Christmas & New Year Arrangements

Many of the services provided by Isle of Wight Council will close down from 1500 on Christmas Eve until 0830 on Tuesday 4th January 2011.

Call Centre

The council's Call Centre wiill close from 1500 on 24th December. It will re-open on 29th, 30th and 31st December between 0900 - 1600 and will re-open as normal on 4th January and operate under normal working hours.

Help Centres

Help Centres in Ryde, Sandown and at County Hall will also close down at 1500 on 24th December and will open again on 4th January at 0830, except Ryde which will open at 0900. Anyone needing to report a highways emergency, such as a fallen tree or faulty traffic lights, should ring (01983) 525121 or 823777. For non-emergencies, a Highways message recording service will operate from 1500 on 24th December until 4th January.

Council Buildings (Emergencies Only)

For emergencies involving council buildings and housing services, people should ring (01983) 821105.

Wightbus Service

The council’s Wightbus service will run to its usual timetable up to and including Christmas Eve. Subsequently, a revised timetable and service will be in operation on certain days over the festive period. There will be no services on December 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and January 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

On December 29th, 30th and 31st, all Wightbus services will run as normal with the single exception of the 1445 Service 33.All services will be back as normal on 4th January.

Cowes Chain Ferry (Floating Bridge)

The Floating Bridge will operate a normal service throughout Christmas and New Year including 25 Dec and 1 Jan. Operating hours are 0500 - 0030 each day, and an extended 0500 - 0100 on New Years Eve.

Libraries

Library opening times at branches across the Island will be affected between 24th December and 4th January. All libraries will be closed from 1500 on 24th Dec and reopen with their usual hours from Monday 4th January. Customers should contact their local library for opening times.

Registrars Service

The council's Register Office will be open between 0830 - 1700 from Monday 20 December until Thursday 23 December, and between 0830 - 1500 on Friday 24 December. It will then open between 0830 - 1700 on 29th, 30th and 31st December, before opening again as normal from 4th January.

Leisure Facilities

Individual leisure facilities operated by the council, including leisure centres and entertainment venues, will run to revised opening hours from 17th December until 4 January when hours return to normal. Customers should contact the individual centres or venues for further details.

Book of Remembrance Room (Isle of Wight Crematorium)

Please click here to view the Christmas & New Year opening times.

Tourist Information Centres

Please click here to view the Christmas & New Year opening times.

Adult Social Care

For adult social care there will be a telephone service available from 0830 to 1700 on Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st (until 1630 on the 31st) December which can be reached on (01983) 534227. Outside these times the emergency service can be reached on (01983) 821105

Revenues & Benefits Service

Isle of Wight Council Revenue and Benefits Service, which is based on The Broadway in Sandown, will close from 1500 on 24th December and will re-open from 0830 on 4th January.

Housing & Council Tax Benefit Payments

Information about when housing & council tax benefit payments will be dispatched and credited over the Christmas period is available here.

Waste Collections

Waste collections will operate to a different timetable for four weeks from Monday 27th December. Details can be found here.

Christmas Recycling

Christmas tree recycling bins will also be available in the following car parks: Brighstone Village, Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Lake New Road, Ryde Waltzing Waters, East Cowes Esplanade and Somerton Park and Ride. Christmas trees can also be placed with garden waste at all household waste recycling centres.

The council does not operate a Christmas card recycling scheme although some individual primary schools do. Residents should contact their local school to see if they are participating.