9, October 2026·2 min readParents raise concerns as government approves Isle of Wight SEND reform planGovernment backs Island SEND plan, but parents doubt resources can match ambitions
9, October 2026·2 min readHealthwatch Isle of Wight report highlights A&E waits and dental cancellationsHealthwatch finds A&E waits, GP access and dental cancellations top Island concerns
Youth clubs and community spaces top the agenda as Youth Council meets chairmanYoung Islanders share youth club and community space ideas with council chairman
Isle of Wight befriender helps 91-year-old Gerry Moglione rediscover a lifetime of serviceAge UK befriender helps 91-year-old Gerry Moglione rediscover decades of Island service
Plan to cut £80,000 from Isle of Wight libraries paused for talksCouncillors pause £80,000-plus Island library cuts, opting for talks with partners instead
Fire authority agrees twelve new firefighter posts after record wildfire summerFire authority backs twelve extra firefighters, more officers and specialist rescue capability across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Wildheart sanctuary secures funding for International Biosphere Centre business planFunding has been secured for a business plan on a proposed Sandown environmental education centre
CatVideoFest returns to Quay Arts in Newport on SundayCatVideoFest screens at Quay Arts on Sunday, raising money for Island cats
Parents raise concerns as government approves Isle of Wight SEND reform planGovernment backs Island SEND plan, but parents doubt resources can match ambitions
Healthwatch Isle of Wight report highlights A&E waits and dental cancellationsHealthwatch finds A&E waits, GP access and dental cancellations top Island concerns
Wight BID 3: council keeps its ballot decision private until voting closesCouncillors consider tourism BID vote in private, citing ballot secrecy, prompting criticism
Youth clubs and community spaces top the agenda as Youth Council meets chairmanYoung Islanders share youth club and community space ideas with council chairman
Isle of Wight befriender helps 91-year-old Gerry Moglione rediscover a lifetime of serviceAge UK befriender helps 91-year-old Gerry Moglione rediscover decades of Island service
Plan to cut £80,000 from Isle of Wight libraries paused for talksCouncillors pause £80,000-plus Island library cuts, opting for talks with partners instead
Isle of Wight family shave heads for sister with rare brain and spinal tumourBrothers and dad shave heads for charities helping Xander through rare tumour
Support our local independent lifeboat crews and sign up to the Lifeboat LottoIt will cost you less than £10 per month and you could win up to £5,000, all while supporting our inshore lifeboat crews
Record 700 take part in Isle of Wight Dash in the Dark at Robin HillOver 700 costumed participants raised more than £27,500 for the air ambulance
Wroxall residents call public meeting over community association’s governance (update 2)Wroxall residents have called a public meeting on Friday over the community association's governance
Isle of Wight CAMRA pays tribute to Ken ‘Buzzy’ MatthewsIsle of Wight CAMRA mourns Ken "Buzzy" Matthews, former Wessex regional chairman
Common Place exhibition of Brighstone craft closes this ThursdayCommon Place, an exhibition of handmade work from Brighstone, closes on Thursday
Letter: Nature’s hidden role in the food we eat and the air we breatheNaturezones' Angela Hewitt argues nature deserves serious investment and urgent government action
Letter: Fewer crossings, fewer claims, fewer hotels – what the migration data actually showsOnTheWight reader, Ieuan Jehu, argues the data shows migration policy is working, not failing
Letter: Why Sandown’s wastewater recycling proposal needs closer scrutinyPaddy Lightfoot calls for greater scrutiny of proposed wastewater recycling plant scheme
LISTEN: Underwater sculptures could come to Sandown. Artist Jason deCaires Taylor chats to OnTheWight about his beautiful work
Sam the Sandown Clown: Discussing reason #2 to visit No Ordinary Town exhibition at Quay Arts (podcast)
Is Ventnor’s ‘graben’ actually a ‘doline’ as geologists newly-suggest? – And what difference might that make? (podcast)
LNRS: Understanding Isle of Wight’s local nature recovery strategy and its significance, with Graham Horton (Podcast)
‘Ambition’ and ‘Mindset’ sets Isle of Wight and its artists apart says Phil Gibby, Arts Council SW Director (Podcast)
Ollie Boulter interview (pt4): Exceeding government energy efficiency standards, the skills gap in construction and ‘brown envelopes’
Ollie Boulter interview (pt3): Find out about affordable housing, the Airbnb phenomenon and housing targets from Head of IWC planning
Ollie Boulter interview (pt2): Head of IWC planning on pre-applications, the life of IWC planning officers and changes to the NPPF (podcast/listen)
Ollie Boulter: Get an in-depth understanding of the Isle of Wight planning process with the Head of IWC planning (Part 1 of podcast/listen)
Listen: How Zoe Portsmouth’s boxing journey is inspiring Isle of Wight’s girls and young women (podcast)