Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

This in from Ryde Inshore Rescue – Ed

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Here’s another from Ryde councillor Brian Harris. Ed

If you’re over 50, and have concerns about living in Ryde that need resolving, come and air your views to Ryde Older Voices.

They meet for an hour every month in the Methodist Church Hall, Garfield Road; the March meeting is on Wednesday 24th, at 1.45pm.

Ryde Older Voices is one of the IW Older Voices Circles that have been established across the Island specifically to try to improve things for the more mature of our residents; Brian Harris, on 563603, has further details.

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Back at the end of last year (seems so long ago now) you might remember VB reported of four islanders who were named on the Queen’s Honours list.

Last week Chief Executive of the Riverside Centre, Richard Priest, was joined by his wife Jane and their son Adam for a trip to Buckingham Palace.

Their jaunt to London wasn’t to see the sights, but for Richard to collect his OBE, for services to the Island, from none other than HRHHM The Queen.

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Leader of the Council David Pugh and his cabinet colleagues were conspicuously absent from the Riverside Centre’s meeting for stakeholders on Saturday.

Senior officers and councillors were invited to the meeting, called in acknowledgment of ‘the need for direct dialogue, that is not conversation through the media’ on the impact of cuts to adult social care.

“They made their apologies and went elsewhere,” said Cllr Ian Stevens (Independent). “I don’t know if all of them were invited, but I know the Leader of the Council was.”

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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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If your cash-strapped community project could aid the Island’s youth, the Isle of Wight Community Fund (IWCF) would like to hear from you, with £25,000 in funding available from their 2010 IWCF grant programme.

The IWCF are inviting applications from voluntary and community groups and non-profit making organizations. This year they will focus on supporting those in the 14-25 age range.

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More news from Ryde Inshore Rescue. Ed

Ryde Inshore Rescue were paged at 1544 this afternoon to a person in the water off of Ryde Sands.

Several other units including the police and coastguard helicopter were also tasked too.

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More good work by Ryde Inshore Rescue – Ed

Ryde Inshore Rescue responded to an urgent call from a yacht at 15:10 Friday afternoon.

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Three fishermen whose boat was crippled by its own anchor rope were literally hauled out of their predicament in a wind-swept Solent by Cowes RNLI lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday).

The emergency began just before 1pm when the fishermen radioed that their anchor rope had become wrapped around one of the two propellers of their 32 foot motor-cruiser Arco Bellina off Thorness.

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As the Isle of Wight Council embarks on its ‘transformation’ of social services, service staff and stakeholders complain that they have never been directly consulted or informed about the budget cuts and implications for services.

The Riverside Centre will respond on Saturday with their Riverside Stakeholder’s meeting to host ‘direct dialogue, not conversation through the media’.

“We have written repeatedly to officers of the Local Authority to seek clarification on the implications of the Budget proposals and have still yet to receive any response,” said Riverside Centre Manager Shirley Sharp.

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If you haven’t already heard, later this year a new event aimed as a tribute to Britain’s serving armed forces makes its way to Yarmouth.

The event, titled Sailing for Heroes, has been organised by the Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners with support from the Royal Solent Yacht Club.

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Last week a special reception took place in the Full Circle Restaurant at St Mary’s Hospital.

The purpose of the reception was to recognise a whopping 45 individuals and teams who had been voted ‘NHS Snow Heroes’ by members of the public last month.

You might remember we ran a piece back in January after the heavy snow, calling for residents to nominate their Snow Heroes.

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If you’re recently retired and looking for something interesting and constructive to do in your spare time, then why not head to Ventnor Library tomorrow?

All throughout the day, they will be giving advice and information on how to widen your horizons.

Details of local groups from Wight Squirrels to U3A, St Catherine’s Lighthouse to the Badger Trust, Sam the Health Trainer to Quarr Abbey, Canine Partners (with puppies!) and many more will be at Ventnor Library.

Normal Tuesday opening hours apply: 9.30am – 12.30pm and then again between 1.30pm – 5pm

Image: Jason Swain

Another appeal arrives at VB today, please read on to see if you can help.

Shazza Corr from Ryde tells us that about six weeks ago, her 14 year old daughter had her jacket taken from the toilets in Newport bus station.

Inside the jacket was a bracelet almost identical to the one pictured. Instead of the fish it the lost bracelet had an M on it.

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Update: We’ve heard from the Isle of Wight police that Dean has been found safe.

Can you help with this appeal which is being posted across many pages on Facebook?

“To all Islanders Please help find my son.

Please if you see him let me know through Facebook.”

Contact Jayne Amanda or Newport Police Station.

From time to time we receive letters from our readers who wish for them to be published on VB. This unedited letter from Brian Rushton of Newport which we received today, is one such request. Ed

I despair when I think about the likely impact cuts in funding in excess of £100,000 are likely to have on the Riverside Centre for the disabled, everyone knows what an asset this centre is to the island community and we should all be aware of the excellent job they do.

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Last Friday saw the nationwide Go Orange for Independent Lifeboat Day take place.

Michaela White from Ryde Inshore Rescue did an amazing job of promoting the campaign across the Island.

Her hard work certainly paid off, because figures raised so far by each of the three independent lifeboat stations on the Island amount to thousands of pounds.

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You will all have heard about the catastrophic earthquake that hit Chile at the weekend. VB reader Rocio is originally from Chile is hoping to contact any other Chileans living on the Island to see what they can do to help. Ed

Hello, my name is Rocio Gonzalez-Medland. I come originally from Santiago de Chile, but I have been living on the Isle of Wight for the last 12 years.

As you may have heard, this weekend a massive earthquake has hit my country followed by a tsunami which has devastated vast areas along 430 miles of coast.

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Update Monday: Police advise us that Mr Simpson has been found safe and well. Ed

The following was received from the police yesterday, as we’ve not had an update, we can only assume that the gentleman is still missing. Ed

Police on the Isle of Wight are concerned for the welfare of an 87-year old man who has gone missing from his home in Ryde.

Frederick Simpson lives in Trinity Street, Ryde, but was last seen leaving the Kasbah pub in Ryde just before mid-day on Friday, February, 26, where he had stayed overnight on Thursday.

Although he is fit and well for his age, Mr Simpson’s disappearance is completely out of character and even more worrying, he has not been in contact with anyone.

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Angela Ticehurst got in touch with us this afternoon and wanted for us to pass on a message to those taking part in the Beach clean at Grange Chine tomorrow – Ed.

I am aware there is going to be a Beach clean at Grange Chine tomorrow 2pm – 4pm, organised by Surfers Against Sewage.

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Have you thought about what you’re going to do for Go Orange day yet?

This coming Friday sees the launch of a new (hopefully) annual event to raise cash and awareness for the independent lifeboat stations.

Go Orange Day takes place across the UK as well as on the Island and supporters are being asked to do something to help.

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It goes without saying that the biggest story on the Island at the moment are the proposed budget cuts put forward by the current Conservative administration.

Budget figures under scrutiny
Tomorrow evening at the full council meeting (which VB will be covering live), the budget proposals, which (despite the last minute alteration) include massive cuts to those services supporting vulnerable people, will be debated and voted upon.

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The Isle of Wight Council have today put forward a revision of their budget proposals, prior to the full council meeting tomorrow evening.

The revisions are in response to the feedback received from residents, service users and take into account the alternative budgets put forward by Geoff Lumley, Ian Stevens and Reg Barry.

Community Services gain
A statement from David Pugh informs us that with some revisions to the budget, an extra £750,000 will be allocated to the Supporting PeopleCommunity Services, which provides help for vulnerable people on the Island. More to come on that on VB later today.

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Great news for Newport and anyone using the Victoria Road Amenity Area.

Newport Parish Council tell us that they’ve just received a rather tidy cheque for the sum of £1,110.

The Big Lottery Fund are the benefactors and have contributed the cash to go towards enhancing the area.

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Rachel from IW Friends of Palestine Group tells us that ticket sales are going well for the Gaza event taking place this Thursday.

Peter Venner from Brading will be giving a talk after the screening of EyeWitness in Gaza at Quay Arts.

Peter will be talking about his journey to Gaza at the end of last year, as part of a convoy taking supplies to those in need.

Entrance is just £5, call 872997 for more info.