Latest news with #ofWightCouncil
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Isle of Wight walkers urged to avoid coast path after landslip
Walkers have been asked to avoid a section of coast path after a of the cliffs at Atherfield Point on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight collapsed on days earlier, a Facebook post appeared to show a large crack in the footpath which runs near the cliff of Wight Council said its officers were checking to see if further land movements might occur. In a statement, it said: "Islanders are being asked to stay away from Atherfield Point along the cliff and coastal paths due to ground movement. "The Isle of Wight Council's Rights of Way team are currently assessing the coastal path."On Wednesday, a Facebook community page carried an image of a large crack crossing a footpath in a contributor warned that cracks had appeared at Atherfield Point in the last south coast of the island has experienced several recent major 2024, a council director warned that the Military Road, which runs near Atherfield Point, could fall into the sea within two years. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Isle of Wight primary school closures decision delayed
A decision on the fate of five Isle of Wight primary schools has been delayed. Councillors agreed last night to defer the vote on whether to close Oakfield in Ryde, Brading, Cowes, Wroxhall and Arreton primary they reassured parents the council would still be able to meet a deadline of mid April to assess and decide applications for September 2025 school of Wight Council officers have argued school closures are necessary to improve education standards and make schools financially sustainable. A statutory four-week consultation for people to have their say on the proposals ran until February corporate scrutiny meeting of councillors on Tuesday said it had not had enough time to read and digest a 1,700 page report given to them three days before their cross-party body said 'any effective and meaningful scrutiny' of the cabinet's expected decision to close 5 primary schools would be 'open to ridicule'.Accepting the recommendation to delay, cabinet member for education, councillor Jonathan Bacon said he regretted "any anxiety" that the delay would cause to school communities added staff would now have two weeks to finalise school place allocation before national offer day for primary education on Wednesday April 16th. The vote will now take place on Thursday 20th March after a corporate scrutiny meeting on Tuesday 18th March. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Wight landslide victims to receive support from council
Landslide victims will have access to support through new council of Wight Council has confirmed it's received the "vital" cash to help communities affected by landslides and coastal money will be used to recruit a community coordinator for two years, who will work on the southern and southwestern coasts of the island.A council spokesperson said these are the areas being hit hardest by strong waves and heavy rain. Councillor Paul Fuller said the coordinator role would be "crucial" in helping communities understand the risks and "take steps to protect themselves and their properties".He added: "Our coast is always changing, and the threat to human life is very real."The funding for the role was secured through a council application to the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee via the Flood and Coastal Risk Management 7 funding route."We are committed to building a resilient future for the Isle of Wight, and this specialist will play a key part in that mission," Fuller continued. "Their work will ensure that our coastal communities are better prepared and more resilient in the face of these ongoing threats."The new coordinator will provide advice and support to council departments, councillors, outside agencies, developers, and the public on coastal erosion and landslide will also research and implement ways to minimise the impact of erosion and landslides and design future strategies for managing these Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, added: "Decaying defences and outdated policies are causing significant problems, worsened by climate change."This teamwork is essential for helping coastal communities adapt to the challenges of erosion and landslides, ensuring a more resilient future for the Isle of Wight." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Wight: New generators for chain ferry 'essential'
Plans for new generators for an island's floating bridge have been welcomed, but a councillor has urged its replacement to be built of Wight Council chair Karl Love said he supported spending £35,000 but the council "must get on" with replacing the chain ferry on the River Medina, between Cowes and East Cowes, is often pulled from service and is set to be replaced. The council said the generators would "deliver a more dependable and efficient service" in the future. Floating Bridge 6 has been plagued with problems, with the most recent suspension at the end of last month due to a generator and battery of Wight Council said the original generators had been in operation for eight years and had "reached the end of their working life". Maintenance and finding parts was "increasingly challenging", it added. Councillor Love, who represents East Cowes, said: "The replacement of the generator is essential but one cannot help feeling that the snail like approach to replacing the Floating Bridge is not helping the situation."Please will the Isle of Wight Council get on with replacing it to save funding and spend the ring-fenced funding which diminishes all the time with inflation pressures."The council's cabinet unanimously agreed to replace the £3.5m ferry in March last November the council announced a Spring 2025 "engagement process" with the "public and key stakeholders" on the new bridge. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
