The council share details of their services over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Ed
Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 4pm, Friday 23 December (5pm for Children’s Services).
After closing for the Christmas/new year period they will then reopen on Tuesday 3 January. There will, however, be special arrangements for certain services.
Adult social care
Offices close 4pm, Friday 23 December and reopen 8.30am, Tuesday 3 January.
Adult social care will be providing a duty service for adult social care and safeguarding emergencies on 28, 29 and 30 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.
Bereavement Services Crematorium
Grounds and Book of Remembrance:
Monday 19 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Tuesday 20 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Wednesday 21 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Thursday 22 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Friday 23 December (9am to 3pm).
Christmas Eve (10am to 2pm).
Christmas Day (10am to 12 noon).
Monday 26 December (10am to 12 noon).
Tuesday 27 December (10am to 12 noon).
Wednesday 28 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Thursday 29 December (9am to 4.30pm).
Friday 30 December (10am to 2pm).
New Year’s Eve (10am to 2pm).
New Year’s Day (10am to 12 noon).
Monday 2 January (10am to 12 noon).
The grounds can be accessed at any time, but if the gates are closed, please park in the road outside and use the pedestrian gate.
Office hours are as above for weekdays, except for bank holidays, when the office is closed.
All cremation documentation, burial forms and music should be delivered at least three clear office working days prior to each service, especially over this period.
Children’s Services
Offices close at 5pm, Friday 23 December and reopen Wednesday 28 December at 8.30am.
If a safeguarding 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.
Contact Centre and help centres
The Contact Centre closes at 6pm on 23 December and reopens at 8am on Tuesday 3 January.
Newport and Ryde Help Centre offices close at 4.30pm on Friday 23 December.
County Hall, Newport reopens at 8.30am on Tuesday 3 January. The help centre in Ryde Library reopens at 9am on Tuesday 3 January.
Coroner’s office
The coroner’s office closes at 4pm on Friday 23 December and is closed on Tuesday 27 December. It is open Wednesday 28 December, Thursday 29 December and Friday 30 December between 9am and 4pm. It reopens as normal on Tuesday 3 January.
Council buildings or land
For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Floating bridge
Cowes floating bridge Christmas and new year operating schedule:
Christmas Eve – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
Christmas Day – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
Boxing Day – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
27 December – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
28 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
29 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
30 December – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
New Year’s Eve – 5am to 1.30am** (next day).
New Year’s Day – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
2 January – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
** Last crossing from East Cowes 1.10am, last crossing from West Cowes 1.20am.
Highways emergencies
Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc – please contact Island Roads, tel: 822440 or visit the Website
The Island Roads Hub will be closed:
- from midnight 24 December to 7am 27 December;
- from midnight 31 December to 7am 2 January.
Emergency calls received during these times will be diverted to the duty engineer and dealt with accordingly.
Housing
On-call arrangements for emergencies via Wightcare, tel: 821105.
Leisure Services facilities
The Heights:
19 to 23 December – 7am to 9pm.
24 December – 8am to 3pm.
25 to 26 December – closed.
27 December – 7am to 5pm.
28 to 30 December – 7am to 7pm.
31 December – 8am to 3pm.
1 January – closed.
2 January – 7am to 7pm.
Medina:
19 to 23 December – 7am to 9pm.
24 December – 9am to 3pm.
25 to 26 December – closed.
27 to 30 December – 7am to 7pm.
31 December – 9am to 3pm.
1 January – closed.
2 January – 7am to 5pm.
Theatre:
19 December – rehearsals.
20, 22, 24 December – 2pm to 5pm.
21, 23 December – 10.30am to 1.30pm, 2pm to 5pm.
25 to 26 December – closed.
27 to 30 December – 2pm to 5pm.
31 December to 2 January – closed.
Westridge:
19 to 20 December – 7am to 9pm.
21 December – 7am to 10pm.
22 to 23 December – 7am to 9pm.
24 December – 9am to 1pm.
25 to 26 December – closed.
27 to 30 December – 9am to 5pm.
31 December – 9am to 1pm.
1 January – closed.
2 January – 9am to 5pm.
Fairway:
19 to 23 December – open as normal.
24 December to 2 January – closed.
Ryde:
19 to 23 December – 5.30pm to 10pm.
24 December to 2 January – closed.
Libraries
Cowes Library – closes 5pm, 23 December; reopens 10am, Tuesday 3 January.
Freshwater Library – closes 4.30pm, 23 December; reopens 9.30am, Tuesday 3 January.
Newport Library – closes 5.30pm, 23 December; reopens 9am, Tuesday 3 January.
Ryde Library – closes 5.30pm, 23 December; reopens 9am, Tuesday 3 January.
Sandown Library – closes 5pm, 23 December; reopens 9am, Tuesday 3 January.
Ventnor Library – closes 5pm, 23 December; reopens 9.30am, Tuesday 3 January.
The mobile library is operating a normal schedule up until Christmas:
Monday 19 December – Route A.
Tuesday 20 December – Route B.
Wednesday 21 December – Route C.
Thursday 22 December – Route D.
Friday 23 December – Route E.
See online for further details.
Record Office
The Record Office at Hillside, Newport will be closed from 5pm on Friday 23 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, Friday 23 December and is closed on Tuesday 27 December. It is open Wednesday 28 December, Thursday 29 December and Friday 30 December from 9.30am to 4pm (by appointment only). It re-opens as normal on Tuesday 3 January.
To register a death between 24 December and 3 January, please telephone 823233.
Revenues, Benefits, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team and Customer Account Services
The service closes at 4pm, Friday 23 December and reopens at 8.30am on Tuesday 3 January.
Online applications remain available for council tax/housing benefit and Blue Badges on the iWight Website.
An automated payment system is available 24 hours a day, tel: 0845 045 0076 or pay online – follow the ‘Residents – do it online’ link on the home page.
Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements – please visit the Housing Website
To use the Citizen’s Access Portal to view your council tax account online please visit the Website (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal)
Image: pagedooley under CC BY 2.0
