Isle of Wight Better Ferry Campaign

Although we have been and will continue to be impartial in our reporting of the ongoing Fixed Link debate, Isle of Wight Review broadly takes the view that a physical link to the mainland should be avoided if at all possible on the grounds that it will threaten the unique character of the Island.

Notwithstanding this fact, we recognise that one of the biggest drivers behind the campaign for a Fixed Link has been the outrageous prices charged by the operators of the ferry services across the Solent. By way of a personal example the author of this article had to "shop around" in May to find a best price of £146 for a return journey involving an ordinary car and two occupants. Please bear in mind that wasn't even peak season!

We are therefore proud to draw readers' attention to a website published by the Isle of Wight Better Ferry Campaign, which is working actively for an improved and fairer services from the Island's two big operators and has produced downloadable posters and flyers with that purpose in mind.

We are sure that many of you will be only too happy to lend this campaign your support.

The Great Fixed Link Debate - Where Do You Stand?

The Isle of Wight is currently engaged in one of its most potentially explosive debates for many years over the prospect of a Fixed Link connecting it to the mainland.

The trigger seems to have been the launch by two residents of an online petition, to be followed shortly by a formal survey, calling for a bridge across the Solent or a tunnel. Carl Feeney and Kevin Price are hoping the momentum created by the petition will lead to a referendum on the issue to replace "old fashioned ferries", and claim that £6 million of government funding would be available to support the initiative. The pair also claim to have the support of local MP Andrew Turner for a referendum, although this would appear to be disputed.

Opinion seemed to be divided when Isle of Wight Review sought out the views of local people. Maria Scovell said: "No, we shouldn't have a Fixed Link...makes it easier for thieves etc to come over here and get away".

Karen Webster countered: "The Link would open up so many opportunities for people and would improve the amount of people visiting the Island. I know I would be over visiting family and friends more if there was a Link, I can't afford to at the moment with Wightlink's and Hovertravel's prices".

Bev Allen told us: "If the ferry services weren't so greedy by exploiting the public by changing the costs to suit the seasons and gave a fairer priced service this debate wouldn't be needed, their greed will be their downfall".

Rosemary Grimaldi is completely opposed to the prospect of a Fixed Link. "No way, we have enough traffic now," she insisted. "The Island would lose its charm, it must not be joined to the mainland. If people don't like the boat journey they should live on the mainland".

EXPENSIVE

Former resident Ann Hulme seemed to see both sides of the argument, telling us "I had to leave the Island to get my first proper job, not much choice even years ago. I feel the ferries were much better then but were expensive, nothing changed there! Plus everyone has friends and relatives on the North Island, it's hard to visit each other because of time and expense. I never wanted a bridge, I feel it would destroy the uniqueness of the island and make it too easy for the wrong kind of visitors, but maybe I am wrong? These same difficulties prevent me from returning again, it's a hard choice".

Rebecca Keenan is all in favour. She remarked: "Definitely need a bridge.. future generations are screwed. Worst schools in the South, no prospects, poor economy - something needs to be done!", sentiments which were echoed by Steven Staff: "I think the Island would benefit from a Fixed Link. I imagine it would be like the Wales bridge with a toll and security which would be great. The Welsh bridge is £6.20...I'd be on and off the Island constantly then. I think this would be a great decision for the Island to make and would boost a lot of things. It would also put Wightlink and Red Funnel out of business again due to their greed. Yes to a Fixed Link".

Louise was another who felt the prices charged by the ferries was prohibitive: "Cost me £98 to get to my dad in hospital - it was an emergency. We were told they would get us on come what may, there were eleven cars and a handful of trucks, exploitation I'd say. It's cheaper to get a day return from the mainland".

Kerry Constable is concerned about the security risks. "It would be a lot easier for the prisoners to escape," she told us.

Rival petitions for and against the suggestion each run into thousands of signatures. One of the most frequently recurring grumbles is clearly the cost of the Island's ferry and hovercraft services. The Solent is said to be mile for mile the most expensive water crossing in the world. Some opponents of the idea are nevertheless hopeful that the re-emergence of the debate will force some kind of positive action over fares.

The debate looks set to run and run. What are your views? Post your comments on here and let us know.

Christmas and New Year breaks from just £459 for the whole family

Island View Holidays are offering relaxing Christmas holidays in their exquisite home-from-home style cottages at Rookley Country Park on the Isle of Wight.

Choose from a short break holiday (22nd to 26th December) from just £459 for a whole family, or a full week (20th to 27th December) from £499. A family can include up to eight people.

Christmas packages include accommodation, complementary mince pies and mulled wine, three course Christmas lunch (for up to 4 people, £25 per extra person), and "all you can eat" Boxing Day breakfast (for up to 4 people, £5 per extra person).

New Year packages are also available and include a complimentary bottle of bubbly and tickets for the New Year's Eve Party.

For more information 'phone 01983 898916, or e-mail info@islandviewholidays.co.uk.

Reproduced with acknowledgements to The Holiday Zone.

Friends of Quarr

Quarr Abbey is a registered charity, and like many charities, it is indebted to the generosity of the numerous individuals and organisations that regularly contribute to it. We thank everyone who has donated in the past for their kindness

We are always looking for ways in which we can develop and improve Quarr without disturbing its quiet ambience. And, as a visitor or guest of Quarr, you may be interested to know of the various initiatives that are currently under way, and planned for the near future.

Our tea garden has recently been improved, and we encourage you to wander around and enjoy tea and cake in its peaceful solitude. With support from local organisations, we are hoping to re-introduce chickens to the gardens soon, and we are also considering ways to increase our stock of honey producing bees.

Our historic buildings are constantly in need of maintenance, and this year we will be performing significant work on the bell tower and other higher points of the church buildings. To further increase the comfort of our guests, the guesthouse will also be going through some refurbishment, and our bookshop continues to grow.

All of these initiatives require time, money and the dedication of a volunteer workforce.

If you are interested in making a donation to Quarr Abbey, please write to financial.director@quarr.org or send your donation to Procurator, Quarr Abbey, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 4ES. Cheques should be made payable to “Quarr Abbey.” You can also donate online here.

From www.quarrabbey.co.uk

IOW Council Consults on £13.5m Savings Package

Isle of Wight Council is looking to save £13.5m from next year's budget and is looking for input from Island residents on how best this can be achieved.

The local authority has launched an online budget consultation, although paper copies of the survey are also available upon request. Leader of the Council Ian Stephens hopes the exercise will give residents the opportunity to decide which services should be prioritised as the authority struggles to adapt to reduced grant support from central government.

A series of public forums will also be held at the following venues (start time 6.30pm):

Wednesday, Nov 12 – Newport – Riverside Centre, The Quay
Thursday, Nov 13 – Ryde – George Street Centre, George St
Monday, Nov 17 – Freshwater – All Saints' School, School Green Rd
Tuesday, Nov – Cowes – UKSA, Arctic Rd
Monday, Nov 24 – Ventnor – St Francis School, Newport Rd
Wednesday, Dec 3 – Sandown – Main Hall, Broadway Centre
Thursday, Dec 11 – East Cowes Town Hall, York Ave
Monday, Dec 15 – Shanklin – Shanklin Theatre, Prospect Rd

Ready Teddy Go for the Big Challenge

By Jon Moreno

THE Earl Mountbatten Hospice’s Challenge 1000 initiative is set to benefit from a Shanklin woman’s fundraising enterprise, transforming neglected teddies into care bears.

Over the past 30 years, Jane Page has become a well-known fundraising figure, having raised well over £10,000 for the hospice, Macmillan, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and other local causes.

She also helped to co-ordinate a big fundraising minibus appeal for Sandown High School.

COLLECTS AND RECYCLES

The grandmother of four, of Collingwood Road, collects and recycles teddies — mending them, washing them, hanging them out to dry and then selling them at fairs and festivals on the Island throughout the year.

The 64 year old also knits scarves and makes hats and ribbons for the teddies.

The retired Isle of Wight receptionist, who developed a passion for teddy bears as a collector before she began selling them, said: "When I first heard about Challenge 1000, I thought raising £100 should be easy enough."

Jane’s next teddy sale will be at St Saviour’s Church, Shanklin, on Saturday, November 22.

Anyone wishing to donate their old bears can send them to Jane at 34 Collingwood Road, Shanklin, or phone her on 862081.


Reproduced with acknowledgements to Isle of Wight County Press

The Sandringham Hotel, Sandown

The Sandringham Hotel along the seafront, overlooking Sandown Bay, provides a seamless fusion of a traditional seaside hotel with all the modern facilities that holidaymakers have come to expect.

A large, spacious lounge abuts an ample ballroom where entertainment is provided on four evenings each week.

The Sandringham offers a full English breakfast and dinner menu with efficient sit-down table service in a large and uncrowded dining area overlooking Culver Cliff.

Bedrooms are en-suite and include colour television and tea and coffee making facilities. There is an option for adjoining rooms or for a superior sea-facing room with a balcony. The hotel also has a small number of self-catering apartments for hire.

JACUZZI AND SAUNA

Elsewhere in the hotel the swimming pool is clean and well used but seldom overcrowded, even during peak season. Around the pool area there is also a jacuzzi and a small sauna. A full-size snooker table, pool table and gaming machines are available for customers, and a small selection of board games can be borrowed upon request - useful for helping to keep the kids entertained whilst enjoying a nice relaxing drink from the bar.

Rooms are good value, especially when taking into account the fact that a free ferry is provided for mainland visitors who book beyond a certain number of nights (always check this at the time of booking). Parking can be a bit of an issue as spaces outside the building are few and using certain of them often results in you being "blocked in", with hotel staff having to rectify the problem. For those who don't mind a short walk the hotel has the use of a larger car park a couple of streets away which customers can use. There is a small charge for this.

All in all the Sandringham ranks amongst the better coastal hotels as the fact that it boasts many returning customers bears out. Our advice - give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Spooktacular Half-Term Breaks at Whitecliff Bay

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in Bembridge, Isle of Wight are organising "spooktacular" family fun activities and themed entertainment for Hallowe'en.

Activities during the half-term break include pumpkin carving, face painting, gruesome food making, Laser Zombie Tag, crafts and ghost stories.

Plus there is, as always, lots to do elsewhere on the Island - including the Isle of Wight's first Festival of Light at Robin Hill and the Autumn Walking Weekend.

Dogs are allowed on the holiday park in selected accommodation and on the touring field. For more on Whitecliff Bay's programme for October please click here.


Reproduced with ackowledgements to The Holiday Zone

Minghella to Remain on the Island

Popular ice cream manufacturer Minghella has announced that it will be relocating to another premises, but that it will remain on the Island.

Currently based in Wootton, news of the company's plans coincided with the announcement of the retirement of its founder Eddie Minghella at the tender age of 93. According to Mr. Minghella's daughter Gioia, Eddie had originally intended to work on to the age of 100 but in the light of the sad death of his wife had decided to take early retirement.

The Wootton site is to be placed on the market and the company hopes to find a suitable new home on the Island by 2015.

Red squirrel and hedgehog under threat, study says

Red squirrel and hedgehog populations in the UK have continued to fall over the last decade, a report suggests.

The 2011 State of Britain's Mammals study says the species are still under threat despite efforts to protect them.

But it says conservation schemes have benefited otters, polecats and water voles and half of the monitored species have stable or rising populations.

Animal charity the People's Trust for Endangered Species commissioned the report from Oxford University.

It provides an overview of research by wildlife and conservation experts across the UK.

Researchers from the university's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) found the hedgehog population had dropped from some 30 million in the 1950s to 1.5 million.

Report author Professor David Macdonald said the impact of agricultural management and environmental schemes on hedgehogs would be monitored over the next few years and used to influence agri-environment schemes.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The report found that red squirrels were almost extinct in England.

"We expect the future of red squirrels to be confined to a few islands, such as Anglesey and the Isle of Wight, or in the Highlands of Scotland," Prof Macdonald said.

He expressed the benefits of land being taken out of agricultural use and allowed to grow wild and called for the reintroduction of extinct species such as the beaver. Beavers have been brought back in a trial scheme in Scotland.


Republished with acknowledgements to BBC News.