Island Magazines March 2021 Sandown and Shanklin area by Island Magazines

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March 2021

Sandown & Shanklin Area

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Welcome to the March issue of Island Magazines. During these difficult times I am very grateful to advertisers, contributors, readers and distributors who have supported this local community magazine which in turn has enabled me to keep publishing it each month. We had some very cold weather during February along with the promise of snow but unfortunately or fortunately (depending how you feel about it) it did not really amount to much and the few flakes we did have only settled for a few hours. As we move into March I hope that Spring will bring some warmer weather so we can enjoy our daily exercise and look more positively to the future. Inside this issue will you find the regular news reports from local councillors, which are always informative and are a good way to keep up with local news for your area. There are also feature articles ranging from postal votes for the upcoming elections, census 2021 and what’s happening in March and I know many of you really enjoy our puzzle section and you will find this on pages 14 and 15. If you have any news or information you would like shared, please do get in contact with me and I will help you as best I can. I hope you enjoy reading this issue and look forward to catching up with you next month.

Debbie

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Monthly News Report for Shanklin. Richard 07471 471960 Jon 07973 860086 Email. priest.gilbey@live.co.uk Dear Resident We’d like to thank all the volunteers and staff team at Shanklin Medical Centre for enabling the roll-out of the vaccination programme in the Town and across the Bay – the feedback from residents that have benefitted from having the ‘jab’ has been very positive and appreciative of the efforts of all involved. We are also aware of the extra efforts made to ensure residential and nursing care home residents and staff to be prioritised and enable the vaccination programme to be delivered on time (sometimes ahead of schedule) and with the minimum delay – we know local residents have welcomed the delivery being made locally, with the second vaccination to follow. Thanks also to Stella (Town Clerk), and Steve Knight (Town Mayor), for enabling February’s virtual meeting of the Town Council to take forward the Budget proposals for 2021-22, with all of the uncertainties facing communities – many residents have seen the recent social media coverage of Town/Parish Councils meetings and have seen the sort of ‘bullying’ and aggressive behaviour that hard working councillors and officers, at the grassroot level, regularly face and causes councillors not to stand for office, hopefully things will improve. Progress on the upgrades to the local railway line is welcome, and the interim service has been well used, given the 4

Covid 19 situation, and this has enabled work to be undertaken on trees along the line and trackside, as well as projects such as footbridges (I remember the one at Alresford Road – near to Gatten & Lake School – being constructed at the end of the 1960’s), and work to the platform and station. The Town Council have been very proactive supporting this initiative, with many members (some former luggage ‘boys’) involved in earlier campaigns, such as the reintroduction of the Lake Stop. Hopefully, residents have seen the media coverage of the ongoing erosion of the cliff path and regular rockfalls, which seem to have increased in recent months – we have continued to highlight the need to protect the natural environment, in line with the actions taken by the Town Councils and partner organisations in the past: the coastal routes around the Island, as well as to the Esplanade and Revetment, are vital to residents and businesses, and we hope that by highlighting these issues, as well as potential consequences, action will be taken. We also would like to thank the continued efforts of local businesses to keep open under very difficult circumstances (hopefully, following improvements to the local situation, more businesses will be able to open at the time of publication), ensuring residents can safely shop and get the services they want locally.

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Monthly News Report for Shanklin

Get in touch today

Email: hello@maggiecurrie.co.uk

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maggie

There will be Town Council elections this year, possibly in May but still subject to the impact of the Pandemic, and residents are Have your priorities changed recently? encouraged to get involved – the services Are you considering changing direction of Town Councils (such as Public Toilets, in your work and/or personal life? Community Library, Grass Cutting, Are your many thoughts overwhelming? School Crossing, etc.) are vital to local Work with me to gather your scattered communities and can easily be lost, and thoughts and pinpoint what it is you we hope the future Town Council protects really want. the quality and range of service, “An excellent team within an affordable oﬀering an precept, that has been invaluable service” provided for some NEW! Book online www.mobilevetsurgery.co.uk time in a non-party Stress-free Islandwide “Friendly & reliable political way. professional yet Home Visits & very caring” Central Vet Surgery Hopefully, in the coming months, we can highlight programmes of Keyhole CT activity for the Spring Surgery Scans and Summer, as well as the increased Watergate Rd, Newport, PO30 1XP 01983 212999 number of businesses opening following the progress of the Project Geranium 2020/21 measures to address the pandemic. Good Health & Friendship Take care and stay safe, and please take the vaccine if offered one. Jon Gilbey & Richard Priest

Geraniums grown by Care in the Garden have been delivered to elderly residents by Age UK IOW Steve Double, a local NHS worker has made a difference in a world where nothing is normal and plans to continue growing this project this year. The geranium is a simple plant that symbolises good health & friendship. 5

Apply now for a postal vote for this year’s local elections

E A F

At the time of publishing, local elections are still intended to go ahead on Thursday 6 May 2021 and Islanders will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at the Isle of Wight Council, town, parish and community council and police and crime commissioner elections.

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“We are working hard to ensure polling stations will be safe places to vote, but you can choose to apply to vote by post or by proxy instead. If you are thinking about applying for a postal vote, then please do so as early as possible.

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primotechnical@gmail.com To vote in the elections - either at a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf as your proxy - you must first be registered to vote, which can be done online in just five minutes.

To then apply to vote by post you need to download, print, and fill out a postal vote application form at www.iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Electoral-Registration/PostalVotes. Once you have completed the form and signed it, you need to send it to Electoral Services, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD. To request a postal vote application form email electoral.services@iow.gov.uk or call (01983) 823380. The deadline to apply for a postal vote and cancel or make changes to a current postal or proxy vote at this election is 5pm on 20 April 2021. Any residents who have any questions can contact the Isle of Wight Council electoral registration team on 01983 823380, via email: electoral.services@iow.gov.uk or through the website at www.iow.gov.uk/Council/Elections/Electoral-Registration/Contact 6

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Report from IW Councillor Ian Ward for Sandown South & Cabinet Member for Infrastructure & Transport Email: ian.ward@iow.gov.uk Telephone: 01983 403193 Mobile: 07772559093 THE COVID SITUATION SEEMS TO BE IMPROVING - It looks as if the pandemic is coming under control and things will come back to some sort of normality during March and April when schools and shops will start to reopen. Many of us have lost relatives and friends or have not been able to visit family on the mainland or in care homes on the Island. Our tourism and hospitality sectors are vital to the economy of the Island so let’s hope things continue to improve and people can get back to work. However, to achieve this we must all stick to the rules. Stay safe everybody. VANDALISM UPDATE – POLICE TAKING ACTION - There has been a considerable upsurge in vandalism around the Island and Sandown has also seen a significant increase. Much of it is graffiti, but there has been regular damage to our public toilets and play park equipment. I have discussed the problem with our local Police who are now working with the council to identify hotspots and to carry out deterrence patrols. NEW PLANNING APPLICATION FOR SANDOWN TOWN HALL A new planning application has been submitted for the old Sandown Town Hall. The main structure of the building is not affected, just the out-buildings and extensions. The plan is for two houses at the back of the building and seven flats inside providing a total of nine new dwellings. The main hall is not affected and will be available for community use as it used to be years ago. The consultation period runs until the end of February and then goes for the Committees decision in MidMarch. The redevelopment of the old Town Hall will include a refurbishment of the whole building which is certainly needed. FOXES BRIDGE & PATH – A COMPLETE OVERHAUL UNDER WAY Included in the complete refurbishment of the Island Line infrastructure Foxes Bridge is also undergoing a badly needed complete overhaul and improvement that can only be done because the line is closed. Unfortunately, this means that it is closed for an extensive period. In my discussions with the project manager for Network Rail he told me they hope to replace the current chain fencing alongside the path with a higher railing type fence that will make it more difficult for fly-tippers, but easier to litter pick. 8

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A few scam reports from Trading Standards this week. Be very wary of any unsolicited phone calls, emails and texts and remember NEVER click on links in any messages! • Increasing reports around domestic/white goods insurances. These appear to be very prevalent at the minute and will call you to say that you need this insurance, or your insurance has expired, and you must make the payments. These companies are growing in number and the insurances are worthless. One customer who had taken the insurance out needed to use it as her washing machine had broken, she was met with a wall of silence/excuses. These are not genuine – Do Not be bullied into taking them out. • Reports of phishing emails from the banks, TV Licensing and Netflix have come through. This is a common theme in that your details are invalid, there is a problem with your account, click the link to put in the correct details – DON’T if you do the scammers will have access to your bank account. • Lastly a worrying report from a resident that she received the Amazon scam call, but it came from a local IOW number. This number will have been spoofed by the scammers, but we are far more likely to answer if we think it’s a local number – Be Careful. 9

What does the month of March offer us? March is normally the month when the Island starts coming to life again with Spring events for everyone to enjoy. Unfortunately this is not a normal year... and as we are currently living through a pandemic local events have been cancelled and put on hold. But all is not lost as there are still some yearly events to look forward to and which you can celebrate in your own unique style, indoors, in your bubble while keeping safe and not breaking any lockdown rules.

St David’s Day - Monday 1st March. St David is the patron saint of Wales and he

is celebrated on March 1st. To mark the day, Welsh people around the world wear one or both of Wales’s national emblems - a daffodil and a leek. ... Patron saints are chosen to be special protectors or guardians over all areas of life.

Meteorological Spring 2021 – Monday 1st March. In meteorology for the Northern

hemisphere, spring begins on this day. The meteorological seasons are divided according to the calendar months. Spring months are March, April and May. Spring is one of the four conventional temperate seasons following winter and preceding summer. Spring is seen as a time of growth, renewal, of new life (both plant and animal) being born. The term is also used more generally as a metaphor for the start of better times, as in the Prague Spring. Unstable weather may more often occur during spring, when warm air begins on occasions to invade from lower latitudes, while cold air is still pushing on occasions from the Polar regions.

Mothering Sunday – Sunday 14th March. Mothering Sunday always falls on

the fourth Sunday in Lent, 21 days before Easter Sunday and is a day honouring mothers and mother churches. Celebrated in the British Isles and elsewhere in the English-speaking world. Mothering Sunday is the biggest flower buying day of the year in Britain and Carnations are the flowers typically associated with Mothering Sunday. Mothering Sunday was originally the day when in 16th Century Christian practice one would make an annual visit to one’s mother church, which meant that most mothers would be reunited with their children on this day.

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St Patrick’s Day – Wednesday 17th March. The day

commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. St. Patrick’s Day became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903 with the passing of the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903.

Astronomical Spring 2021 – Sunday 20th March - In the Northern Hemisphere,

the March equinox (aka spring equinox or vernal equinox) occurs when the Sun crosses the equator line, heading north in the sky. This event marks the start of spring in the northern half of the globe. After this date, the Northern Hemisphere begins to be tilted more toward the Sun, resulting in increasing daylight hours and warming temperatures. With the equinox, enjoy the increasing sunlight hours, with earlier dawns and later sunsets.

Clocks go forward – Sunday 28th March. Clocks go forward

one hour at 1.00am on the last Sunday of March. It starts the period of British Summer Times (BST), or Daylight-Saving Time (DST) so that mornings have one hour less daylight, and evenings one hour more.

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Report from Councillor Debbie Andre. Tel 07948 757977/400744 E:- debbieandre4sandown@gmail.com Facebook:- debbieandre4sandown Twitter@debbieandre4sa1 As I write, the evenings are getting lighter and, despite the freezing temperatures, there is an anticipation that Spring is on the way. I know that we have all been spending much more time at home than usual for the past year now and that has brought with it some additional challenges to most of us. Many of us who were “just about managing” before the pandemic hit, now find ourselves struggling to pay utility bills and having to make choices between heating and eating. Help is available. Please contact me and I can direct you to the various help and support networks, depending on your area of need. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me to help with their various ward issues. Many issues continue unabated, despite the pandemic, and I will continue to work with you to find solutions for the long-term, not just “quick fixes”. The central hub number of 01983 823600 is still operating to take calls, not just for practical support, but for those who feel isolated. Go to www.keeptheislandsafe.org for more information. Cllr Heather Humby would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping our community to stay strong. She’s still very much available on 402024 or heatherhumby@sandowntowncouncil.gov. uk to support anyone at this difficult time. Stay safe everyone and we’ll get through this together. 12

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Census day is on March 21st Have you received your census 2021 letter? Households across the Isle of Wight are being asked to take part in Census 2021. It’s important you fill in your census questionnaire because the information you share affects the life of every single person living on the Isle of Wight Charities and voluntary organisations often use it as evidence to get funding. It helps businesses to understand their customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops. Plus, those doing research, like university students and people looking into their family history, use census data. It provides important information on population diversity, allowing organisations to know whether they are meeting their responsibilities and triggering action where necessary. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will send you a letter in the post with an access code and instructions (from March 1st). You can fill in your census questionnaire online as soon as you get yours. Paper questionnaires will be available for those who need them. Here are some Isle of Wight census facts from the last census in 2011 If you don’t get one in the next 138,265 people lived in Isle of Wight. couple of weeks, please get in 761 of you were chefs. touch with the census contact There were 299 boat/ship builders and repairers. centre - www.census.gov.uk 280 people were farmers. 14 of you worked in footwear & leather working You can also request a paper trades. questionnaire if you’d prefer 9,508 of you walked to work. to complete your census that The top language, other than English or Welsh, was way. Polish. There were 196 different ethnicities. A local census support centre, There were 2,334 families with 3 or more People Matter IW will be open dependent children. (from March 1st) while the census is happening. Staff will offer help for people not confident online, who don’t have a computer or need help completing on paper. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. For more information, and to find out how to get help, visit www.census.gov.uk or call Ursula Dowd, Census Engagement Manager, Isle of Wight on 07828 708405 or email ursula.dowd24@field.census.gov.uk