Ventnor Blog

With the issue of Japanese Knotweed in the news this week, we weren’t in the least bit surprised to see a posting about this pesky and highly invasive plant on The Ranger’s Blog over the weekend.

Many of you will have heard the news yesterday that scientists are seeking permission to release a new bug to help fight back the growth of this rather destructive plant.

As usual, The Ranger is able to display how well informed he remains on issues that affect our wonderful countryside, because he did in fact report about the possible release of the Psyllid into the UK on his blog way back in May. Go Ranger!

We read today that the Isle of Wight Council are making moves to reduce the speed limits outside at least 13 schools across the Island.

20 mph restrictions will be introduced outside Binstead Primary, Cowes High, Cowes Primary, West Wight Middle, Summerfields Primary, Newport C of E Primary, Nine Acres Primary, Hunnyhill Primary (also covers road leading to Kitbridge Middle), Northwood Primary, Sandown C of E Primary, Priory, St Catherine’s (Ventnor) and Wroxall Primary.

David Pugh, Leader of the Council said:
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Anyone wishing to send comments on proposed schools reforms have only until the close of business tomorrow to get their letters or emails into the Council.

If you’re dissatisfied with the consultation process or proposed changes, but not sure how to get your points across, you might want to have a look at Dave Botha’s excellent letter to Alex Moffatt.

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Everyone’s best mate and ex-Chief Exec of the Isle of Wight council, Joe Duckworth, was in the paper over the weekend.

Dear, dear Joe (choice of words are quite appropriate here) leapt from the top position on the Island to Chief Exec at Newham Council in London.

Many people had speculated that he’d done a bunk to the mainland borough where the London Olympics will be held because he was after a bauble of some sort — most heads of Olympic councils get a gong we’re told — but it’s now clear that there may have been another reasons too.

He’s on a £240,000 salary there, making him the highest paid council Chief Exec in the country.

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In October the Isle of Wight becomes the Isle of Pink (you may’ve noticed a few changes on VentnorBlog) and it’s all in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.

As well as the activities taking place throughout the month at various attractions, there are also some events planned over the October half term holiday.

Monday 27 October and Tuesday 28 October: Pink Fossil Walks
Explore the pink rocks of Brook Bay and find dinosaur footcasts. Meet at 1pm at the National Trust car park in Brook Bay.

For more details and to book your place, call (01983) 404344.

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Thanks to Rosemary for sending through the results of the Great Isle of Wight Quiz. If you have something you think will be of interest to our readers, do get in touch and let us know. Ed

The winner of The Great Isle of Wight Quiz 2008 is Peter Pye with Robert Croad, Colin Briggs, Wendy Hopps and Margaret Wigmore in second to fifth places.

Colin won the competition in 2006 and Robert has moved up from third to second place.

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Press Release From Standards-Not-Tiers

Research released by SNT this week on their website shows that the council tax payer may need to find £2.4m each year as a result of plans to close schools on the Isle of Wight.

SNT are challenging Alan Wells’ statement in last week’s County Press and say closing small schools will do almost nothing to improve spend per head figures. The research shows that overall, only £34 will be released for each child, amounting to just £612,448 saved each year. Extraordinarily that is less than 10p per child per day.

The loss of small schools grant and £3m additional transport costs for 648 eleven to thirteen year olds will produce an overall net loss. This doesn’t include the additional transport requirements for those children of closing and amalgamating Primary schools, many of whom currently walk!

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We weren’t able to make it over the water this morning, but TV star and lover of all things wild and furry, Chris Packham was on location in Southampton ready and willing to help launch Red Squirrel Week which kicks off tomorrow.

Red Funnel have got involved with the Red Squirrel Trust and The Wight Squirrel Project in support of Red Squirrel Week 2008 which we’re told aims to promote awareness of the plight of this rare indigenous species.

As you can see from the photo, dear Chris was joined by a huge and rather fluffy red squirrel this morning at the Red Funnel terminal.

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There are 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing.

If you have a problem with hearing or know someone else who has and would welcome some advice, members of the RNID will be on hand to offer help in a couple of weeks time.

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Art lovers, don’t forget that the Quay Arts Open exhibition starts tomorrow. We caught a small glimpse of the exhibition last night and it looks great.

As readers will remember, the exhibition is the result of an open competition for artists to send in their work from around the UK. It’s great to see so many Islanders also making it through to the final.

Taking place tomorrow evening between 6-8pm is a drink reception which will also host a prize giving.

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We’d like to welcome new contributor, Wendy Varley, onto the VentnorBlog team. Wendy, a freelance journalist who lives in Yafford, has been a reader of the blog for sometime. We look forward to hearing her views on some of the issues that affect the Island. Ed

It was sobering to hear on Isle of Wight Radio news yesterday that nearly half of children (47%) here on the Island are living in or on the brink of poverty, with children in Ventnor, Sandown, Freshwater and parts of Newport the most likely to be affected.

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As mentioned earlier, during October, there are several events taking place on the Wight for Isle of Pink Breast Cancer Campaign. In addition, there are also activities that are taking place over the entire month rather than on just specific days.

Below are some of the Island attractions who are getting involved, with details of how you can take part.

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As well as National Black History month, October is also the month for raising awareness for the excellent Breast Cancer Campaign.

It’s a sad fact that most of will know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, which accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women, which is probably why the Breast Cancer Campaign has gained the support of many Island businesses over the next month.

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Vintage bus buffs will already have this event scratched into their diaries.

Coming up next month is the October Running Day. If you head for the Museum down on the Newport Quay you’ll have a treat in store for you, as the museum opens it’s doors and welcomes buses from around the UK.

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A couple of weekends ago, world famous photographer Martin Parr visited the Isle of Wight with a group of Parr enthusiasts.

The weekend trip was organised by the excellent School of Life and we were fortunate enough to have lunch with Martin and the group down on Ventnor seafront near the end of their trip.

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As readers know, the news below is not the sort of thing that VentnorBlog normally reports, however we’ve been led to believe that its relevance will become clear.

Police have confirmed to VB that they were called to an address in Ryde, at 6:07pm on Wednesday to investigate a sudden death.

A 37 year old woman was pronounced dead at the property by the paramedics.

Next of kin have been informed and the police are not treating the death as suspicious, they are however, investigating the death on behalf of the coroner.

VentnorBlog will be at the coroner’s court on Monday and will report live after the opening of the inquest.

Our sincere condolences to those who have been affected by this.

Rev Graham Morris from St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor attended the Town Council Planning meeting tonight to inform the TC on future plans for the renovation of the church tower and surrounding churchyard.

He started by quashing the rumours that had been circulating throughout town (we hadn’t heard this one) that the tower was going to be demolished. Rev. Morris assured the meeting that this was far from the case. The current scaffolding and apron surrounding the tower had been constructed for safety purposes, following an incident whereby a very large piece of masonry had fallen from the tower missing a member of the church by inches.

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Press Release from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Police on the Isle of Wight are appealing for information about the whereabouts of a vulnerable 22-year-old missing man.

Officers are concerned for the welfare of Matthew George Hill from Newport, Isle of Wight.

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Press Release from Standards Not Tiers

SNT (Standards-Not-Tiers), who are members of the National Association for Small Schools and Human Scale Education have told the Isle of Wight Council that it is likely to face high court action over plans to close 23 Island Secondary and primary schools.

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The Isle of Wight Council have this week extended the deadline for comments on the proposed changes to the schools system, so if you haven’t had a chance to gather your thoughts properly and put your views down on paper, don’t worry.

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Prepared to be amazed and shocked.

Stephen Taylor, District auditor (who by the way told us that he always checks VentnorBlog to find out what’s _really_ happening on the Island) has revealed that the Undercliff Drive investigations cost rocketed from an original estimate of £50,000 to £1,300,000.

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Let’s hope this amazing weather holds out for Sunday 28th September when the Classic Car Run takes place on the Isle of Wight

Setting off from at Cowes Parade at 10am, it is anticipated that over 50 classic and vintage cars will take part in the run across the Island to help raise money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

If you have a classic car (that’s one over 20 years old) why not join the convoy - it’s all in a good cause and will only cost you £10 per car.

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You remember that we’re always looking for positive stories about the IW Council. We know that loads of the people who work there are diligent and do their best, even if a couple of the departments let the rest of them down (press communications and planning in our experience).

One great scheme run by the council — under the County Instrument Service — that came in to view recently, is connected to schools and learning to play instruments.

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It’s great to hear that the UKSA (UK Sailing Academy) has just presented three UKSA Yachting Cadetship students with funding from Trinity House.

These lucky three were selected as the most enthusiastic and deserving candidates following a gruelling selection process.

They’ll have 90% of their tuition fees paid and a monthly allowance during the three-year UKSA Yachting Cadetship programme, which is designed to provide qualifications and skills to gain employment in the superyacht industry.

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We’ve heard yesterday on IW Radio news that the IW Council voted on Tuesday night to rejected a government proposal to allow all school children and over 60s to swim for free in public swimming baths.

The reason given for this was to save the council £110,000.

The Isle of Wight council has a budget of over £300 MILLION pounds a year.

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