Isle of Wight News- #IW NEWS Isle of Wight Gazette

A SMOKING fuse box has been blamed for a fire that lead to a man being taken to hospital.

Firefighters believe the fuse box could have been the source of the blaze, which damaged part of the wall in a Wellington Road Flat in the early hours of this morning (Monday November 29).

The 28-year-old man heard the smoke alarm and smelt burning from his property.

He had to rush outside in his dressing gown to raise the alarm at 3am this morning.

Two Isle of Wight fire crews from Ryde spent just over an hour dealing with the incident.

The man was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Newport by IW Ambulance as a precaution.

YARMOUTH bridge is closed due to a mechanical failure that happened at 11am this morning (November 27) The Gazette has learned.

IW Highways department have put in place road diversions whilst they are waiting for bridging engineers to assess and carry out repairs, but expect to be closed for a couple of hours.

Motorist are advised to take alternative routes as signed diversions are in place.

AN 80-YEAR-OLD Shanklin man is recovering this evening after losing control of his silver Ford Fiesta.

Paramedics from IW ambulance service assisted in freeing the trapped pensioner as temperatures plummeted to below zero this evening (Friday November 27)

A paramedic opened the boot of the trapped car and the pensioner clambered over the back seats after his vehicle was wedged in a hedgerow

The man was treated at the scene suffering from hypothermia and shock before being transferred by ambulance to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.

The Gazette has learnt that the elderly driver may of had a medical episode, causing the car veer off the road and come to rest in the hedgerow.

No other vehicles were involved in the road traffic collision. Officers from the Shanklin Road Policing Unit (RPU) closed the road for a short period of time whilst vehicle recovery specialists from Bartletts recovered the vehicle using winching equipment.

A TEENAGER is due to appear in court after a police investigation into reports of criminal damage to parked cars in Freshwater on September 19.

A 17-year-old boy from Freshwater whose identity is protected under law, was charged on November 18. He remains on police bail until next Wednesday, when is due to appear at the Isle of Wight Youth Court.

A second 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were released from bail with no further action after they had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in September.

THE ISLE OF WIGHT GAZETTE, now so many people’s favourite Island newspaper, will soon be sparkling even more – thanks to brave little Shanklin girl Gracie-May Fuller.

Gracie, a cerebral palsy sufferer, who recently returned from as successful operation in the United States to help her to walk, will be lighting up Spithead Business Centre, Lake, the venue of The Gazette offices.

She will be turning on the Sandown Rotary Club’s Christmas lights on Saturday, December 4, at 5pm, right on our doorstep, and we will be there to join in the fun. The event will be opened by Louis William Tudor Smith.

As well as Gracie, there will be a special guest appearance by Father Christmas, and music from the Wight Diamonds Marching Band, with all proceeds going to the Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat, Brading Town Youth Football Club and the Isle of Wight branch of Headway.

Island detectives are continuing to investigate a report of an assault on a woman in Newport.

A 23-year-old woman from Newport contacted police to say she was approached by a man she did not know at approximately 1.40am on Thursday, November 18. The victim was in an alleyway next to Nine Acres Primary School, walking from Trafalgar Road towards Elm Grove, when she noticed a man behind her.

He approached the victim and grabbed her around the waist. The woman managed to free herself from his grip and ran out of the alleyway into Elm Grove. She was not injured.

The attacker was described as aged in his 20s or 30s, with short hair and wearing a thick fur coat, which was wet from the rain.

Detective Constable Lee Torrance of Isle of Wight CID said: “The woman was not hurt but she is understandably upset by the assault and her concerns that it could have been worse if she had not been able to run away.

“We are keen to hear from anyone with information about the suspect’s identity or who may remember seeing a man acting suspiciously in the Trafalgar Road area of Newport during the early hours of Thursday.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Lee Torrance at Newport Police Station by phoning 101.

A KEY EMPLOYER in West Wight is taking a lead in the continuing battle to handle the effects of climate change.

The Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners estimate they will have to spend more than £4million rebuilding the breakwater that protects the Island’s Western Yar, its estuary and the town of Yarmouth.

“The recent relaunch of the 10:10 campaign reminded us that it’s not just what we do, or even how well we do it,” says Chris Lisher, harbour master and chief executive. “It’s a question of telling people exactly what we’re doing. As a business our commitment to dealing with climate change goes further than installing solar panels to cut the cost of hot water to the showers and ‘green energy’ electricity, though that does save us thousands of pounds a year.

“But we’re also taking the right action to protect the environment; the wildlife habitats, residential areas, roads and leisure activities.

“Investing in maintaining the breakwater at Yarmouth is a priority for the harbour commissioners. The current breakwater dates from the early 1960s and is made of old railway lines and sleepers. The steelwork is unlikely to last more than another 15 years. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) predicts that the sea level will rise one metre by the end of the century.”

From the mouth of the river upstream to the causeway, the River Yar is home to an abundance of plants and wildlife. In the salt marshes glasswort, cordgrass, sea purslane and, in summer, sea lavender can be found. At low tide the mud reveals snails, shrimps, shellfish and marine worms. The tidal water of the Yar is a nursery for fish and a feeding ground for wading birds and waterfowl: dunlin, redshank, curlew, oystercatcher, shelduck, godwits and, in winter, brent geese.

There is a circular walk taking in Saltern Wood on the west bank of the Yar and the former railway line, now a cycle route and bridleway, along the east bank. Red squirrels live here.

“The Yar, a short river with a large estuary, is tidal for its five kilometres (three miles) north from the fresh water of Afton Marsh,” adds Charlotte Beeby, deputy harbour master. “If, thanks to climate change and rising tides, the sea breaks through anywhere on the Isle of Wight it breaks through below Old Freshwater. The ancient river flowing north to the Solent would be restored, this time as salt water with tides. Freshwater would be a separate island again.

“But the shoreline from Freshwater Bay via the Needles to Yarmouth Harbour alters all the time. This natural process has given us an attractive range of spectacular features… Freshwater Cliffs, Tennyson Down, the Needles, Alum Bay, Headon Warren, Totland Bay, Colwell Bay and more.”

Yarmouth Harbour, as the gateway to West Wight, welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year by car ferry from Lymington, and 100,000 visitors by boat, many from elsewhere in the Solent, but also from Ireland, the Channel Islands, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia.

The Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners have control of the Western Yar from the causeway, below Old Freshwater, to the harbour entrance where the river meets the Solent. They also have authority in the Solent for about one and a half kilometres (one mile) to the west of the harbour entrance and for about one kilometre (half a mile) out from the shore. The harbour is the largest employer in the town of Yarmouth with 20 permanent employees rising to 30 employees in the tourist season.

Yarmouth Harbour owns the wooden pier built in 1876, reputedly the longest wooden pier in the UK open to the public and grade II listed; operates the linkspan for the ferries; collects tickets from foot passengers; manages the harbour and river moorings; supplies marine fuel; operates the swingbridge; and provides a birth for the RNLI lifeboat. The harbour at the mouth of the Isle of Wight’s Western Yar also offers permanent moorings to 250 Islander-owned yachts and commercial vessels including 11 fishing boats. The swingbridge connecting Yarmouth with Freshwater is used by hundreds of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, residents and visitors every day.

The IW Council is currently consulting the public on its shoreline management plan (SMP2). This considers that the breakwater at Yarmouth is critical for the protection of the river Yar, the estuary and the town of Yarmouth. For further details visit the websites www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk and www.coastalwight.gov.uk/smp.

THE MOVE by IW Council’s deputy leader George Brown to spend up to £220,000 on a new lift at Ventnor Botanic Gardens appears to be getting stuck between floors.

As revealed in the last edition of The Gazette, Cllr. George Brown committed the funding amid claims by the IW Council that the Island attraction lost £7,000 a week in the summer because tourists could not access the site due to the inadequate facilities.

But with wholesale cuts, and many other Council attractions due to be sold off to raise cash, the timing of Cllr. Brown’s decision has been brought into question. Now his decision will go back to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee for deliberation and recommendation.

In turn they will send it back to Cllr. Brown for further consideration, which could force him into a change of mind, although he remains defiant. He Brown, said: “The reasons for the decisions have been fully set out in the delegated decision report

“However I welcome the opportunity to attend the call-in meeting of November 11 and explain once again why this decision is in the interests both of council tax payers and the long term future of Ventnor Botanic Garden.

“I hope this call-in will not affect our ability to install a new, fully functional, lift in time for the 2011 season thereby further affecting the garden’s opportunity to accommodate all visitors and to maximise income.”

Several opposition councillors have raised their concerns about the massive outlay claiming there was has not been enough consultation before the decision was made, as well as questioning why the funding decision was being rushed through.

A CONTROVERSIAL scheme that will allow Island girls as young as 13 to be prescribed the contraceptive pill has been given a mixed reception.

The scheme is being trialed on the Island, and if it proves successful it could be taken up in other parts of the country. It is hoped it will reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies

The latest figures for teenage pregnancy on the Island show a year-on-year increase, with 96 girls under the age of 18 becoming pregnant in 2008. Now teenagers below the age of consent will be able to get the pill from one of 10 pharmacies without first
seeing a doctor. The pharmacists will not be obliged to inform the girls’ parents.

But while the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust claim the scheme would allow girls to get important advice about contraception and reduce unwanted pregnancies, the church and other campaign groups have labelled it ‘irresponsible’.

The pharmacies will be able to provide a month’s supply of the pill, with girls under 16 given a follow-up appointment with a nurse. Jennifer Smith from the IW NHS Primary Care Trust said: “We are linking them with people most able to support them in further decision-making and appropriate behaviour in future.”

Pro-life campaigner Chris Whitehouse, from Totland described it as “dangerous, reckless and unprofessional” he said: “For younger children in that age group, the proper context for the care and support they need should be through their GP.”

The Rev Anthony Glaysher of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth said: “I think this is going to spiral out of control to be quite honest. We are saying that young people really cannot aspire to anything above the basic level of sexual promiscuity. We need to be teaching them the fundamentals about relationships and commitment.”

He added: “To allow this to happen to 13-year-old girls is quite unacceptable - their parents wouldn’t be aware of what is happening.”

Mike Judge of The Christian Institute said: “Cutting parents out of the equation is not the answer. Studies show that children whose parents are involved in their lives are less likely to engage in premature sexual activity.

“Doling out contraceptive pills like sweeties will do nothing to protect girls from the soaring STI rate, and sterilising girls will only help boys put more pressure on them for sex. This scheme sends out a truly depressing message of low expectations to our teenage girls, rather than inspiring them to delay sex until they are at least older.”

Jade Bell, herself a teenage mum said: “I would want to know if my children were taking the contraceptive pill, to help them make the right decision, because parents know their children better than anyone else.”

But Pharmacist Kevin Noble said: “I cannot see how this service actually encourages sex in any age group. The decision has already been made by that patient to become sexually active. This service looks to support that patient, provide them with appropriate advice, and it is very controlled.”

Professor David Paton of Nottingham University has examined the evidence and concluded that easier access to contraception may lead to a false sense of security, increasing risk-taking behaviour among young people.

SOUTHERN WATER have announced plans to spend more than £7.5 million pounds on improvements and upgrades on the Island. The work will take place over the next five years.

Southern Water plan to carry out the changes to ensure they can to meet the needs of the Island’s increasing population. Improvement include Chillerton and Newtown Wastewater Treatment Works so that waste water is treated to a higher standard.

Paul Kent, Southern Water’s Wastewater Planning and Strategy Manager said: “These are all important schemes that will enhance the environment on the Isle of Wight and ensure that wastewater treatment on the Island reaches the highest standard”.

Work will get underway next summer with a scheme costing around £2.5million aimed at tackling localised flooding and pollution in the Dodnor Lane area of Newport.

Roud and Brading treatment works will also be upgraded and Fairlee Wastewater Treatment Works will also see a scheme to help improve the quality of the River Medina.

A COACH, parked in the car park of a Shanklin hotel, has been vandalised.

Police are asking witnesses to come forward after allegations that a number of youths were seen damaging a coach in the car park at Holliers Hotel in Shanklin Old Village.

The youths were seen running away from the car park towards the area of Big Mead at approximately 7.15pm on Saturday, October 30.

PC Russ Skinner of the Isle of Wight Targeted Patrol Team said: “At the moment it’s estimated the vandals caused up to £2,000 of damage to the coach. We understand one witness saw what happened and told Holliers hotel staff.

“I’m appealing for that person to contact police so we can confirm more details to help track down the suspects swiftly. We’re also keen to speak with any other witnesses who were in the Shanklin Old Village area between 7pm and 7.30pm on Saturday night.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Russ Skinner at Shanklin police station by phoning 101.

NEWPORT Passport Interview Office faces possible changes as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, in which the Home Office has to save £2.4 billion over the next five years.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS), as part of the Home Office, has to make changes in how it delivers services, aiming to reduce waste but maintaining an efficient and accessible service. They have announced that nationally they intend to reduce staff numbers by 150 and close 39 local offices. This is because, since interviews were introduced in 2007, fewer interviews have been carried out than anticipated.

Island MP Andrew Turner has been informed that the Newport office, the only one on the Island, is scheduled to close. It will be replaced by a new customer service centre based in Newport. The IPS say they have ‘successfully piloted this approach on the Isle of Wight’. Under the new plans the nearest full passport office would be in Portsmouth.

Mr. Turner said: ‘These plans will potentially impact on Islanders who are applying for a passport for the first time. This change follows what has been described as a successful trial of the new arrangements. I would be keen to hear from anyone who has encountered any difficulties so that I can make representations to the Home Office about the impact the arrangements will have on Islanders.

“We do need to save money, but we also need to ensure that people can still access the services they need without crossing the Solent in view of the difficulties and costs of doing so. I have contacted the Identity and Passport Service asking for information on their exact plans for the Newport office and for more information on how they intend to continue providing the service. I really want to hear the experiences of Islanders on this issue.”

FIVE of the Island’s leading small tourist attractions are being sold off by the cash-strapped IW Council in a bid to secure their long-term future.

The five leisure complexes, and all the associated premises and equipment that go with them, are the latest Council-owned facilities being put on the market to try to further ease the financial burden. But the Council claim it is for the good of the facilities, and they are only attempting to lease them to third party operators.

Two Sandown attractions and two at Ryde are included in the sale. They are the popular Brown’s golfing complex and the Sandham Grounds in Sandown and The Boating Lake and Appley Pitch and Putt at Ryde. Also up for grabs are the Shanklin Esplanade Gardens.

The sales are being conducted by Newport based Scotcher and Co, who have invited ‘early expressions of interest’ to reach them in writing by no later than November 20.

IW Council Cabinet member responsible for property, George Brown confirmed: “As part of the council’s ongoing review to ensure residents are getting best value for money, the council has instructed Scotcher and Co to market five of its seasonal leisure facilities sites.

“We are not looking to sell off the facilities or the land they are on – we are looking to secure the long term future of the sites by leasing them to third party operators who will be able to invest and develop them to improve the Island’s leisure offer to residents and visitors. The intention is for the sites to remain as they are and continue providing entertainment to all.”

TOURISM MINISTER John Penrose was on the Island last week at the special invitation of our MP Andrew Turner.

Ostensibly on the Island to consider the future of Osborne House’s former convalescent home, as the law will have to be changed in order to change the use of the building, Mr. Penrose also took the opportunity to talk to representatives from the tourism industry on the Island.

He was also given a quick tour of one of our attractions followed by a question and answer session at the Priory Bay Hotel.

Unfortunately his visit fell on what was one of the wettest days we’ve had this autumn and a day when the roads on the Island were totally clogged with traffic due to a few accidents and untimely roadworks.

But the minister’s spirits were not dampened as he made his way to Sandown Zoo for an indoor encounter with the lemurs and to learn about their beautiful big cats. And the visit was made all the more memorable by a ‘Blue Peter moment’ during the proceedings.

“It was the first ministerial visit to be held up by lemur poo,” laughed MP Andrew Turner’s partner Carole Dennett who organised the event. One of the lemurs who was ‘meeting’ Mr. Penrose was unfortunately a little overcome by all of the attention when he got to Mr. Turner and had a small accident on his shoulder, which was quickly rectified.

After his zoo encounter the Minister and his entourage made their way to the Priory Bay Hotel in Seaview for an ‘in camera’ meeting with a few specially chosen representatives from the tourism industry and a question and answer session with a larger group, many of whom had special deals with Wightlink for their holiday accommodations.

“David Cameron wants to give tourism a push,” said Mr. Penrose. “The document I am preparing on tourism is nine tenths written and will be going to him next week.

“The figures for the country show that this last summer season has been particularly good.

“Everyone agrees that quality matters and how you improve that is exercising policy makers. What’s your view on the quality – how do we drive up quality in the industry?”

Andrew Palmer from the Priory Bay asked: “How do we overcome the season extend it? Quality requires investment, which needs profitability or support from the banks. Over the years we have had support from the banks but this is now gone – they need kicking or encouraging.”

Asking how many people had asked for money from banks in the past three to four months resulted in only a smattering of hands. “It’s best not to ask the banks for money at the moment,” remarked an audience member sagely.

The minister then asked about the rating systems and whether they made a difference. One hotel owner said that it used to but that there were now a greater number of four and five star rated self catering and luxury apartments. “To pay every year for a cursory inspection that costs a lot of money is not really offering us any benefits,” she said.

It was pointed out that many people just log on to Trip Advisor to check out potential holiday destinations.

One comment was that there was a necessity for better communication between the Chamber of Commerce and the Council – “We have failed to see and councillors interested in the tourism sector.”

Another observation was that there was no strong branding for the Island’s tourism ‘product’ and that there had not been enough communication with tourism providers about national advertising campaigns.

“It would be useful to know how the council is marketing us and where prior to the campaign,” was one observation with particular regard to the ‘Just Add Water’ advertisements on national television and billboards in London.

“If you had that information and you were told your brand would be on that marketing would that mean you would be prepared to contribute to that revenue?, asked the minister.

“We need joined up thinking and communicating. We have a great opportunity but we must not miss it because we’re not helping each other. Joining up is really crucial for the Island,” he stressed.

In conclusion John Penrose said: “ I cannot promise you large swadges (sic) of government cash…In George Osborne’s austere budget in June one of the rare rays of light was the reduction in holiday lettings rules. Moves to cut corporation tax should also be beneficial and there are moves to reduce the amount of red tape – we’re trying to get rid of that,” he said.

Afterwards the minister told The Gazette that the document he is preparing is going to the Prime Minister this week and should be evaluated by the end of the year.

“If you can get the private sector to band together that’s step one,” he stressed. “They can’t operate independently and fight each other.

“One of the bits not noticed in George Osborne’s spending review is that it gives authorities the chance to keep some of the business rates. Previously central government nicked it.

“If next year the tourism industry has grown the local authorities get to hold onto that growth. It’s a quick effective way of getting cash.”

ANDREW TURNER, the Island’s MP, has hit out at the move to give prisoners the vote, saying we should stop being ruled by Europe.

Mr. Turner insists it is time to push for a British Bill of Rights so such decisions can be made from within this country. .

He said: “A key pledge in the Conservative Party manifesto was the scrapping of the Human Rights Act and replacing it with a British Bill of Rights. The aim was to stop Europe dictating to us and enable us to return to common sense which the Act seemed to have overlooked.

“The British Bill of Rights is not just about rights, but also about the responsibilities which every citizen should uphold in order to earn rights. It is about common sense; for example, when a victim defends themselves, they should not be treated as a criminal. It is about putting the honest, law abiding citizen first.

“These are sound principles, which are hard to argue against. However the Liberal Democrats have done just that. One of the compromises for coalition government was that the British Bill of Rights be dropped. This has upset many people: MPs, party supporters and many members of the public who support this approach. I still support the British Bill of Rights and will push for it in every way possible.

“Now we see the effect of this deal. We have been told by the European Court of Human Rights that it is ‘unlawful’ to prevent prisoners from voting. This is exactly why we need a British Bill of Rights - to stop Europe from telling us how to govern our country. Why should we give the vote to prisoners, to those who decided that they would not uphold their responsibilities and abide by our laws? When you break the law so seriously that your right to liberty is removed, so should your right to vote.

“Allowing prisoners the vote insults those who choose to abide by the law and uphold their responsibilities as British Citizens. It is an undesirable diktat from Europe supported by the Liberal Democrats. We must fight it and continue to push for a British Bill of Rights.”

THE MOVE to split the Isle of Wight into two Parliamentary constituencies has taken a significant step forward, to the disappointment of Island MP Andrew Turner.

The House of Commons voted to split the Island by a majority of 81 – but Mr Turner will continue his OneWight campaign.

A total of 245 MPs supported an amendment to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill that would ensure special consideration was given to the Isle of Wight, and other areas including the Islands of Argyle & Bute and Anglesey and the ancient duchy of Cornwall, when equalising constituencies.

However, the amendment was defeated with 326 MPs opposing it. The Bill will have passed through the Commons later tonight and will now be considered in detail by the House of Lords where the decision could still be overturned.

Mr Turner said: “The timetable of this Bill has not allowed proper discussion or debate in the Commons about these issues and how it will affect different areas. The Bill is now going to the House of Lords where the Government do not have the same powers to cut short (or guillotine) debates.

“As I said during my speech, the proper body to make decisions about parliamentary boundaries is the independent Boundary Commission. Major constitutional changes should not be made by diktat of the Deputy Prime Minister. I will now be working with members of the House of Lords to get support in the upper House for amendments to the Bill to protect the Isle of Wight. I admit I am disappointed with this setback but we are not yet defeated and I will fight on - as I promised in my election address. ”

The effect of the proposals on the Isle of Wight were criticised during the debate by MPs of all parties as well as Mr Turner. The former leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy MP said: “The sense of a natural, distinct identity in the Isle of Wight should surely be reflected in the attitude that officialdom takes’ and described the plans as ‘an affront’.”

And Paul Murphy, a Welsh Labour MP, asked: “What Government in their right mind could think that the Isle of Wight could be anything other than a constituency?”

A SHANKLIN firm is celebrating after winning an order that will help make drinking water safer in disaster areas around the world.

The HypoTech company has won the deal to supply its environmentally friendly product, SteriSan, to Swiss water filtration firm, WAL, to help it kill all known life-threatening germs in its jug and pitcher products.

The contract is for the next five years, and Dan Spacie, HypoTech’s chief executive, said: “SteriSan has developed a natural biocide that deters the use of chemicals and helps prevent illness. This multi-million pound contract allows WAL to remove pathogens from water safely, effectively and in an environmentally-friendly way.”

Dan added: “WAL and SteriSan are donating 10,000 litres of product to Peshawar in Pakistan to enable several million litres of drinking water. SteriSan has discovered a technology that ensures the highest standards of water sanitation.”

THE OWNER of an Island company is backing a national newspaper campaign to raise awareness of safety devices which could prevent child tragedies.

John Youle from Apollo Blinds hopes the ‘Daily Mirror’, who began the campaign will be the first of a number of national and regional media to use their influence to inform their readers about the simple steps that parents can take to make their homes safe.

The paper has teamed up with the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents (RoSPA) and the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA) to give away safety packs and devices to secure cords from window blinds out of the way of children. Now The Gazette is pleased to publicise the campaign.

Five toddlers have died this year as a result of getting tangled in the cords from window blinds and John said his company stressed the importance of getting the message across to households where children lived or visited.

“All Apollo Blinds products which have corded mechanisms come with safety devices as standard but there are lots of blinds in people’s homes which don’t have them,” he said. “We have been doing our bit to raise awareness of child safety products for nearly two years with all our customers but it’s brilliant that a national newspaper is finally championing the issue.”

The most recent research from the BBSA estimates that there are 100 million blinds in UK homes which do not have safety devices and John said it would only take a few moments to fit safety devices to existing blinds.

He commends RoSPA for giving away 60,000 safety packs, which include leaflets and safety devices, as part of the campaign but said that people could get free devices from Apollo Blinds as well.

“We ran a campaign in conjunction with Child Safety Week in the summer to raise awareness of the issue and have been giving away safety devices,” he added. “My franchise company is happy to continue to give away safety devices to anyone on the Island.”

DETECTIVES are investigating a report of a burglary at a house in Adgestone near Sandown. Several items were missing from the address in Lower Adgestone Road when a householder returned home at 3.30pm on Saturday, October 30.

Entry to the property is believed to have been forced sometime between approximately 8.30am and 3.30pm. A search appears to have been carried out in one room within the house where £140 in cash and a small Kodak digital camera are missing.

Also reported stolen is a light blue coloured bath towel, which measures 36 inches by 18 inches. Investigating officer Detective Constable Phil Harrison-Smith of the Isle of Wight Priority Crime Unit (PCU) said: “Police carried out initial enquires and searches in the local area over the weekend. We are keen to gather as much information as possible from the community.

THE 1,470 lone parents on Income Support on the Island will have to look for work three years earlier following changes in the benefits system.

Previously they would have to start to look for work when their children were aged ten but benefit changes will mean that they will now get help to look for work, rather than stay on benefits, once their children are aged seven or over.

From October 25 lone parents whose child is aged seven or over will now claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are able work, rather than Income Support. On JSA they will benefit from a comprehensive range of support including training opportunities, job application advice and other financial grants to help them return to work.

Lone parents with children of 12 or under will be able to specify school-hours only jobs without it affecting their benefits. A lone parent’s availability for work must take into account their childcare responsibilities and they will not be expected to take up a job if appropriate childcare is not available.

They will also receive advice on childcare, benefits and part-time or family friendly working from specialist lone parent advisers at Jobcentre Plus. The Work Programme is also being introduced to give flexible support to get people in jobs and other back-to-work measures are available including Work Clubs. These provide unemployed people with a place to meet and exchange skills, find opportunities, make contacts, share experiences and receive support to help them in their return to work.

Those with a health condition or disability, which limits their capability for work will be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Some lone parents will continue to receive Income Support if they have a child in receipt of the middle or highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, they receive Carer’s Allowance, or if they are Fostering.

Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller said:“We know that work is the best route out of poverty. This is why lone parents with younger children will now be able to have access to help and support to look for work through Jobcentre Plus.

“Getting a good balance between work and family responsibilities is important for every parent. Job Centre Plus advisors will actively support lone parents so that they can get that balance right too.”