This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 4pm, Thursday 24 December (5pm for Children’s Services).
After closing for the Christmas/new year period they will then reopen on Monday 4 January.
There will, however, be special arrangements for certain services.
Adult social care
Offices close 4pm, Thursday 24 December and reopen 8.30am, Monday 4 January.
Adult social care will be providing a duty service for adult social care and safeguarding emergencies on 29, 30 and 31 December between 9am and 5pm, tel: 814980. The hospital social work team (adult services) will operate on a duty service basis on the same days, tel: 534227. Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 5pm, Thursday 24 December and reopen Tuesday 29 December at 8.30am.
If an urgent matter arises when the office is closed then callers should contact the out of hours service on 0300 300 0117.
If a child is in immediate danger of being harmed, or if a child is home alone, the police should be called on 999.
Coroner’s office
The coroner’s office closes at 4pm on Thursday 24 December and is closed on Monday 28 December. It is open Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December between 9am and 4pm. It reopens as normal on Monday 4 January.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Crematorium
The Book of Remembrance and Gardens of Remembrance are open the following hours over the Christmas period:
Monday 21 December (9am to 5pm).
Tuesday 22 December (9am to 5pm).
Wednesday 23 December (9am to 5pm).
Christmas Eve (9am to 4pm).
Christmas Day (2pm to 4pm).
Saturday 26 December (2pm to 4pm).
Sunday 27 December (12pm to 4pm).
Monday 28 December (2pm to 4pm).
Tuesday 29 December (9am to 5pm).
Wednesday 30 December (9am to 5pm).
Thursday 31 December (9am to 4pm).
New Year’s Day (2pm to 4pm).
Saturday 2 January (12pm to 4pm).
Sunday 3 January (12pm to 4pm).
Monday 4 January (9am to 5pm).
The public can access the grounds at all times.
All cremation papers, burial forms and music should be delivered to the crematorium at least three clear working days prior to each cremation or burial.
Help centres – Newport, Ryde
Newport and Ryde Help Centre offices close at 4pm on Thursday 24 December.
County Hall, Newport reopens at 8.30am on Monday 4 January. The help centre in Ryde Library reopens at 9am on Monday 4 January.
Highways emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc – please contact Island Roads, tel: 822440 or visit the website www.islandroads.com
Housing
On-call arrangements for emergencies via Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Leisure service facilities
The Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown, Medina Leisure Centre and Medina Theatre in Newport and Westridge Squash and Tone Zone in Ryde will all have seasonally adjusted opening hours over the Christmas and new year holiday between Saturday 19 December and Monday 4 January. Full details of opening times will be available in all centres or to download from the website www.iwight.com/leisure or by calling the venues direct: The Heights, tel: 823881, Medina Leisure Centre, tel: 823882, Medina Theatre, tel: 823884, Westridge Squash and Tone Zone, tel: 823883.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge will operate a normal service, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when the service will start at 6.30am.
On New Year’s Eve the last crossing from East to West Cowes will be at 1.10am and the last crossing from Cowes to East Cowes will be at 1.20am.
Libraries
Cowes Library – closes 5pm, 22 December; reopens 10am, Saturday 2 January.
Freshwater Library – closes 4.30pm, 23 December; reopens 9.30am, Saturday 2 January.
Newport Library – closes 1pm, 24 December; reopens 9am, Saturday 2 January.
Ryde Library – closes 7pm, 23 December; reopens 9am, Saturday 2 January.
Sandown Library – closes 1pm, 24 December; reopens 9am, Saturday 2 January.
Ventnor Library – closes 6pm, 23 December; reopens 9.30am, Saturday 2 January.
The mobile library is operating the following special schedules over the Christmas period:
Friday 18 December – Route E.
Monday 21 December – Route A.
Tuesday 22 December – Route B.
Wednesday 23 December – Route C.
Thursday 24 December – Route D.
See here for route details.
Record office
The record office at Hillside, Newport will be closed from 12.30pm on 24 December, reopening on 4 January.
Dinosaur Isle
Dinosaur Isle will be closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
On all other days it will open from 10am until 4pm, with last admission at 3pm.
Register office
The register office closes at 4pm, Thursday 24 December and is closed on Monday 28 December. It is open Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December from 9.30am to 4pm (by appointment only). It re-opens as normal on Monday 4 January.
To register a death between 24 December and 4 January, please telephone 823233.
Revenues, Benefits, Local Assistance Scheme, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team & Customer Account Services
The service closes at 4pm, Thursday 24 December and reopens at 8.30am on Monday 4 January.
Online applications remain available for council tax/housing benefit and Blue Badges on www.iwight.com
An automated payment system is available 24 hours a day, tel: 0845 045 0076 or pay online at www.iwight.com – follow the ‘Residents – do it online’ link on the home page.
Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements – please visit www.iwight.com/housingbenefit
Local Assistance Scheme – a limited emergency service will be operated on 29, 30 and 31 December between 10am and 4pm. This limited service will only consider support for priority emergency applications, where alternative support is not available. All non-priority applications will be considered when the office reopens on 4 January.
More information about the scheme and to make an application go to: www.iwight.com/las
To use the Citizen’s Access Portal to view your council tax account online please visit www.iwight.com/revsandbens (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal)
Image: © Google Streetview
