Isle Of Wight Council Services: Christmas And New Year Opening Hours Revealed

The Isle of Wight Council has revealed what time its services will run until over the festive period.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and government advice, the arrangements and times may vary from those usually in place over the festive season.

They may also be subject to further change due to developing government advice, according to the local authority,

Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 4.30pm, Thursday 24 December.

After closing for Christmas Day, Saturday 26 December, Sunday 27 December and Monday 28 December, many services will reopen between Tuesday 29 December and Thursday 31 December.

After closing for New Year’s Day, services should reopen as normal on Monday 4 January.

For special arrangements for certain services, please see the information below.

Adult social care

Offices close at 4.30pm on Thursday 24 December and reopen at 8.30am from Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December. They then open again at 8.30am on Monday 4 January.

• Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.
• If you are worried about a vulnerable adult, please contact: Wightcare, tel: 821105 (24 hours).

You do not need to know everything about a vulnerable adult and what is happening before you contact the council.

IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999. 

Bereavement Services

Book of Remembrance:

• 24 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 25 December - closed.
• 26 December – closed.
• 27 December – 10am to 2pm.
• 28 December – 10am to 2pm.
• 29 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 30 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 31 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 1 January – 10am to 2pm.
• 2 January - normal hours resume 9am to 5pm.

Office hours:

• 24 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 25 December - closed.
• 26 December – closed.
• 27 December – closed.
• 28 December – closed.
• 29 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 30 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 31 December – 9am to 4.30pm.
• 1 January – closed.
• 2 January – closed.
• 3 January – closed.
• 4 January - normal hours resume 9am to 5pm.

Children’s Services

Offices close at 4.30pm on Thursday 24 December and reopen at 8.30am from Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December. They then open again at 8.30am on Monday 4 January.

If you are worried about a child or young person, please contact:

• Isle of Wight Children’s Services: 0300 300 0117 (24 hours).

You do not need to know everything about the child or young person and what is happening before you contact the council.

IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999.

Contact Centre and help centres

The Contact Centre closes at 4.30pm on Thursday 24 December. It will then reopen between 8.30am and 5pm on Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December. The centre will reopen at 9am on Saturday 2 January.

Newport Help Centre and Ryde Help Centre are currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Coroner’s office

• Up to 23 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 24 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 30 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 31 December - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January - 9am to 4.30pm.
• 3 January – 9am to 4.30pm.

Council buildings or land

For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.

Floating bridge

• Christmas Eve – 5am to 12.30am (next day).
• Christmas Day - 7am to 12.30am (next day).
• 26 December - 7am 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 12.30am (next day).
• New Year’s Day - 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).
• 2 January - 5am to 12.30am (next day).
• 3 January - 5am to 12.30am (next day).

Highways emergencies

The Island Roads Hub will be closed:

• from midnight 24 December to 7am 27 December;
• from midnight 31 December to 7am 2 January.

Any highways emergencies - ie flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working - during this time can be reported via telephone on (01983) 822440. These calls will be passed to the duty engineer.

Non emergencies can be reported via email [email protected] or via the website - www.islandroads.com

Leisure Services facilities

The Heights:

• Up to 23 December - 6am to 8pm.
• 24 December - 6am to 2pm.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 30 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 31 December - 8am to 2pm.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January - 8am to 4pm.
• 3 January – 8am to 4pm.

Medina:

• Up to 23 December - 6am to 8pm.
• 24 December - 6am to 2pm.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 30 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 31 December - 8am to 2pm.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January - 8am to 4pm.
• 3 January – 8am to 4pm.

Medina Theatre:

Remains closed until 31 December as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions.

Westridge:

• Up to 23 December - 7am to 11am and 4pm to 8.20pm.
• 24 December – closed.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 30 December - 8am to 6pm.
• 31 December – closed.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January – closed.
• 3 January – closed.

Libraries

• Cowes Library - closes 4pm, 22 December; reopens 10am, 4 January.
• Freshwater Library - closes 4pm, 23 December; reopens 10am, 5 January.
• Newport Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 10am, 4 January.
• Ryde Library - closes 4pm, 23 December; reopens 10am, 4 January.
• Sandown Library - closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 10am, 5 January.
• Ventnor Library - closes 4pm, 23 December; reopens 10am, 5 January.

Record Office

Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday only, to Monday 21 December for pre-booked appointments only.

• 22 December – closed.
• 23 December – closed.
• 24 December - closed.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - closed.
• 30 December – open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 31 December – open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January – closed.
• 3 January – closed.

Dinosaur Isle Museum

Open Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December. Then closed until Tuesday 5 January.

Cowes Maritime Museum

The same opening hours as Cowes Library, above.

Museum of Island History

Closed until Tuesday 12 January.

Recycling and waste collection

• Monday 21 December, it will be collected on Saturday 19 December.
• Tuesday 22 December, it will be collected on Monday 21 December.
• Wednesday 23 December, it will be collected on Tuesday 22 December.
• Thursday 24 December, it will be collected on Wednesday 23 December.
• Friday 25 December, it will be collected on Thursday 24 December.
• Monday 28 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
• Tuesday 29 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
• Wednesday 30 January, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
• Thursday 31 January, it will be collected AS NORMAL.
• Friday 1 January, it will be collected on Saturday 2 January.

All collections will return to normal from Monday 4 January.

Register Office

• Up to 23 December - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 24 December - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 25 to 28 December - closed.
• 29 December - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 30 December - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 31 December - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 1 January - closed.        
• 2 January - open for pre-booked appointments only.
• 3 January – open for pre-booked appointments only.

Regulatory Services (Licensing, Environmental Health, Housing Renewal, Community Safety and Trading Standards)

The offices are currently closed to the public, services are available by telephone 823000 or via the council website contact details. The service is available until 4pm on 24 December and will reopen on 29 December at 8.45am.

For out of hours service, please telephone: Wightcare on 821105.

Revenues, Benefits, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team

Online applications remain available for council tax/local council tax support/housing benefit and Blue Badges. To apply for a Blue Badge please visit www.iow.gov.uk/bluebadge 

Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements - please visit - www.iwight.com/housingbenefitpayments

To use the Citizens Access Portal to view your council tax account online please visit www.iwight.com/revsandbens (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal).

To use the Citizens Access Benefits Portal to apply and notify a change of circumstances please visit www.iwight.com (selecting under the 'Save time do it online' Housing Benefits).

The Payments Team office closes at 4.30pm on Thursday 24 December. It will then reopen on Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December between 8.30am and 5pm. The office will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 4 January.