Hampshire & Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 9 March - 15 March 2024
- Published
A story about a head teacher's concerns over the quality of school meals was among our most read this week in Hampshire and on 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.
Head disgusted by state of food at his own school
A head teacher has asked "how difficult is it to bake a potato?" in a despairing letter to parents about the state of food at his own school.
Jason Ashley, head of Redbridge Community School in Southampton, said meals served in its canteen were "completely unacceptable".
Caterers Chartwells apologised and promised an "immediate action plan".
Families' anger as P&O cruises axed for refit
Families whose holidays were cancelled after plans to refurbish a cruise ship were rescheduled said they had been left "angry and upset".
Two cruises departing from Southampton on P&O's Iona in October 2025 were axed to make time for the refit.
The company said it offered full refunds and on-board spending credit to encourage people to re-book.
Men's sanitary bins installed in council buildings
Sanitary bins are being installed in staff and public men's toilets in Hampshire council buildings.
The county council has said it is backing the Prostate Cancer UK Boys Need Bins campaign.
The charity is urging authorities to provide waste options for men to dispose of items like incontinence pads, stomas and catheters.
Troubled island ferry to be replaced
The troubled Isle of Wight Floating Bridge is set to be replaced, the council has confirmed.
The £3.5m chain ferry, which crosses the River Medina between Cowes and East Cowes, has been plagued with issues since it was installed in 2017.
The council's executive cabinet unanimously agreed to replace Floating Bridge 6.
Tiger opens wide for root canal operation
A 27-stone (170kg) tiger has undergone root canal treatment after breaking a tooth.
Amur tiger Bagai was booked into Marwell Zoo's in-house vets after keepers at the zoo near Winchester noticed he was in pain.
By removing decayed pulp and filling the cavity, the tooth was saved.
Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, X, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240, external.
Related topics
- Published10 March
- Published3 March
- Published25 February
- Published18 February
- Published11 February
- Published4 February