Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

Looks like the Island Line service is going to be affected for the next couple of hours.

Due to electrical supply problems, there will be a reduced service of:

* 15 minutes past the hour from Shanklin
* 45 minutes past the hour from Ryde Pier Head

They say it’ll last until around 3pm.

Good news for those interested in discussions surrounding the redevelopment of the Brading Experience and unable to attend the Brading Town Council meeting tonight.

VB is reporting live from the meeting which is due to start shortly.

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It’s all go at Brading this Thursday.

Not only does the town council meeting sound like it’s going to be a bit of a hum-dinger, but the police will be in the car park of the Bugle Inn keen to speak to residents during the afternoon.

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There’s growing unrest in some quarters of Brading about a number of things residents feel are being foisted on the town.

Following a meeting held last Sunday which was attended by well-over seventy people, a new group, the Brading Residents’ Action Group (BRAG) has been formed to work together to bring a united voice to their concerns.

They got in touch with VentnorBlog to tell us about the depth of their unhappiness, asking if we can help spread the word for them.

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You may have read previously about offers to your dog micro-chipped or bicycle security marked at various point on the Island, but found you haven’t been close to where it’s been happening.

Well, this Saturday it’s being made available in Rookley and Arreton.

Two weeks later, on Saturday 6 February, it will also be on the move to Nettlestone, St Helen’s, Bembridge and Brading.

Details
Have a click on the names, the times and locations are detailed OnTheWight – you might find some other things to do while you’re there.

Image: Mark Watson (kalimistuk) under CC BY 2.0

Many of the Island roads have taken a bit of a bashing over the Winter period with more potholes opening up.

Back in October, we heard that Beaper Shute, otherwise known as the Brading Road (A3055), would be getting refurbished this month. Well, today it’s been confirmed that they will be starting on Monday, 25 January, a little behind the originally anticipated 4 January, but understandable given the recent weather.

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VB reader Janet Shuter has just mailed us a good news story.

Brading High Street has a broken down car at each end of it, but as Janet says, “the local teenagers are doing a wonderful job managing the traffic!”

If you’ve got a snowy story from around the Island, do get in touch via the blog, Facebook or Twitter. Sure everyone would love to hear about it.

We’ve written about the Super Loos on the Island before, but it’s now official. They really are super!

According to news just in from the Council, the Island can be proud of the fact that five of our public loos have received the prestigious Loo of the Year accolades.

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If you haven’t already seen them, the last of the statutory notices stemming from the school reorganisation have been published.

Statutory notices for Brading CE Primary and St Helens Primary are published today with the notices for Shalfleet CE Primary and Yarmouth CE Primary following next week.

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Expect an evening of entertainment and song with national treasure Mervyn Stutter.

Fresh from the Edinburgh Festival, actor, comedian, scriptwriter and satirical songwriter Mervyn Stutter.

He was a founder member of The Flying Pickets, star of Radio 4’s ‘Going Nowhere Fast’, self-styled ‘menopausal Flower Child’ and stalwart of the Village Hall circuit.

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Brading Roman Villa is currently hosting an exhibition on behalf of the Anne Frank Trust.

The ‘Anne Frank: A History for Today’ exhibition captures the experience of Anne Frank’s life, the rise of the Nazi party, the history of the Second World War and the consequences of the Holocaust.

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Isle of Wight Festival goers may have seen Deborah Hodgson perform earlier this year in the Big Top on the Saturday.

If you enjoyed her show then you’ll be pleased to hear that Deborah who originates from Newport in South Wales is due to return to Island next month, this time for a charity gig at St Mary’s Church in Brading.

Those who saw her perform will agree that she has a great expressive and emotive voice.

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2009 is the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war on Germany by Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand. Read on for news of an interesting new exhibition taking place at Brading Roman Villa. Ed

Brading Roman Villa will be hosting a new exhibition next month with a collection from the Anne Frank Trust.

The ‘Anne Frank: A History for Today’ exhibition captures the experience of Anne Frank’s life, the rise of the Nazi party, the history of the Second World War and the consequences of the Holocaust.

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Beaper Shute, otherwise known as the Brading Road, will be getting a refurb early next year.

There’s been quite a few horrible crashes down that section of road, including fatal accidents.

While the road is being resurfaced, it will also receive some safety treatments, such as anti-skid; the reduction in the speed limit to 50 mph; highly reflective cats eyes; and high viz signs on the bends.

It’s expected that the work will start on 4 Jan 2010, lasting ten weeks, with the closure of some sections during that time.

There was a mixture of joy and sadness at the presentation of the Isle of Wight CamRA Beer of the Year Awards last night.

The winner for the seventh time in the last eight years was Ventnor Golden by Ventnor Brewery (Fuddle De Dum by Yates Brewery won two years ago).

As Islanders will know, the loss of Ventnor Brewery (RIP) is still strongly felt since it closed its doors in March of this year.

Golden was the staple session beer of the Brewery, which is much missed.

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Driving back from Ryde on Saturday afternoon, we happened upon the 8th Yarbridge Inn Beer Festival.

Paul and Sharon Jenner have pulled together a fine selection of ales and stouts from Wales and the festival which has been running since last week comes to its completion tonight.

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This Wednesday night sees the return of open air theatre at Brading Roman Villa.

All for One; One for All! Young D’Artagnan is desperate to join Athos, Porthos and Aramis as a Musketeer of the King’s Guard.

But are his swashbuckling credentials sufficient? Find out as the fearless four survive the schemes of Cardinal Richelieu, plan the impossible rescue of the beautiful Mme Bonancieux, and cross swords with the deadly Milady de Winter.

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Congratulations to Island based public artists, Eccleston George for making it onto the BBC Breathing Places Web site today.

The photo being sported on the BBC Web site was taken at the official open day of Medusa’s Wildlife Meadow (behind Brading Roman Villa) and features the-then High Sheriff for the Isle of Wight, Alan Titchmarsh sitting in one of Eccleston George’s sculptured seats.

The Eccleston George team have been working closely with the Green Gym and The Footprint Trust to develop the space behind the Roman Villa and have done absolute wonders to enhance the area for public use.

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Following an independent review into five of the Island’s primary schools, a report issued to the Isle of Wight Council recommends that at least four of the schools federate in order to remain on their existing sites.

The report, which Standards Not Tiers fully endorses, will be presented to the Cabinet at the end of the month (31 March), when a decision on the future of the schools will be made.

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If there are any star gazers out that don’t forget that tomorrow night the Vectis Astronomical Society will be observing the night sky.

If you’d like to take part, get yourselves down to Brading Roman Villa between 7.30 to 10.30 p.m (ish) and join the team from the Vectis Astronomical Society for a evening of observing the night sky.

Image: Jurvetson

As we’ve mentioned before, The Vectis Astronomical Society (VAS) have a number of events planned for this year in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy.

If you fancy taking part in a night of star gazing, and we’re not talking about the Island celebrities here, then put this one in your diaries and make it a date.

Taking place on Saturday 7th March between 7.30 to 10.30 p.m (ish) join the team from the Vectis Astronomical Society for a evening of observing the night sky.

Join the members of VAS and hopefully if it’s a clear night, you might be wowed as we were last year at the Star Gazing Party in Brighstone.

If you’re keen on learning more about star gazing, and being on the south coast of the UK is certainly in the right place to do it, why not heard over to the VAS Web site to find out more.

Image: Jurvetson

And there’s more …. Community Learning Courses, this time provision for the Bay area.

GUITARS FOR BEGINNERS
Adults Only
Learn guitar playing skills in a supportive, small group based around classic rock and pop songs. Bring your guitar with you.

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If you are a lover of folk music, then this forthcoming gig at St Mary’s Church in Brading will be right up your street.

At the end of the month, Lily Neill, ‘a rising star in the world of harp playing’ will be crossing the water (from the US) to take part in this fund raising concert in aid of St Mary’s Church.

Lily combines traditional music from Scottish, Irish and other folk repertoires with her own style creating a sound that is ‘unique and melodious’.

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Thanks to Marc Morgan Huws from
Southern Vectis for sending in the following information to VentnorBlog (see update st the bottom)

Routes 2 and 3 are subject to significant disruption following the emergency closure of Brading High Street.

Customers are advised where possible to use Islandline trains between Ryde – Brading – Sandown – Lake – Shanklin, who are accepting Southern Vectis tickets and passes for travel while the road closure remains in place.

UPDATE from Southern Vectis: (more…)

If you’re planning to head anywhere near Brading today – you’ll need to change your plans. Certainly for the next couple of hours anyway.

Apparently at 8am this morning, one lorry unfortunately lost a load of fuel outside the Post Office in the High Street and following that, a bus travellling from Brading to Shanklin discovered that it too, had been losing fuel on route.

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