Hampshire and Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 8 January - 13 January 2024

Hampshire County Council can now place "small wild animal" warning signs where needed

A story about installing hedgehog warning signs on roads was among our most read this week in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Greta Thunberg statue returns to university

The £24,000 statue at the University of Winchester was removed last year for repairs to its plinth

A statue of environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg was returned to a university's grounds after it was removed for repairs.

Installed in 2021, the £24,000 statue faced criticism from some students at the University of Winchester for being a "vanity project."

The university said it can now be seen by the public in the courtyard garden of its West Downs Centre.

Island trials app for parents going through break-up

About 50 separating parents on the Isle of Wight are needed to test the app ahead of a national roll-out

The Isle of Wight will trial an app that aims to help parents who are separating.

The app is called Separating better and provides guides on the separation process, effective ways of co-parenting and ways to sort out disagreements.

The free app is expected to be rolled out nationally from March.

Extra buses set for city

The changes start on 18 February and have been funded by a £48m Department for Transport grant

More bus services, including two 24-hour routes, are set to be rolled out in Portsmouth.

Stagecoach's number 23 route between Leigh Park and Southsea, alongside the number 2 First Bus from Paulsgrove to The Hard will run round the clock.

Several other routes across the city will run more frequently during the week and at weekends.

Hedgehog signs to be considered by council

Hedgehogs across England as registered as vulnerable to extinction

A council said it was open to installing hedgehog warning signs to roads, following changes made by the Department for Transport (DfT).

The government department has simplified the signage process for local authorities.

Hampshire County Council can now place "small wild animal" warning signs where needed, rather than applying to the DfT on a case-by-case basis.

Sainsbury's wins delivery appeal in Newport

The council raised concerns that late-night deliveries would cause noise disturbance

Round-the-clock deliveries to the main Isle of Wight Sainsbury's store were given the go-ahead after an appeal.

The supermarket, in Newport, had requested the change so it could ensure stocked shelves.

In February 2023, Isle of Wight Council turned down the request after local residents branded it an "awful neighbour".