Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

Given that the Isle of Wight Council have pocketed a cool £4 million this year in parking charges, it’s of little surprise to hear there will be no festive cheer as far as charging for parking during the festive bank holidays are concerned.

They have sent out a reminder that ‘parking charges both on street and in council-run car parks will be in force over the Christmas and new year period as normal’.

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We had to look twice to check the time of the release when we read the following just out from the Isle of Wight Council.

Apparently the swing bridge at Yarmouth, which all vehicles from the west have to travel over to gain access to Yarmouth is due to be closed to vehicles for five weeks from 14 April.

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Update: Please read the following in the context of this

In an effort to put a stop to the seemingly ever-expanding obesity problems on the Isle of Wight, the Communications Department at the Isle of Council have this morning sent out their latest edict to all media organisations on the Wight.

Keen to impress the IWC and follow suit as others do, we have been told that we are obliged to inform you that the Queen of Sheeba department has ruled that each Islander should only consume ONE easter egg this April.

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The award winning Isle of Wight Council web site iwight.com has undergone a makeover.

With all the content that you’re used to finding underneath a new skin, the fresh new look gives the site a more user friendly and informal look about it.

New features include colour coding of sections, quick links on the right hand side of the page and users are now able to access the A-Z menu from all pages.

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The Funk Mothership returns next month with The Studio in Newport as the landing ground.

Check out the intergalactic Funk and Soul, screaming the delicious sounds of 60s & 70s funk, soul, MoTown, Psychedelia, reggae, ska and other cosmic rare grooves.

Spinning for your pleasure will be Rev. Kitsch, Schoo and Sounds Like Skipper all back dropped with some rare crazy, mind warping big screen and stage visuals

Only £4 on the door. Kicks off at 10pm and runs til 3am!

‘BE SEEING YOU’ THERE MOTHERFUNKERS!!
Fancy dress encouraged!

As trailed earlier in the day, VentnorBlog now has a reporter sending reports back to HQ live from the Cabinet Meeting at County Hall so that you dear reader, can follow proceedings.

This is a best effort coverage of the events of the meeting. It is not a transcription of everything that is said

[18:01:49] (In the a committee room, not the chamber)
[18:02:39] David Pugh, declares interest as an ex-pupil of Christ the King (CtK)
[18:03:02] Public question time extended
[18:03:34] ‘Older voices’ lobby group member speaking
[18:03:42] Concern is cuts
[18:04:12] Prob £1.5m pound cutbacks
[18:04:40] Can we find out which posts of 88 people will be cut?
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Good news for parents who pay for their children’s school dinners.

In response to the difficult times that many of us are facing with the economic downturn and thanks to a government grant (School Meals Standard Funds grant), the Isle of Wight Council has been able to lower the cost of school meals at primary and secondary schools and say that they will keep these prices in place until September 2010.

Starting from the start of the next half term (23 Feb), the new cost of schools dinners for primary schools will be £1.70 with special meals (meals served at Special Schools) reduced to £1.60 and £1.95 for meals at middle and high schools (special meals down to £1.70).

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The Isle of Wight Council are urging drivers and cyclists on the Island to take extra care on the roads this week.

Overnight temperatures are tipped to drop below freezing tonight which means that the Island’s roads will also suffer.

The Met Office have advised the Council, along with other authorities along the South coast that air temperature is predicted to be -3°C tonight with road temperature at possibly -8°C.

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The holiday period is only a matter of days away now and working folk will be looking forward to having some time off to enjoy with the family.

That includes all those who work hard at the Isle of Wight Council too, such as the friendly and helpful guys who man the customer support lines, the refuse collectors, the benefits advisers and libraries amongst others.

The Council have usefully provided details of what will be closed and for how long. You’ll find details in this month’s One Island mag, but also detailed below.

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The Park Centre in Ryde will be holding their Christmas Arts and Crafts Fayre this weekend.

Featuring “The Crafty Lot”, there’ll be ceramics, textiles, jewellery, jigsaws, photography and much more.

If you’re just starting to gather Christmas presents, this could be well worth a visit.

Taking place at The Park Centre in High Park Road, Ryde, the sale opens at 11am and runs til 4pm.

50p entrance also gets you a raffle ticket.

Image: Papier-mâché poultry at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco taken byE.T.. Not for sale in Ryde, just thought it looked good!

This has just been published by the IWC.

Isle of Wight Council has today (Friday 14 November) published its latest proposals for school reforms, following extensive public consultation over the summer.

A detailed report – following the evaluation of around 1,700 representations – is being presented to the council’s Cabinet meeting on 24 November when members will decide the next stage forward.

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You don’t really need us to tell you that the weather is pretty rubbish today – you only have to look out of the window to see that, but IWC are also advising that unless you absolutely need to go out, better to stay at home.

There have been a number of trees down overnight and many areas of flooding.

More heavy rain and gale force winds are expected later today, so batten down those hatches.

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Heather Pimentel, the lady who brought you Interact has two new courses starting in September. If this is your bag, read on. Ed

Lifelines
Everyone has a story to tell, we’d love to hear yours.

In this course, you get to devise a short monologue, based on your experience (whether serious, humorous, thought provoking or all of these) and develop skills and confidence to put it across expressively. Voice, Acting and writing.

The course runs over 10 weeks every Saturday morning between 10am-11.30am. It starts on 6th September (excludes 1st November) and the price for the course is just £18.

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Great to see the Press Office are still reading VentnorBlog to get the most up to date Island news.

After we wrote about the minor bloomer yesterday (all tongue in cheek, natch) when the Press Office gave credit for the mural at Ventnor Youth Centre to someone of a different name, we noticed today that they have now sorted out their error.

Nathan is now correctly receiving the credit for his artistic talent.

Our eyes rolled to the ceiling when we happened to read through some of the latest press releases from the Council this morning. We did think twice about whether we have a friendly dig at ‘our mates’ at the Press Office, but given how they’ve treated us, we promptly decided “what the heck!”

The first release in question, highlights the great work that has taken place at the Ventnor Youth Centre in Victoria Street, praising the bright and eye catching mural that now adorns the back wall of the building.

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Press Release from IW Council and Hampshire Constabulary

Islanders are being warned about a company that rings households offering to help reduce personal debt. Both Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards and Hampshire Constabulary are reminding residents that no bona fide financial company would ever seek to obtain personal bank details over the phone.

A company called Global Credit Management has made calls stating it can help reduce household debt by up to 70% and then arranging for the remaining 30% to be paid back in instalments. This would be through an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) which they would administer on behalf of the home owner.

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Official Press Release From Isle of Wight Council

Isle of Wight Council has published a list of meetings which form part of the local authority’s formal consultation on its final proposals for school reorganisation.

Meetings for parents of schools that are proposed for either closure, federation or amalgamation will be held over the next few weeks, and meetings at other schools will be held in September.
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Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods Stuart Love said “We have been made aware that a man claiming to be an Isle of Wight Council dog warden has been approaching dog walkers in parks in Ventnor asking for them to pay an on the spot fine. This man does not work for the council.
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Isle of Wight Council director of environment and neighbourhoods Stuart Love said “The council is delighted a group has contacted us expressing an interest in taking on the licence to run Ventnor Skate Park. (more…)

There’s less than a week to go until the Isle of Wight’s newly appointed High Sheriff Alan Titchmarsh kicks off the largest festival of its kind. (more…)

SOCIAL care managers on the Isle of Wight are celebrating this week after they scooped a top award for their ground-breaking free home care scheme for the over 80s. (more…)

A MARATHON charity bike ride planned by Island firefighters between Newport and Rome has raised more than £27,000 for hospital equipment. (more…)

RESIDENTS in Ryde and Newport are being urged to vote for members of their newly created parish councils this week. (more…)

A new facility that will provide support for families with children under the age of 5 is being officially opened on 1 May. (more…)

Isle of Wight Council is organising a series of meetings from Monday 28 April as part of the latest phase of its education reforms. Eight meetings will be held across the Island where representatives from individual schools, pre-schools and governing bodies will be invited. (more…)