The Isle of Wight Council is reminding everyone that the Island is not open for visitors this February half-term due to coronavirus lockdown measures.
Being half-term, many people would normally be thinking about what they can do. However, the Government insists that we must all continue to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
The COVID-19 lockdown means journeys are only allowed for limited reasons — such as exercise, essential shopping and work that cannot be done from home.
Council leader, Dave Stewart, has said:
“Tackling the coronavirus has meant major changes to the lives of every single one of us across the Island and I know that has been tough. We have had to take difficult decisions to save lives and protect our NHS.
“The actions of every one of us have contributed to falling levels of infection across the Island, but the virus remains a very serious threat to us all and we cannot be complacent in any way. Let’s not put all the good work we have achieved over the past few weeks at risk by forgetting the rules during half-term.
“If we all continue to stay at home and stick to the behaviours we are following, then I am sure we will see our infection rates continue to fall.
“The Island will be here for us all when this is over. It isn’t going anywhere, and neither should you.”
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Will Myles, managing director of Visit Isle of Wight, added:
“Of course, now is not the time to travel — by staying at home, we can all play our part in fighting coronavirus and bring an end to this most difficult of times.
“Businesses are looking forward to throwing open their doors and welcoming customers, and I know that many have been working hard during this time to improve and increase the variety of their offer, to ensure there are even more reasons to visit the Isle of Wight — when the time is right.
“Visit Isle of Wight is continuing to work with businesses of all sizes to ensure that we are ready to help the Island have the best possible chance of recovery in the future.”
Simon Bryant, the council’s director of public health, said:
“The message is clear — stay home, exercise locally and avoid all unnecessary travel. The pandemic is far from over.
“The behaviour of every single one of us will make the difference. By making these big sacrifices, we can give the NHS critical time and space to do what it does best, and to also deliver the vaccination programme.
“Please continue to stay at home, and follow the ‘hands, face, space’ instruction. It’s the only way to keep the Island safe now and as we look forward to the future.”
Have they told the cross solent companies not to let anyone but workers travel? I doubt it.
If the council and the government wish to stop people travelling to and from the island, all they have to do is mandate it in parliament and then have transport police at each terminal checking residency and reason for travel.
The ferry companies are not permitted to refuse travel unless mandated to by the state -other wise they are discriminating and could face court.
That’s not correct. It’s already law that people must have a valid reason for travel. That applies to the ferries too. No additional legislation is required. But it would be for the police to travel on the ferries and check tickets.
nic – the key words are valid reason for travel – the determination of what is a valid reason sits with the traveller and not a predefined list that the ferry companies have – you are wrong, the ferry companies cannot police this, as they do not have the power to do so.
But we all know they’re not allowed to question anyone so look forward to people arriving! Though unless they are second home owners I don’t know where they’ll stay or eat or what they’ll do if all is shut but you can guarantee there will be some idiots who still come.
I have decided to help second home owners in my area by keeping an eye on their properties. If l see lights coming on or any movement l will call the police, after all it may be burglars, l’m sure they will be grateful and change their mind about us horrible lslanders .
I have a second home on the island and a first home as well,on island ,for kids during hols ,hope you won’t be peeping then
I am being community spirited and keeping an eye on supposed empty properties, as l would do for any neighbours.
I bet you love lockdown.
I am completely fed up with lockdowns and unless we do what is being asked of us we will keep going round in circles.
Hi could you let me know if I the site has vacancies good views etc.we have been trawling through all the websites for a good location .and lt ls most reassuring to have a good neighbour to keep an eye on it
Looking at your lack of punctuation and capital letters,you should be trawling through literacy websites first.
Not only community awareness but a grammer teacher too can’t wait to move in
Why not let everyone know where and when, you’ll be assured of a warm welcome.
Keep the home fires burning
Empty words Simon Bryant …
These are just empty words from the Council. The ones who can stop unnecessary visitors to the Island are Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel and it works both ways. Islanders should also not travel over to the mainland unless for work or hospital appointments. But the ferry companies will release a statement saying they have no basis in law to stop people travelling. So if I turned up at Portsmouth inebriated or abusive would they let me travel?How about invoking their small print about reserving the right to refuse travel. Sadly, watch the infected numbers on the island rise by the end of the first week in Match.
Yes just like Christmas time…
Come on AMA, use a bit of sense will you. The ferry companies cannot stop people travelling unless the state dictates it, which they haven’t.
to ensure that this happens, the govt must stop people travelling on buses/trains etc between counties, as it would be taken to court for discrimination, if people can travel freely between portsmouth and southampton but not to the island.
Calmac in Scotland stopped people unnecessarily travelling between the Scottish islands and mainland so why not our ferry companies or are you one of these Covidiots, Freeloader ?
grow up AMA – this is not scotland and CALMAC are run by the state and not private enterprise.
Scotland has Nicola Stalin – sorry – Sturgeon, who makes the rules.
Mrs Jimmy Krankie
Shutting the stable door after the horse has gone
Shouldnt that have been said 2019 summer and christmas time??
What did I miss in the summer of 2019 Nick?
Summer 2019 we didn’t have covid and everything was open.
By any chance did you start smoking the funny stuff last year and spend the whole year with the fairies.
That’s what they said over Christmas and did sod all about it still happening, next thing we know we’ve got a deadly surge over here. If they are going to do anything, do it properly like the other Islands have done and stop the ferries apart from supplies, otherwise it will prove another half ar*ed waste of time. The Channel Islands did it and are free of covid. Think of the peoples health not the profits for the share holders.
Strange but I feel not many want to come to the Island as it has such a high Pandemic level! perhaps the message should have been please Islanders stay at home and dont spread the virus to the mainland
I quite agree. Please all stay on the island we don’t want you bringing the virus over to the mainland where we have much lower rates.
If you dislike us so much why read an island based news site?
Deluded much? We all know who put profits before Islanders health & bringing Tier 3’s & 4’s over on ‘booze cruises’ to go & get wasted in the Island pubs as theirs on the mainland were closed, The Island went from Tier 1 to 4 in less than a fortnight & MOST Islanders were staying at home! You might need a new name as you’re making NO bloody sense whatsoever
Mr Talksence.
You may have inadvertently given the island a way forwards there. ” high pandemic levels ” Couldn’t we all start a rumour that the island has all sorts of nasty bugs. Mmmm they would all stay away. How would the ferry companies get over that one. If they tried we would know its all about money. OF COURSE. Essential workers and supplies would be immune to all of these nasty new bugs.
Any ideas on that, Hypothetically of course ?
I’m sure i heard them all say the Island is open for business last year before the spike in positives happened.
Why the change in tune?
Is it because the elections are not that far away?
Yea. Stuart and friends have dug themselves a huge hole of their own making, with only a trowel to get out.
” were open for business ” not now were not. The gall of the man is unbelievable.
Saying it and doing something about it are two different things. Mainlanders just before Christmas were tier4 we were tier 1.. then tier 2.. Xmas break, loads of visitors over here… pushed Island into tier 4…
All talk.. nothing done !!
Should be same as the airports… if not living here £10,000.00 fine.. Quarantine at least 10 days at £1750.00
LOCKDOWN… STAY HOME….. How about some police going out and stopping some vehicles especially motorbikes when the sun is shinning.. and the queues of traffic getting into Newport, plus elsewhere..
Just watch the ferries start putting on more boats, back to normal schedules… only for the break period, then back to how they are now…
A tunnel could be regulated… people using it could be checked.. and would not close when foggy, snowing, or windy.. how many ferries have been cancelled due to inverse weather…
tripe – if the state really wanted to check, they could instruct transport police to be at each terminal of all ferry operators checking, but they arent and as the ferry companies are not the police and have not been instructed to carry out checks by the state, or to close, they are free to accept who they want to.
How do you work that one out re tunnel, the dartford crossing has been open throughout which is a natural corridor from Essex to Kent and vise versa and Essex ws one of the highest in the country so stop harping on about a bridge/tunnel.
What would happen if there were a serious incident in your said tunnel which would cause it to close for several hours for investigation purposes, suppose you would moan then that there is no ferry to get you to the mainland.
If there had been a tunnel/bridge to the island the infection rate here would have quadrupled so think yourself lucky we haven’t had that.
sorry adverse weather…
I’m amazed at the comments on other news sites of second home owners and holiday makers saying they are disgusted with lslanders attitudes toward them. This shows how entitled they think they are, we are in lockdown nowhere is open, when lockdown is lifted you can come and go as much as you want.
Exactly! Doesn’t matter if your travelling into space zoo or second home. No non essential travel is permitted. Stay in your first home.. Till its all over!
Have a look on booking.com 91 types of accommodation to rent next week. So doesn’t look like we are all abiding by the rules!
Yeah,and these holiday lets got a nice lump sum from the government, and still let out their properties.
Have you ever considered working for the tourist board
What a good idea, if there are any vacancies l will apply .
Chernobyl has a vacancy
Unfortunately it’s closed to visitors, unlike the Island.
Why don’t you move to rockall you won’t have to look at 2nd homers there
Hit a nerve concerning second home owners have l , what part of everyone stay at home are you struggling to understand.
Can’t wait till summer after lockdown
Yeah, that’s what we all want.
Let’s hope he won’t be eating his words come half term time. The Ferry ports and all cross Solent travel ports need STRICT policing. The Ferry companies are not legally obliged to police and refuse bookings so it comes down to our island Police force…….
It’s ok the council saying the Island’s closed to visitors for half term but will they do something to deter any visitors or just let them come over from the mainland as they did last time, when the Island went from a tier 1 to a tier 4 because of the covidiots. Message to councilors: instead of talking DO something and earn your salaries
Well said MCFC! Will you be our councillor?
They not only let them in , THE£Y INVITED THEM !!
How can they be having half term.when the schools have been shut for months ?
The cases are starting a drop a little now from the last spike caused by people coming here in their droves. If we get another spike because profits have been put in front of peoples health, then we should all hold those who are responsible to account for neglecting to avoid a deadly contagious disease from spreading when they are responsible to do so. DON’T LET THEM DO IT TO US AGAIN.
get a grip gaz will you
Have heard that there is campsites open this feb hols