Christmas & New Year Arrangements

Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 4pm, Fri 23 Dec. After closing for the Christmas/New Year period they will then reopen on Tues 3 Jan. There will, however, be special arrangements for certain services.

Call Centre

The contact centre will close from 4pm, Fri 23 Dec to Tues 3 Jan.

Help Centres

Help Centres in Ryde, Sandown and at County Hall will also close down at 4pm on 23rd December and will open again on 3rd January at 8:30am, except Ryde which will open at 9:00am. Freshwater Help Centre with Freshwater Library will close at 4:30 pm on Tuesday 20th December and will open on 3rd January at 9:30am.

Highways emergencies

Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working, etc – tel: 821105. Severe weather (snow or exceptional rainfall) - the highways emergency control room will be set up - tel: 823777.

Council Buildings or Land (Emergencies Only)

For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.

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. (N.B. As Christmas and New Years Day fall on a Sunday please remember that the service starts at 06.30 on Sundays and 05.00 all other days of the week).

Libraries

Lord Louis, Ryde, Cowes, Freshwater, Sandown and Ventnor Libraries will all close at 4.00pm on Friday 23rd December, and will operate their normal opening hours from Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

The community libraries will have the following Christmas & New Year opening hours:-

Bembridge:- close 4.30pm 23/12
Brighstone:- close 12.30pm 20/12
Edward Edwards (Niton):- 12.00pm 21/12
East Cowes:- 5.00pm 22/12
Shanklin:- 4pm 23/12

They will all operate normal opening hours from Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

Registrars Service

The council's Register Office will be open between 08.30 – 17.00 from Monday 19th December until Thursday 22nd December, and between 0830 - 1600 on Friday 23 December. It will then open between 09.00 – 16.00 on 28th, 29th and 30th December, before opening again as normal from 3rd January.

Isle of Wight Crematorium

No cremations or burials: 26 to 27 Dec, 2 Jan (the grounds, chapel and Book of Remembrance Room open to the public, 2pm to 4pm on these days, weekends and holiday dates). All cremation papers should be delivered to the crematorium by noon on the working day before the cremation. Burials will take place on all other days at the usual times. Burial forms should be delivered to the cemetery office two clear working days prior to each burial.

Leisure Facilities

From Fri 23 Dec to Tues 3 Jan, the council’s leisure facilities at The Heights in Sandown, Medina Leisure Centre and Medina Theatre in Newport, Westridge Squash and Tone Zone in Ryde will operate seasonally adjusted opening hours. All leisure facilities will be closed on 25 Dec and 1 Jan (Ryde Sports Centre closed, 24 Dec to 3 Jan). Full details of revised opening times on display in leisure centres, on www.iwight.com/leisure, or by contacting the leisure centres direct: The Heights, tel: 405594, Medina Leisure Centre, tel: 523767, Medina Theatre, tel: 527020, Westridge Squash and Tone Zone, tel: 566243.

Adult Social Care

Offices close: 4pm, Fri 23 Dec. Reopen: Tues 3 Jan. Adult social care duty service (based at St Mary’s Hospital) open for emergencies only on 28, 29, 30 Dec (8.30am to 5pm on Tues and Wed, 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fri), tel: 534227. The hospital social work team (adult services) will operate on a duty
service bases on the same days Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.

Children’s services

Offices close: 4pm, Fri 23 Dec. Reopen: Tues 3 Jan. All services for children will be covered from the St James’ Centre, 4-5 St James’ Street, Newport on 28, 29, 30 Dec (8.30am to 5pm on Wed and Thur, 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fri), tel: 814374 or 814370. Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.

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.

Revenues & Benefits Service, Parking Services & Customer Account Service

Council offices at Broadway, Sandown to close: 4pm, Fri 23 Dec. Reopen 8.30am, Tues 3 Jan. Automated payment system available 24 hours a day, tel: 0207 1381970.

Waste Collections

There will be no waste collections in Christmas week. Collections will return to normal on Monday 2 January. Details can be found here.

Christmas Recycling

Christmas tree recycling bins will 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.

From the end of January Christmas cards can be placed in your new recycling wheelie bin or clear recycling bag. Alternatively although 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.

Ventnor Botanic Garden

The garden itself is open during the Christmas period, but visitors should be aware that for security purposes most of the car park is closed overnight from 4pm to 8am daily. Vehicles left inside this area cannot be released until the following day. The Royal Garden Café and visitor centre closed 3pm, Fri 23 Dec until Mon 13 Feb. Full details at www.botanic.co.uk