Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

This in from WightLink. Ed

Owing to operational reasons the following sailings have been cancelled

Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde 19.45
Ryde to Portsmouth 20.15

Thanks to Newport Parish Council for send this in to VB. We’d be happy to receive articles and press releases from other Island parish councils as well – Ed

Newport Parish Council has been approached by a number of residents concerned about the seemingly unnecessary use of sirens, particularly at weekends.

Although the parish council did not wish to make any criticism of the excellent work carried out by the emergency services, it was felt this needed further investigation. Cllr Craven, as lead Member, arranged a meeting with Chris Smith Head of Ambulance and Dean Haward, Station Manager, Fire and Rescue. Kevin Fripp Head of the Police Driving Standards was unable to attend but supplied his guidelines.

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This in from Wightlink – Ed.

Please be advised that owing to operational reasons on the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head service the following sailings have been cancelled on Tuesday 16 March:
From Portsmouth Harbour: 1915
From Ryde Pier Head: 1945

An additional service will operate from Ryde Pier Head at 2015 (by a charter vessel)

Wightlink would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.

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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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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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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If you heading on or off the Island tomorrow via the Fast Cat in Ryde/Portsmouth, please note the following cancellations.

The following sailings will not now operate:

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Many thanks to VB reader Richard, who wrote to us earlier in the week suggesting that some readers might be in interested in this current planning application by Hover Travel.

Looking through the application, it appears that Hover Travel are applying to extend the service times to 5.45am and 11pm.

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Thanks to Stuart George from the Isle of Wight Bus Users Group for information regarding forthcoming changes to the concessionary bus pass scheme. Ed

As previously reported on VB, the Isle of Wight council (IWC) has decided that on Mondays to Fridays from 1 April, the concessionary fares scheme will only apply between 9.30am and 11pm. At weekends and bank holidays it will still apply all day.

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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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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.

This just in from Wightlink – Ed.

Please be advised that the car ferry sailings departing at 01:00 am sailing from Portsmouth Gunwharf and the 02:00 am sailing from Fishbourne have been changed until further notice as follows:

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As we mentioned earlier on Twitter, the Military Road in Atherfield by Chine Lane was flooded earlier today.

An Isle of Wight Fire Brigade appliance was luckily able to attend and pump away the excess water.

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This in from Wightink.

Due to the forecast adverse weather conditions in the Solent area for Sunday 28/2/10, Wightlink will be running an hourly service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne, from 06:00 until 21:00 ex Gunwharf and from 07:00 until 22:00 ex Fishbourne. Outside of these times, the normal timetable will apply.

Wightlink would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Passengers concerned about their sailing(s) should call Wightlink reservations on 0871 376 1000.

Thanks to Jill Wareham for sending through this short video which shows the extent of the landslide at Brook. Having driven past it this morning, we had no idea the road was that close to the edge

Whether the road survives until the end of March (when a council meeting has been called to discuss it) is anyone’s guess.

This just in from WightLink.

Please be advised that owing to adverse weather, Wightlink will be running an hourly service on Portsmouth/Fishbourne service from the 13.00 sailing until further notice.

Wightlink would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Passengers concerned about their sailing(s) should call Wightlink reservations on 0871 376 1000.

After nine years of problems with Undercliff Drive, proposals by the Isle of Wight Council for improving Ventnor’s road access have garnered a luke-warm response from residents.

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It’s that time of year again, prior to the holiday season when maintenance of Yarmouth Bridge takes place.

The council inform us that next week there’ll be a three day road closure at Yarmouth Bridge.

The road will be closed on 2, 3 and 4 March as the bridge’s landing pads are replaced.

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A new Car-Free Scheme is about to be launched on the Island hoping to make it a ‘greener’ place to visit.

Spearheading the project is co-founder of the Big Green Island Project Community Interest Company, Lois Prior.

Regular readers will recognise Lois from her many years of work in helping to ‘green up’ the Island’s tourism industry.

Her enthusiasm and motivation has inspired many people to follow suit, which can only be a good thing for the Island and the planet.

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Users of the Military Road and readers of VB will be aware of the landslide near Brook that took place the weekend before last.

Sadly it appears today that another landslide has occured, resulting in part of the Miltary Road being sectioned off for single lane traffic and the edge of the cliff moving ever closer to the road.

Temporary traffic lights are in place and safety barriers being installed.

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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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Heavy rain overnight has caused severe flooding on many Island roads this morning with surface water causing major problems.

Some people might be getting their post a little late today. As can be seen by the picture below, at the junction of Appleford Road and Niton Road, the postal van has become stuck and won’t start.

Larger version of the photo below

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News reaches us that the High Court this morning ruled that Wightlink’s decision to run new larger ferries is in breach of the European habitats directive.

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