Latest SCAMS on the Island

Latest scams 

House buyers. If you are in the process of buying a house be aware of this scam that is currently destroying home buyers. Scammers are hacking solicitor’s accounts and sending emails with fake bank account details on them so that when you transfer the deposit to your solicitor it goes straight to the scammers bank account. You can read about a recent case, in an article provided by the Times Newspaper, which took place in London. However we have also had reports of Island residents falling victim to this scam.

BT Residents are receiving calls advising them that their internet is about to be disconnected and to press 1 to contact BT and 2 to disconnect immediately. This is a scam hang up straight away, companies will never contact you in this way.

Yodel  We have received reports about a parcel delivery scam where fake emails have been received from Yodel. The emails try to convince the potential victim that they have missed a parcel delivery, and then prompt them to update their details, it appears to be an attempt to gain personal/banking information. If you are unsure about an email that you receive always contact the sender using contact details that you have obtained independently.

IW Council Press Release advising Northwood Cemetery is flying the Green Flag

NORTHWOOD CEMETERY FLYING THE GREEN FLAG

Northwood Cemetery, Cowes, has achieved the accolade of gaining a coveted Green Flag Award for the first time.

The site has been awarded Keep Britain Tidy’s coveted international mark of quality and is among a record-breaking 1,883 UK parks and green spaces that today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

This high profile award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Northwood Cemetery, created in 1856, is situated adjacent to the Cowes Medical Centre on Newport Road in Cowes and is managed by the Isle of Wight Council.

Chairman of the Friends of the Northwood Cemetery, the registered charity that has been working towards this award, Peter Almond, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for first time.

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining Northwood Cemetery to such a high standard.

This latest prestigious award follows hot on the heels of the Friends group winning a prestigious Isle of Wight Society Conservation Award for 2018, for the promotion of buildings and the environment on the Island. The society works with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA, Isle of Wight). The aim is to encourage a high standard of planning, architecture, and the conservation of buildings and their setting on the Isle of Wight.

“The Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and passion from the small Friends group and volunteers, with support from the council’s public spaces team, who have worked so hard to bring this site back into use for enjoyment by the community, “ said Councillor John Hobart, Cabinet member for environment and heritage.

“Such recognition evidences the effective partnerships that the council has and the huge amounts of dedication and time the Friends of Northwood Cemetery have put in. Congratulations to all involved and I would encourage the public to come along and see what a beautiful space the cemetery now is.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, with more Green Flags awarded this year than last year.”

“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to enjoy, and hope that next year, we award even more flags.”

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IW Council Press Release providing an update on the Floating Bridge

WIGHT SHIPYARD COMMISSIONED TO SUPPORT FLOATING BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS

The Isle of Wight Council has commissioned Wight Shipyard to design further improvements to the floating bridge, including the ability for it to operate in all tide conditions.

The East Cowes-based business is drafting plans for hydraulics to tighten and slacken the bridge’s chains, giving yachts proper clearance at all times of the tide - the major technical problem that needs solving.

In addition, it will draw up proposals for new prow finger extensions to allow better access for vehicles and reduce noise when the floating bridge docks.

“The council is very pleased to be working in partnership with a prominent local company to design improvements that will help provide what we need for the floating bridge to work at all times of the tide,” said council leader Councillor Dave Stewart.

“Between April and June 120,000 foot passengers and 48,000 vehicles used the service – very much showing it’s reliable and earning money for Islanders – however, we want it to be 100 per cent.

“Finding a solution to the chain depth issue is complex because of the nature of the Medina, but initial designs and discussion between Mainstay - the builder of the floating bridge - Wight Shipyard, Cowes Harbour Commission and the council are certainly encouraging and we all are committed to working together.”

Currently, the floating bridge cannot run at certain times due to issues with the chain depth during a fast-flowing spring ebb tide.

Peter Morton, Wight Shipyard chief executive, said: “We want to move forward and resolve the issues and we believe we can.

“The chain ferry is vital to East Cowes, West Cowes and indeed the whole Island so we look forward to working together to find a workable solution, while keeping the ferry operating.”

Mainstay managing director, Stewart Graves, added: “We are pleased Wight Shipyard will be working on design improvements to the drive chain tension and we look forward to working with them to negate this operational issue.”

The cost of the improvement work will only be known when a design solution is chosen by the council following a procurement process.

The floating bridge has made in total £578,000 for the council since it entered service in May last year. It made £193,000 between April and June this year.

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Free Summer Skateboard Sessions

Cowes Town Council are pleased to be funding summer skateboard sessions at the Skate Park, Northwood Recreation Ground, Park Road, Cowes undertaken by John Cattle's Skate Club.
This will take place on every Wednesday of the school summer holidays. 
Sessions will commence at 11am and 12 Noon and last for an hour. The first session is at 11am on Wednesday 25th July. 
The sessions are open to all ages under 18yrs and all equipment will be provided.  No experience is needed - and sessions are FREE !!

Storeroom 2010 Newsletter June 2018

IW Council Press Release advising the start of the removal of some Island Bring Banks.

ISLAND BRING BANK REMOVAL SCHEME TO START

Bring banks will be removed from sites across the Isle of Wight due to the success of kerbside recycling. 

The Isle of Wight Council, in partnership with Amey, is preparing to remove the recycling banks from 23 July onwards.

Since the introduction of the household green recycling bins - which collect bottles, glass and plastics - and improvements in waste and recycling treatment, many of the banks have become vastly underused, with some not reaching ten per cent of their capacity when emptied.

Feedback collected as part of the annual waste and recycling residents' survey has shown most people no longer use them.

They have also been targeted by fly tippers and places where commercial waste is illegally dumped.

Twenty-nine bottle banks will be removed in the first phase, starting 23 July, with signs placed on those due to be taken away.

The decision does not affect privately maintained bring banks such as those run by charities.

“With kerbside collections now available to all residents, we can stop duplicating services that we currently provide at the household recycling centres and outside people’s homes,” said Councillor Michael Murwill, Cabinet member for waste management.

“This will also prevent misuse by commercial traders and potential fly-tipping. I would also like to thank residents for really getting behind the recycling message and fully using the kerbside recycling service.”

Residents are also reminded that shoes and textiles can be placed at the kerbside on recycling week, as long as they are stored in a separate bag (NOT black).

The first set of banks to be removed and their dates are below*: 

LOCATION	DATE OF REMOVAL
	JULY 2018
Yarmouth (Harbour Office)	23
Calbourne (Sun Inn)	24
Newbridge (Community Centre)	24
Ningwood (Horse and Groom)	24
Newport (Church Litten)	25
Carisbrooke (car park)	25
Newport (Isle of Wight College)	26
Newport (Medina Valley Centre)	26
Newport (Robin Hood)	27
Newport (The Quay)	27
Newport (Riverside Centre)	30
Northwood (Horse Shoe Inn)	30
Ryde (Ryde House)	31
Wootton (The Cedars)	31
	AUGUST 2018
Ryde (Beach Café)	01
Ryde (The Crown)	01
Ryde (The Wishing Well)	01
Havenstreet (White Hart)	03
Sandown (Station Avenue)	03
Sandown (The Heights)	03
Lake (St Urians)	06
Newchurch (School Lane)	06
Shanklin (Spa Car Park)	06
Godshill (Brownriggs)	07
Rookley (Co-op)	08
Ventnor (Social Club)	09
Chale (Chale Stores)	10
Ventnor (Industrial Estate)	10
Ventnor (High Street)	10

*Removal dates could be subject to change

END