Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

You probably know that there are some pretty impressive video game developers on the Isle of Wight in the guise of Stainless Games.

Well, the Island now has another game developer that it can be proud of – Team Mango, which yesterday, released its game, Dysnomia.

They’re on a very different scale to Stainless, as there is but one in Team Mango – Gareth Williams.

Written on the Island
In an amazing feat of persistence and programming skills, Gareth has created a very slick looking video game, all coded by himself on the Island, from start to finish, in ten months.

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At least 20 Islanders must have found work last month leaving the statistics for the number of unemployed claimants on the Isle of Wight.

The total number of claimants for February 2010 was 3,813.

This 20 less than January 2010, but 305 higher than the same month last year and represents a rate of 6.5% of the economically active population.

Remember that we gave you the heads up about the Car Free Scheme launching on the Isle of Wight?

Well, this morning it happened at The Mission in Chale and the scheme is something for Island businesses, as well as visitors. Easy to join, with many potential benefits.

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This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
121.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 13 March

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If you’re wondering when the school holidays on the Isle of Wight are for the rest of this year, here’s a handy summary for you.

Easter holiday
Last day of term is Thursday, 1st April (no joke!). School starts again on 19th April.
(Includes two bank holidays, 2nd and 5th April)

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Good news for hospital or hospice patients who need to travel to Southampton on a regular basis.

From the beginning of next month, Red Funnel will be running a new discount scheme, giving 25% off the cost of ferry crossings for patients and close relatives when they make repeated visits to a hospital or hospice.

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Last Friday, we gave you the heads up that a key decision was going to be made by the Isle of Wight Council about the future of the Pan Development, which has been dubbed Super Pan, including the selection of the developer.

We’ve just heard that the go-ahead has been given by the IWC and ‘bidder A’ has been selected to build 846 housing units including 254 affordable housing units.

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It’s full steam ahead at the IW Steam railway where rising visitors have prompted a doubling of the locomotive fleet and the appointment of a new, full-time Engineering Manager.

The railway is facing ‘a great opportunity and a challenge’ explained General Manager Peter Vail, thanks to the ‘extremely generous’ gift of seven new locomotives, four from the Ivatt Trust and three from the national army museum.

It is this, along with the rise in demand that has prompted the introduction of the new post.

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This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
119.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 8 March

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The Chamber of Commerce are offering free business seminars next week for anyone thinking of starting up their own business.

Taking place in Newport on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the seminars – which are normally charged at £225 – are being offered free of charge.

The seminars cover a whole host of things to help you get off on the right footing.

For more details about the seminars see the listing on Events on The Wight

News reaches us that a planned strike by the Public and Commercial Services Union next Monday and Tuesday may affect Coastguard Stations around the UK.

We understand that it is not the rescuers themselves but those responsible for co-ordinating rescues who are planning the action.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency tell us that contingency arrangements are in place to provide emergency services, but warn sea users to take extra care whilst on the sea, beach or cliffs.

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Today the Isle of Wight Council announced that they’ve received confirmation of £364.6 million of free grant for the Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project.

Naturally, the news has sent cheers around County Hall, and those who have been waiting for the approval of the outline business case for PFI can breath a sigh of relief.

The figure allocated is some £40 million higher than the previous figure sum set aside by the Government.

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A small increase to the maximum taxi fares has been agreed by the Isle of Wight council after a month long consultation.

The council tell us that it’s the first rise in maximum taxi fares on the Island since April 2004.

The new fares which come into force from 31st March will be as follows:

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This week’s prices in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
118.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 1 March

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Our thanks go to Eyemasters for supporting VentnorBlog by paying for this Sponsored Feature.

Are you squinting at your screen or have you been peering out of the window, unable to clearly see things in the distance?

If so, or if you’re looking to replace your glasses, there’s a business based in Ventnor that can help you.

35 years experience
Richard Smith from Eyemasters has over 35 years experience in the ophthalmic lens business behind him and is offering his clients a personalised, one-on-one service.

This doesn’t mean it’s costly though.

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If you’re an Island business that finds it’s energy bills going through the roof, this new scheme being facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce might be of interest to you.

The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry are launching a new bulk purchasing scheme which they say, should help chamber members cut around 3-% off their electricity bills.

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Restaurants on the Island get a glowing write up today in the online version of The Telegraph’s travel section.

The article, which is led with a picture looking out from the dining room at The Hambrough, features some of the best places to eat on the Island.

We’re not sure whether the writer himself (Nick Dalton) has actually visited the Island, as he places St Helens near Bonchurch(!), but he’s certainly picked some great places to temp visitors out to.

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Many thanks to VB reader Kelvin Currie for his report from yesterday’s Isle of Wight Young Chamber Annual Conference. Ed

“No Limits” Speed Networking
The Isle of Wight Young Chamber held a successful speed networking event for local students at Cowes Yacht Haven yesterday.

The event, entitled “No Limits” was organised by the Isle of Wight Chamber to give local young people an idea of the world of work.

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Slight changes in the South Wight area for fuel.

Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
115.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 20 February

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Great news for Island based GKN Aerospace, who we hear today have picked up a whopping $100m contract.

That’s some way to start the week!

We’re sure you’re already aware that the Cowes based company is a leader in composite and metallic technologies for the aviation industry.

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According to the BBC, over 200 people made their way to the recruitment fair at Norton Grange Coastal Village in Yarmouth yesterday in the hope of finding work.

The holiday park has undergone a massive refurbishment and have around 100 new jobs on offer.

Best of luck to everyone who applied.

via BBC

What’s the best thing to do when you’ve proposed £11.6m worth of cuts, causing gales of protest, particularly from those responsible for looking after the most vulnerable members of society?

Make sure you’re not spending extra money? Drop your expenditure where you can?

Isle of Wight council have taken a different approach. (more…)

You don’t have to work in the catering or hospitality industry for the Island Expo to be of interest, but if you do, this is ‘the’ place to be next week.

Taking place at Cowes Yacht Haven the hugely successful annual event features Island producers and service providers to the catering and hospitality industry.

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The number of unemployed claimants on the Isle of Wight rose by 268 to 3,833 in January 2010.

This represents a rate of 6.5% of the economically active population, the 226th highest of the 646 UK constituencies.

The number of claimants is 678 higher than in January 2009 and 268 higher than in December 2009.

Cheapest non-supermarket stations within 5 miles of PO38 for Diesel
116.9p Sandford Garage
Godshill, Sandford, Ventnor, PO38 3AL
Texaco, last updated on 14 February

118p Whitwell Garage
High Street, Whitwell, Ventnor, PO38 2PY
Regent, last updated on 13 February

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