News and views

The following is adapted from an Isle of Wight Council press release… Changes to parking restrictions covering multiple locations across the Newport and Carisbrooke area are included in a new consultation published by Isle of Wight Council. Among the proposals are: The consultation finishes on Friday, 3 November. Important: Comments of support and objections can only be legally considered if a full address is given whether the response comes in by letter, email or by online survey. Link to consultation web page can be found here: : Newport and Carisbrooke TRO Consultation (iow.gov.uk) This includes the proposals listed above plus many others throughout Newport and Carisbrooke.

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Welcome news has come in to say that, after two and half years without a post office, one will be opened in Newport at the Central Convenience Store from 1pm on Wednesday, 29 November 2023. The following is taken from an Isle of Wight press release… Since the Post Office inside the former Co-operative on South Street/Pyle Street closed in February 2021, Shaping Newport — a collaboration between Newport Business Association, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and the Isle of Wight Council — has worked to bring services back. The two-position Post Office Local Plus, at 129 High Street, will offer customers a range of Post Office services, from posting letters and parcels to collecting and returning online shopping items. Customers…

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[Adapted from an Isle of Wight Council press release.] Isle of Wight Council is consulting on its Local Council Tax Support Scheme, which helps low income working households with council tax. Nearly 10,000 Islanders receive council tax support up to 70% maximum assistance, depending on the household and financial circumstances, The proposal for the scheme commencing in April 2024 is to keep the scheme as it is. However the council is also seeking views on varying the maximum level of support by 5% either way. Both alternatives have a significant impact on the council budget. Higher levels of relief would require savings and cuts elsewhere. Lower levels of relief could lead to an increase in council tax arrears and lower…

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Liberal Democrat, Sarah Redrup, has been elected as the new councillor for Wootton Bridge.  Sarah won the by-election by more than 180 votes and secured nearly half of the vote (47.8 per cent). The result of the by-election is: The result means that the Liberal Democrats now have four councillors on Isle of Wight Council. As no party has a majority on the council, it means that the Lib Dem group will have a stronger position of influence on council policy and spending.

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Last month I reported that I had written to the new Secretary of State for Justice asking about Ministry of Justice plans for Camp Hill and other land it owns locally. The key paragraphs from the reply are: We have previously spoken with senior officers from the Isle of Wight Council about the future use of HMP Camp Hill and the possibility of a sale to the Council. However, because of the increasing demand for prison places we are continuing to review options for the reuse of decommissioned prisons, including Camp Hill. We are also considering a request from Hampshire County Council to make a site in Medina Way/Parkhurst Road available for the development of a “blue light hub”. This…

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As chair of Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council, I was delighted that we agreed to host John Constable’s painting “The Cornfield” in our new offices at 64 High Street. The event took place as part of the National Gallery’s Constable Visits programme. As well as being a beautiful painting, it is a connection to our national history. The scene from Suffolk would have been one familiar to many on the Isle of Wight at the same time. Awareness and understanding of our history is something that the community council is keen to promote. We are developing a heritage area in our offices to help with that. At present it has an Enfield 8000 electric car designed on the Isle of…

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