential workers.
Still, I guess it is better to catch it sooner before all the beds are full, rather than later IF we have to catch it, which seems certain, once lock down ends.
The ones with the canoe and dinghy on top came from lock up shed between Red Funnel and Floating Bridge so please get your facts right before mouthing off. And were you one of the ones out everywhere if so get a life if not stop being so nosey
I was out for my once a week shopping trip, and the cars I saw appeared to be coming from the ferry as were certainly in the line of vehicles that had just come from there. And are you now going to make excuses for all the backpackers I saw around as well?
People have every right to report what they see when it could be uncaring people recklessly putting everyone else’s lives at risk.
You saw a lot for someone doing their weekly shop and should realise that the shed is right by red Funnel terminal so how else can they get out of East Cowes. As for backpacks when my son goes out for his daily exercise he takes his water in his backpack is that wrong too
Get a life