Isle of Wight residents claim the council are not taking responsibility over a rise in complaints regarding...
The mother of missing Isle of Wight teenager Damien Nettles has spoken up about how she believes...
Pearl Jam have been announced as the third and final headliner of the main stage at next...
The Earl Mountbatten Hospice has teamed up with Isle of Wight musician Simon Ledger to produce a...
Pearl Jam have been announced as the third and final headliner of the main stage at next year’s Isle of Wight Festival. Pearl Jam join previously announced Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 line-up. Also on the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 main stage line-up on Saturday will be Biffy Clyro and Madness. Other Isle of Wight Festival main stage acts announced across the weekend are Elbow, Example, Noah and the Whale, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and The Vaccines. Other main stage acts are yet to be announced, as are those acts playing in the Big Top and on the Garden Stage. The Isle of Wight Festival takes place at Seaclose Park, Newport on the Isle of Wight from 22 – 24 June 2012. For Isle of Wight Festival tickets and more information, visit the Isle of Wight Festival website. Photo: Pearl Jam at Madison Square Gardens by Tammy Lo
The Isle of Wight Festival has announced the second of its headliners for the 2012 Festival: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Taking the top slot on the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 main stage on Friday 22 June, this will be Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ first ever UK festival appearance and their first major UK show in 20 years. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have had hits in five different decades and sold tens of millions of records. The band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility and have garnered plenty of awards and accolades during their time. Their popularity shows no signs of waning either, with their 2010 tour being their most successful and attended by more people than ever before. John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter, said: “We are proud to present Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at the Isle of Wight Festival finally – it has taken years to achieve but I’m sure it will be worth the wait – they are one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time.” Bands already announced for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 line up include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Example, Noah & The Whale, The Vaccines, and Madness. The Isle of Wight Festival takes place from 22 – 24 June 2012 at Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. For more information and tickets, head over to the Isle of Wight Festival website. Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews
Isle of Wight residents and members of the public across Hampshire are being asked to text Hampshire Police if they suspect someone drink or drug driving. Operation Holly sees the launch of a text number – 80999 – that people on the Island can use to report suspected drink drivers anonymously. Senders are asked to send the precise location where the driver was last seen, the direction of travel if possible, and as many vehicle details as they can, including the vehicle’s number plate. Members of the public on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire are reminded that this number is a text-only service, and that they can also call 999 to report a drink drive offence in progress. Operation Holly will continue until 1 January 2012, and aims to stop people from drinking or taking drugs and getting behind the wheel, and, as a result, prevent and reduce casualties on the roads of the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. Superintendent Chris Brown, head of Roads Policing for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said: “In order to prevent people from drinking and driving, we need the public to help us. “If you suspect someone has been drinking and is over the limit and getting behind the wheel – then please text us on 80999, tell us where the car is, give us the registration, and we will do the rest. “Or if you see someone that you suspect is drink driving or driving whilst drug impaired, you can ring us on 999. “Collisions involving alcohol or drugs not only devastate the lives of victims and their families. We want to prevent this from happening in the first place, but if people still insist on getting behind the wheel, then we will do everything we can to find them and arrest them.” The campaign this year is supported and promoted by Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Isle of Wight Road Safety Partnership, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council. During the month of Operation Holly, officers will run pro-active operations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight targeting drink and drug impaired drivers. Officers will also, for the first time, be maximizing the use of social networking sites Twitter and Facebook by tweeting every stop and activity at several upcoming operations which will be publicised in advance. To get the very latest progress and information on Operation Holly follow @HantsPolice or @HantspolRoads on Twitter or check out our Hampshire Constabulary Facebook page. Photo: Alex Hern
Six people have been arrested in connection with an arson and theft at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. Parishioners attending the church at around 5.30pm on Sunday 27 November found the altar to be ablaze and two crucifixes missing. Before the police arrived, the congregation were able to extinguish the fire. On arrival, officers searched the area and recovered one of the crucifixes, which was undamaged. Six males, an 18-year-old from Ryde, 23-year-old from Sandown, and a 15-year-old 20-year-old, 24-year-old and 28-year-old all from Newport, have since been arrested on suspicion of arson and theft. They remained in custody yesterday (28 November 2011). Newport District Inspector Nick Heelan, said: “This incident does not appear to be politically motivated and we’re not looking at domestic extremism. This is just a very unfortunate incident which will clearly impact on the community attending St Mary’s. “It was lucky in this case that parishioners were able to extinguish the fire safely before it could spread. “I’d now appeal for anyone who saw this incident or any suspicious activity in the area just before or after 5.30pm, to contact police on the Isle of Wight immediately.” Anyone with any information is asked to call Hampshire Constabulary on 101. Alternatively, call the Crimestoppers charity helpline on 0800 555 111 where information can be submitted anonymously. Photo: St Mary the Virgin Church in Carisbrooke (Steve Daniels) / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 went on sale at 9am this morning (Friday 25 November 2011). Adult camping tickets cost £190 subject to booking fee. Children aged between seven and 12 years camping tickets cost £95, whilst children aged six and under go free. Tickets are available from Ticket Zone via their website or over the phone on 044444 99 99 55. Official ticket agents for Isle of Wight Festival tickets are: Bournemouth International Centre, Eventim, Gigantic, lastminute.com, See Tickets, Stargreen Box Office, Ticketline, and Ticket Master. Isle of Wight Festival ticket and ferry packages are available from Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hover Travel. Organisers warn festival-goers not to buy their Isle of Wight Festival tickets from unofficial agents and outlets. Although Vodafone customers have been able to get tickets since Wednesday 23 November, today is the day of Isle of Wight Festival tickets general release. Earlier this week, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were announced as the Sunday night headliner for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012. The Isle of Wight Festival 2012 takes place at Seaclose Park, Newport from 22 – 24 June 2012. For more information, visit the Isle of Wight Festival website. Photo: David Jones
The Isle of Wight Festival 2012 has announced its first headliner for next year’s festival: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will headline the main stage on Sunday 24 June, closing the 2012 Isle of Wight Festival. The Festival billing will see Bruce Springsteen’s first visit to the Island. One of the most influential artists in the world, Springsteen is famous around the world for his brand of poetic lyrics set to a rock backing track. He has sold over 65 million albums in the United States alone, and 120 million worldwide. Across his career, Bruce Springsteen has amassed an impressive 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award. On the Isle of Wight Festival website, John Giddings, the Festival's promoter, said: “It's taken years to get him here, but it will have been worth the wait - he is one of the greatest acts of all time, it's going to be a classic year...” Tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival 2012 go on general sale at 9am on Friday 25 November. For more information, head over to the Isle of Wight Festival ticket page. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have also announced a further three UK dates for 2012: Sunderland Stadium of Light (21 June 2012), Manchester Etihad Stadium (22 June 2012) and Hard Rock Calling in London’s Hyde Park (14 July 2012). Tickets for these dates go on sale on Saturday 3 December, available from Live Nation. Are you pleased to see Bruce Springsteen headlining the Isle of Wight Festival 2012? Have your say by leaving your comments below. Photo: Andres Moreno
Global rock star and singer Bryan Adams has pledged his support for the Reclaim the Night march on Friday 25 November, organised by the Isle of Wight Domestic Abuse Forum. Unfortunately unable to attend the march, Bryan Adams still pledged his support for the event, saying: “I support the Isle of Wight’s Reclaim the Night event and the White Ribbon Campaign and make my pledge never to remain silent about violence against women of all ages. “I hope that my support will help to raise awareness and I wish everyone a very successful evening.” The Isle of Wight Domestic Abuse Forum held its first Reclaim the Night march in 2010, which saw more than 100 people take to the streets of Newport before gathering for a candle-lit vigil. The Reclaim the Night march on the Island is on the same date as White Ribbon Day - a campaign to ensure men take more responsibility for reducing the amount of violence against women. The march will be followed by a rally in Sts Thomas’ Square. Fleur Gardiner, domestic abuse co-ordinator at the Isle of Wight Council, said: “We are delighted that Bryan Adams has chosen to support our event which plays such an important role in raising awareness of what is often a hidden crime. “Nationally, one in four women and one in seven men will suffer domestic abuse in their lifetimes and approximately 750,000 children across the UK witness domestic abuse each year – and in nine out of ten cases children will be in the same or next room as the abuse taking place. “Reclaim the Night is about helping these hidden victims by encouraging communities to speak out against domestic abuse and report incidents when they are aware of them, either to the police or organisations that can provide specialist support and advice. We look forward to welcoming men and women to our event as we march together in solidarity against domestic abuse.” Photo: Derek Hatfield
The Waterside Pool in Ryde is to be officially handed over to the Waterside Community Trust on 1 December 2011. In December 2010, the Isle of Wight Council announced that it was looking to close the pool as part of measures to save £32 million over the next four years. The Waterside Community Trust was set up by local residents after the group submitted an expression of interest and became the council’s preferred bidder to operate the pool. Councill George Brown, cabinet member for economy and the environment, said: “I have much admiration for the hard work that the Waterside Community Trust has undertaken to develop its proposals and I am pleased that we have been able to support that process. “We will continue to provide advice and guidance to the trust once it has taken over the pool from December. I am confident that with this support and also of Ryde Town Council and the Ryde community as a whole, Waterside Pool will have a viable future.” Over the past year, the Isle of Wight Council has worked with the Waterside Community Trust to ensure it remained open to the public. The council will also provide around £66,000 in start up costs to allow refurbishment work to take place. What do you think about Ryde’s Waterside Pool being handed over to the Waterside Community Trust? Have your say on Wightbay Free Press by leaving your comments below. Photo: Simon Haytack
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