Island Magazines January 2023 Newport & Carisbrooke Area

Here at Island Magazines HQ, we are going to continue bringing you a monthly community magazine packed with news, information, advertising, articles, puzzles and much more and I would like to personally thank everyone that picks up a copy to read, all contributors and to the many wonderful local businesses that advertise.

Welcome to the first edition of 2023... I’ve got everything crossed that this year is going to be a great year for us all!THIS SIZE ADVERT COULD BE YOURS FOR JUST £14 For more info email islandmagazines@gmail.com or call 07880 587931

This year I have the pleasure of working with local nature and wildlife expert, Jim Baldwin. Jim is known by many for his outstanding contribution to this field and even calls himself a ‘Nature Nerd’ (his words not mine!), personally I think of him more as a local Isle of Wight David Attenborough!!

Jim will be writing fascinating articles each month which are both informative and are ways to get you involved in nature and projects throughout the year. You can read his first article on page 9.

January is a very quiet month especially after having such a busy Christmas period. Our ‘Dates for your Diary’ section on page 12 has the details of community events happening and the Library has a full selection of events which everyone is welcome to attend. If you are planning any future events please let me know and I can include them in the next issue

In this cold weather we have been having please keep warm, keep safe and please check on others, especially if you have elderly neighbours.

As always, thank you for picking up a copy and I hope you have a great first month of the New Year and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.

Debbie

07880 587 931 | www.islandmagazines.co.uk | islandmagazines@gmail.com

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Island Magazines, Mailbox No 6, Store it Self Storage Ryde, Unit 1 Nicholson Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1BE

Carisbrooke Community Council

OF TOM WOOLGAR

The Charity of Tom Woolgar was established in 1929. The Charity gives an additional winter fuel allowance to those in need, aged 65 or over and who reside in the area of the former Borough of Newport.

You can apply for an application form by telephoning 559119, emailing clerk@newportwight.org. uk or by collecting a form from the library. The application form will need to be returned to Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council by Friday 24th February 2023.

Mobile - 07736 663 657 Email - joe.lever@iow.gov.uk Facebook - @CllrJoeLever

We’re coming up to January and the new year of 2023! I hope everyone had a lovely festive period.

We now know that the housing development opposite Gunville Methodist Church was approved by the planning committee. This will undoubtedly put extra pressure on Gunville Road but there were some positives to come out of the approval. One of which is the removal of the pinch point outside the church (something residents have been asking for for some time now) and additional pedestrian crossings.

The bigger picture here is that the Council still needs to pass a new Island Planning Strategy so we can start building for the housing we need rather than for developer greed. I’m hoping we can get the draft IPS passed soon, after we saw a stronger consensus from councillors regarding recommendations on the IPS, at the last full council meeting.

A decision on Thompson House is still being considered although I’m informed that the expressions of interest that didn’t meet the brief criteria have been rejected. Essentially this means making use of cleared brownfield site. I’m told this means the imminent removal of the existing building but I’m still waiting on clarity of when that removal will begin. I’m chasing for a clearer plan on this as the information I’m getting at the moment feels like it’s being drip fed and that’s not good enough. Residents need clarity.

I hope many of you got to enjoy the free Christmas light switch-on in Newport. It was great to see so many enjoying the festivities and I thought the staff and

volunteers from Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council did a fantastic job. I can’t wait to see it return next year!

And now on to what will be a regular feature of my updates whilst we pass through winter; information on the cost of living and cost of energy crises.

Isle of Wight Council COL directory www.iow.gov.uk/costofliving Information regarding warm spaces, food, benefits, etc…

‘IsleFindIt’ by Citizens Advice www.islefindit.org.uk

An online directory for Island-based advice, services and events. For those that aren’t online, Citizens Advice run a free advice line on 0800 144 8848.

Help Through Crisis 01983 823959

A limited fund to provide immediate emergency help with food, gas and electricity. Bear in mind, this can only be offered to those in the most need and as a last resort.

Footprint Trust 01983 822282 or info@footprint-trust.co.uk.

Help and advice regarding the cost of energy crisis and energy saving tips.

Please, if you need help this winter, use those services listed above or reach out to support networks you may have.

As always, if you need to get in touch with me, please use the contact details at the top of this page.

News Report from Cllr Joe Lever - Carisbrooke & Gunville

Servicing, Replacements, Repairs and Maintenance

The cold weather is upon us and although many are experiencing the increase in energy prices the most important factor is that you are running your boiler and home heating efficiently and safely. Ensuring your boiler is serviced and maintained to keep it running at 100% is the best top tip you can benefit from this winter.

Primo Technical Services Ltd is a local trusted family business who have been in the industry for over 25 years and offer a range of services including all aspects of domestic gas services, safety checks and installations, power flushing, heating and ventilation, plumbing, unvented systems and electrical work. They are Gas Safe Registered, so you are safe in the knowledge that they are fully qualified.

They provide regular maintenance as well as emergency breakdowns and they always turn up when they say they will! Now more than ever it makes sense to ensure your boiler is working efficiently and all their new boiler installations come with a ten-year warranty so that alone is something worth looking into to ensure you aren’t throwing money down the drain.

They offer free quotations on all installations and alteration work. For more information, phone 520522 or 07795 363 534,

com and see their main advert.

Together we are stronger!

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that things are better when we’re together – and that’s definitely true when it comes to weight loss.

Your local Slimming World groups, held at St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, on a Friday evening and Saturday morning have lost over 700 stones in 2023!

Kim Street, the Consultant for the Carisbrooke groups explained, ‘at Slimming World, we’ve been harnessing the slimming power of social connection for 53 years. Our research has found that feeling connected in a group of kind and understanding people – who care about your success and positively support you to succeed – makes all the difference when you’re trying to lose weight.’

‘New members are always astounded at the amount of food that they can eat with Slimming World, there are over 350 normal foods that you can eat without needing to weigh or measure –there really is no need to be hungry’ Kim said, ‘however that is only one part of our formula for success.’

Kim first became a Consultant in 2000 having lost 4 and a half stone herself. ‘I lost count of the number of times I tried to lose weight on my own, every time I ended gaining it all back! It was a lonely, soul-destroying cycle. Joining Slimming world changed all that. The support offered in all of my sessions is the added magic that means anyone and everyone can achieve their weight loss dreams!’

If you would like more information

please get in touch with Kim on 07855747893

Baldwin

Tel: 07528 586683

Well, here we are at the start of a New Year and I have been given this great opportunity to write a regular article for Island Magazines.

As a nature nerd, I get equal enjoyment from watching the smallest insect to viewing our brilliant White-tailed Eagles. My hope is this monthly article will get you enthused enough to go out and experience and enjoy nature, perhaps even taking part in some of the projects I will be highlighting during the year.

Getting involved with nature has been proven to be beneficial for our mental health and as we found out during the Covid lockdowns, you can enjoy nature in your own garden or local green space, you don’t need to travel miles!

Among my various nature-based roles, I am the British Trust for Ornithology Regional Representative, County Moth & Dragonfly Recorder and Butterfly Conservation’s Isle of Wight Group Leader.

We start the year with the largest garden-based “citizen science” event in the UK – the RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch 2023. Big Garden Birdwatch is a great community event; it is fun, free and for everyone. And you don’t need a garden to take part! Counting birds from your balcony, or your local park will play a vital role in helping the RSPB understand how UK birds are doing. We have lost 38 million birds in the UK during the last 50 years; House Sparrow and Starling have suffered severe declines and are red listed.

Big Garden BirdWatch takes place on 27-29 January. Choose the date of your choice, watch the birds around you for one hour (you can invite your friends round and make it a social event!). Count how many of each species of bird lands on your patch. When you have finished, go online and enter your results. Not sure of the ID of the birds? The RSPB have produced an ID guide of the common garden birds which you can download. You can register for Big Garden BirdWatch and your free guide now at www.rspb. org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch

Don’t forget if you’re a teacher, your school can take part in the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch which runs from 6 January to 20 February 2023. See www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/forteachers/schools-birdwatch

Good luck with the BirdWatch and, most of all, enjoy it.

House Sparrow

Photo: Jim Baldwin

News Report by Julie Jones-Evans. Tel 521068 or 07886 437688 E: julie.jones-evans@iow.gov.uk

T: @juliejonesevans F: Julie Jones-Evans

So we step into another year and for many of us it doesn’t bring the usual sense of a fresh start and hope, as we deal with the cost of living increases. Keeping warm this winter is a top priority in the face of the unprecedented energy prices and the knock on effects.

If you spend more than 10% of your monthly income on fuel costs, you are in fuel poverty.

If you are in genuine hardship and need help with food, gas and electricity in an emergency, please contact Help Through Crisis. You can email helpthroughcrisis@ iwcab.org.uk or call 01983 823859.

The Footprint Trust provides information on saving energy and water in the home on the Island. You can call them on 01983 822282 or use their website for more information.

Living Well and Early Help, Isle of Wight can help with food, energy, debt and housing advice. They also run community groups, coffee mornings and other activities. You can call them on 01983 240732 or email lweh@aspireryde.org.uk. Living Well work in Newport too, just based at Aspire in Ryde.

We have plenty of warm spaces in Newport for anyone to use. Here are just a few suggestions:-

Lord Louis Library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Free Wi-Fi, free computer use, free charging, advice and information, people to chat to, space to work, free activities.

John Cheverton Centre, Mountbatten Hospice, Halberry Lane. Monday to

Sunday, 9am to 5pm. A warm space with cafe seating or comfortable armchairs and reasonably priced food and drink from the cafe (hot and cold options). Charity shop with reasonably priced clothing plus support and company from staff and volunteers.

Independent Arts, St James’s Square/High Street, Monday to Saturday. Recently supported by a grant from Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council.

Church on the Roundabout, Coppins Bridge: Wednesday 10am to 12pm, Thursday 6pm to 8pm. A warm and friendly space to relax or chat with cheap or free refreshments.

The full list is on the IW Council’s website and I update my Facebook Page. beta.iow. gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/cost-of-living/ warm-spaces

In other news the building work had commenced on 64 High Street to begin the transformation to a base for Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and with everything going to plan it should be ready by May. Plans are to have a heritage centre, community space, small business incubator spaces and our offices.

One long running project has finally been finished and that is Post Office Lane toilets. We took them over in 2016 and over the last 6 years have completely renewed and transformed that rather depressing space. The new toilets are clean and safe, saving money on running costs and providing a valuable insect habitat with the green roof. It’s been completely re- landscaped, planted up and now finished off with a stunning mural.

STAMPS ARE CHANGING AFTER

31st JANUARY 2023

WENDY DEBENHAM

WENDY DEBENHAM Soft Furnishings

curtains- pelmets - blinds loose covers - cushions and all types of home furnishings. Made to order measuring service & free quotes

call 07870 915 824 or 401411

email: wendydebenham@gmail.com

Come and see us at our showroom in Brading for all your soft furnishing needs.

We’re adding barcodes to our regular stamps. After 31 January 2023, regular stamps without a barcode will no longer be valid. You can either use up these stamps before this deadline or swap them for the new barcoded ones.

The stamps that are changing are the stamps (pictured below) that will be very familiar to you. They feature the profile of Her Late Majesty The Queen on a plain coloured background.

Your non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through the Stamp Swap Out scheme. To swap out your stamps, simply complete one of our Stamp Swap Out forms and send it back to us along with your non-barcoded stamps. The stepby-step process for doing this is explained below.

How to get a ‘Stamp Swap Out’ form

• If you have a printer, you can swap out up to £200 worth of non-barcoded stamps by printing out and completing the online form. Go to www.royalmail.com and search for ‘Stamp Swap Out’ form. You can send this back to us free of charge, along with your stamps, by writing on the envelope Freepost SWAP OUT. No other address details or postcode are needed.

• If you don’t have access to a printer you can request a Stamp Swap Out form to be posted to you at www.royalmail.com or pick one up from the Customer Service Point at your local Delivery, or you can call our Customer Experience Team on 03457 740740.

Note: Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps without a barcode will continue to be valid and don’t need to be swapped out.

dates for your diary EVENTS AT LORD LOUIS LIBRARY

First Thursday of every month – Teen Epilepsy Café at Richmonds, Bath Road, Cowes from 6.30pm. It’s an opportunity for teenagers with epilepsy to meet those in the same boat, to chat and listen to music in a safe and supportive space.

Sunday 1st January – New Year’s Day Dip in Sandown raising funds for Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat. Meet at the Royal Pier Hotel at 11am then head down to the beach next to the pier for the dip.

Sunday 1st January – Sandown New Year’s Day Firework Celebrations – This spectacular fireworks display will be from Sandown Pier at 6pm. FREE ENTRY! Donations are gratefully appreciated. Friendly volunteers will be positioned around the esplanade with collection buckets. Road closures will be in place before, during and after the display for crowd safety. This event maybe subject to last minute changes or cancellation due to weather conditions.

Thursday 12th January – Dementia Afternoon Club at Bembridge Methodist Hall, 73 Forelands Road, Bembridge from 2pm – 4pm. £5 per person, this includes a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and tea and coffee. Music from Uke ‘n’ Sing, Ukulele Group. To confirm your attendance please call on 01983 218318 or email: iow@ rightathome.co.uk (so we can ensure we order plenty of cake!)

There is no book sale this month.

Reading Group – Thursday 5th 5.15pm

Jane Austen Reading Group (discussing Emma) – Thursday 26th 3-4pm

Tea and Chat for the Over 60s - Monday 9th and 23rd 10.30am-12pm

Dying Matters Café – Tuesday 3rd. 1011.30am

Knit and Natter - Thursday 5th at 10am12pm & Thurs 19th at 2-4pm

Digital Support Sessions with Age UK IW, drop in with your device - Thursday 12th & 26th at 10.30-12.00pm

Children

Rhymetime – every Friday 10am and 11am

Duplo group – every Tuesday 10.3011.30am

Lego Club – for age 5+ Tuesday 3rd and 17th, 3.30-4.30pm

Home Ed Lego Club – Mon 9th 10.3011.30am

All our activities are free, please pop in and find out what we can offer you.

If you are organising a community event either for February or the coming months please feel free to email us the information at islandmagazines@gmail.com or call us on 07880587931 and we can share the details in the next issue.

All event information was correct at time of print but could be subject to change at any time.

When a New Year comes along, so does the urge to believe this is a fresh start in your life and by setting resolutions/goals you can start on the path to a new and improved version of yourself! But did you know you can set yourself goals anytime of the year… and to be honest you might be more likely to stick to it if it isn’t set for the start of the New Year.

I’ve been there myself on the 1st of January and like many of us the first goal is to lose weight but I won’t be making that mistake again this year because I have learnt from my previous ways. If you are anything like me, Christmas has just passed but there are still mince pies, Christmas cake, chocolate, biscuits, sweets… need I go on… still lurking in the house which inevitably need to be eaten. You can’t throw them out as that is just wasteful and wrong on every level.

My next point is with the constant rise in energy prices isn’t it better to keep that extra layer of fat around the midriff? It’s like an extra layer of clothing, a weighted blanket of warmth. I mean at least wait until Spring when it will be a bit warmer.

Research shows that on average, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. The main reasons for failure include goals not being specific enough, goals are unreasonable and low accountability. While the intention behind the resolution is good, we need to train our “new actions” into habits so that it becomes an automatic action.

On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In Lally’s study, it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit.

Based on this information it’s no surprise that so many resolutions and goals fail, the stress we are putting on ourselves doesn’t help matters either, so this year I am not going to set myself up for a fall and instead I am going to wait until, these cold, miserable, uninspiring months have passed and then I will have a think about what I really want the end product to be and how can it be cut down into bite size chunks to become achievable and only then will I start to attempt to form a new habit. And on that note of bite size chunks, I’m off to get a bar of chocolate from my selection box.

From joy’s humble crumble kitchen

A slight change from our usual recipe page this month but still staying with suggestions to make the most of our available resources and looking after our wellbeing. We are starting the year with some energy saving ideas and tips. Enormous respect to our forefathers who had even less than we have today – no central heating – bigger families – no financial help, probably wasn’t great but they just got on with it - AND so shall we!

HOW TO MAKE A DENIM DRAUGHT EXCLUDER.

* measure the width of your door (or window)

* turn the jeans inside out and cut the leg to required length

* laying the leg flat, you will need to mark, approx. 5 – 6 inches width from top to bottom and stitch along the ‘leg’ length, by hand or machine.

* If making window excluder, follow the same method but make it half the width of the door excluder. (You can also use the sleeves of unwanted garments.)

* turn the jean leg right side out. Stuff with shredded old T shirts, fibre fill from old cushions, tights, old towels etc. Finish off by sewing up the ends.

* You can use any ‘trouser’ leg, or a no longer used towel, old curtain – just roll up and sew to above method. Charity shops are an excellent place to look for these items.

* for the window excluders, add rice or lentils (uncooked) to give weight plus you can squish them into odd corners.

* for the more creative among us, try knitting one using left over balls of wool, or perhaps the excluder becomes a long sausage dog, a snake/crocodile or a ‘whatever you want it to be’!

• If you can’t heat all the rooms you use – try heating the living room for as much of the day as you can, (suggested temperature 18 degrees) and heat your bedroom just before you go to bed.

• wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer.

• don’t delay treating minor winter ailments – ask your pharmacist for advice or treatment.

• if bad weather is forecast, it may be harder to leave the house - check you have enough medication and food.

A lz he im e r C a fé IOW

Tel: 01983 220200

Email: info@alzheimercafeiow. org. uk Website: www. alzheimercafeiow. org. uk

East Cowes Alzheimer Café

East Cowes Town Hall

York Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6RU

Ryde Alzheimer Café

All Saints’ Church Hall

Queens’s Road, Ryde, PO33 3AF

First Tuesday of the month

2pm 4pm

Cowes Alzheimer Café

Football Club, Reynolds Close off Park Road, Cowes PO31 7NT

Second Wednesday of the month

Sandown Alzheimer Café

The Broadway Centre

1 Broadway, Sandown PO36 9GG

Fourth Wednesday of the month

First Friday of the month 11am 1pm 2pm 4pm An Alzheimer Café

Totland Alzheimer Café

St Saviours Holy Family Centre

Weston Lane, Totland PO39 0HE

Third Wednesday of the month

If you are worried or concerned about memory loss, please come along to an Alzheimers Café for information and informal education about memory loss and dementia. You do not need to have a diagnosis to attend, everyone with an interest in dementia or memory loss is welcome. 2pm 4pm

Newport Methodist Church Quay Street, Newport, PO30 5BA

Last Wednesday of the month

Newport Alzheimer Café 6pm 8pm

News report from Cllr Andrew Garratt for Parkhurst & Hunnyhill

Email: andrew.garratt@iow.gov.uk - Tel: 01983 524623

I hope that all readers will have had an enjoyable Christmas.

I am aware that for many residents, the cost-of-living and energy crisis are making things very difficult. In last month’s report, I wrote about the dedicated section of the Isle of Wight Council website set up to provide advice and guidance to residents struggling with the cost of living. The link is www.iow.gov.uk/costofliving

If you don’t have access to the website, please get in touch and I can print out any information that you may need. If there is any other way you think I could help as your councillor, please get in touch.

In the next couple of months, decisions will be made that contribute to how much council tax we will pay from April. The final bill is made up of four amounts to cover services provided by Isle of Wight Council, Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner.

The greatest part goes on Isle of Wight Council services and this year will be the toughest yet in my time as an Isle of Wight councillor. Two things are certain – bills will go up and services will suffer. If you have thoughts on spending priorities, please let me know so I can lobby the council’s leadership.

During December, roadworks on Horsebridge Hill led to lengthy delays for road users. This is, of course, not the first time we’ve seen such delays and they won’t

be the last. I’ve written to the council’s cabinet member for transport to see what can be done to improve traffic flows and travel information in these circumstances. I am particularly concerned about the impacts on residents of increased pollution from queuing vehicles , and on bus users whose services were delayed by up to 25 minutes at times.

One long running question facing our area is the future of the Camp Hill prison site and associated land. Isle of Wight Council is very keen to include this for housing in its planning strategy. So I was interested in the response to a question from Bob Seely MP in the House of Commons from a Ministry of Justice minister. The minister confirmed that transferring the site to the council was an option. I have written to the Ministry of Justice as well to press for a decision on the site’s future to finally be taken. Residents want certainty, and they will deserve close engagement if the land is transferred to the council.

The Christmas period will have seen an obvious spike in recycling. So it’s timely that the annual recycling and waste survey is now open. The link to the online survey is https://beta.iow.gov.uk/recyclingand-waste/how-are-we-doing/annualcustomer-satisfaction-survey/

Paper versions can be obtained by emailing waste.contract@iow.gov.uk or calling (01983) 823777, or picked up at council-run libraries.

I’ve again pressed Island Roads to sort out with Southern Water the long-running

News report from Cllr Andrew Garratt for Parkhurst & Hunnyhill

problem of a water leak in Worsley Road. The recent cold weather was turning this into a hazardous ‘ice rink’ so I was pleased that Island Roads have added the site to their mini gritter route till the issue is resolved.

Finally, as ever, please get in touch with issues that I may be able to help with – however ‘big’ or ‘small’. My contact details are above. You can also follow my work as a councillor through my website at https://andrewgarratt.mycouncillor. org.uk/

houseproud

‘solutions by Angela’ quality cleaning & ironing services help and support that works for you (further assistance readily available) Call 07912 432 835

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Word

Here are some sensible tips from the Footprint Trust for keeping warm and making savings this winter. I hope they are helpful.

● ‘Buddy up’ with a nearby friendly neighbour during the day, share cooking and company – it’s cheaper to cook in one oven and keep one room warm

● Zone your home - just heat the room you are in at 18 to 21 degrees, depending on how fit and mobile you are

● Get a rechargeable torch and make sure it is working, do not use candles as they are potentially dangerous

● Have blankets, duvets or sleeping bags ready for extra warmthmake sure you move them out of the way before you get up

● Close your curtains or thermal blinds at dusk to keep out the cold and draughts

● Have a supply of food that does not need cooking, such as tins, cereals and biscuits

● A thermos flask and a container for drinking water is also a good idea

● Make sure you have a supply of your medicine

● Keep a list of useful phone numbers to hand on a sheet of paper, stick it on the fridge or by your landline. Your neighbour, nearby relative, carer and doctor are good ones to have written down

● Register today on the free Priority Services Register with your utility companies, help will then come in a power or water outage

● Do not use camping stoves or BBQs indoors, or stand-alone portable gas heaters – these can lead to you being poisoned by their fumes

● Only have an open fire or use a wood-burning stove etc if the chimney has been swept and inspected, at least once a year

● If you have not had your home insulated then talk to the Footprint Trust, as you may be able to get a grant

● Have your heating system serviced to make sure it will see you through the winter