Islanders can no longer seek help and advice from the Isle of Wight council’s contact centre at the weekend, after the authority cut the service’s opening hours to save money.
Opening times of the centre at County Hall, Newport have been reduced as of 1st April 2024.
It means the service is opening later, closing earlier and there is now no weekend support at all.
New opening times
It will only be available from Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.
The contact centre is open for Islanders in the heart of Newport, to seek help and advice from the team on a number of issues, including council tax and financial queries — or they can point you in the right direction to a service which can help.
Budget-saving measures
Previously, it was open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.
The decision to cut the hours was made as part of the Isle of Wight Council’s budget-saving measures in February and will make the authority £29,400.
The council also operates help centres in Ryde and Newport, where residents can book face-to-face appointments to seek help.
You can book an appointment for either County Hall or Ryde Library by phoning (01983) 823 134.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
