This in from the council. Ed
Plans are progressing to move the functions of the Isle of Wight Registration Service to Newport.
The switch from Northwood House in Cowes to the existing council building in Seaclose will mean the service will be able to extend its opening hours as well as operate from a more central location.
The last day the service will operate from Northwood House will be Wednesday 29 September. There will be no service – other than for emergencies – on Thursday 30 September and the service will open as normal from Seaclose on Friday 1 October and this will then be the only Register Office on the Island.
As part of the changes the council has been creating an appropriate storage facility for the archived registers previously held at Northwood House.
Because this storage facility is not at Seaclose where the registrars will be based, it will no longer be possible to call and collect copies of certificates while you wait. The service will however deal with such requests within the statutory five working day maximum, and will endeavour to turn around requests that are genuine emergencies in a much shorter timescale. Customers are advised therefore to contact the service well in advance to order copy certificates for births, marriages, deaths or civil partnerships registered on the Island.
Ordering of copy certificates can be done either via the online forms facility on www.iwight.com, directly over the phone, or by applying in writing to the Superintendent Registrar along with the correct fee. The Isle of Wight Family History Society website (www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk) also provides an invaluable resource for researching and ordering copy certificates.
In all other respects it will be business as usual from the new Seaclose location although the new offices will be open between the extended hours of 0830 and 1700. At Northwood House the hours are currently 0900 – 16pm with no appointments routinely offered during lunch hour.
The council is also progressing its plans for a small wedding room at Seaclose as well as a larger room option for couples to use at weekends. It is also seeking to licence two rooms at Ventnor Botanic Garden to give couples further venues to choose from aside from nearly 25 commercial venues on the Island. It is anticipated that the ceremony rooms will have the necessary licences before the use of Northwood House ceases on September 30.
Chris Mathews, Isle of Wight Council head of democratic services, said: “The move is progressing well and we hope that Islanders will benefit from the new centralised location for the service and also from the extended opening hours.
“If anyone has any questions about the new service then please see our website or phone us on the new number 01983 823233.”
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
