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Further to the previous announcement regarding the temporary road closure between Bates Branch and the Junction at Stitches Ridge, St Paul’s, the public is advised that the closure has been extended until Friday, 16 October 2026.

The extension is required to allow the Roads and Forestry Sections additional time to safely complete essential surface maintenance and tree-felling works along the route.

The closure will remain in effect from 09:00 to 15:00, Monday through Friday, with no weekend closures. Traffic travelling to and from Sandy Bay should continue to use the diversion route via Stitches Ridge Road and Lemon Tree Gut.

Full access will be maintained for emergency vehicles at all times, with appropriate safety measures in place to allow work crews sufficient time to clear the roadway when required. Appropriate traffic management signs will remain in place to assist motorists.

We apologise for the continued inconvenience this may cause and thank residents, motorists and the wider public for their patience, understanding and cooperation while these important maintenance works are completed.

The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESEP) would like to advise members of the public of the opening hours for Career Access St Helena (CASH).

With immediate effect, CASH will operate the following opening hours:

DayOpening HoursAccess
Monday – Wednesday09:00 – 12:00
13:00 – 15:00		By appointment only
Thursday – Friday09:00 – 12:00
13:00 – 15:00		Drop-ins and registered clients

Due to KS2 using these facilities from Monday to Wednesday, members of the public wishing to access CASH services during this period are required to make an appointment in advance. All appointments will take place at the Carnarvon Court offices.

Thursdays and Fridays will be available for drop-in enquiries, as well as appointments with registered CASH clients.

CASH provides careers information, advice, and guidance to support individuals with their education, training and employment pathways.

The Education, Skills, and Employment Portfolio thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding regarding these arrangements.

SHG invites all community members, business owners, and fishing sector stakeholders to participate in the public consultation on The Future of the Fishing Industry: Options for Policy, running from 21 September to 23 October 2026. No decisions have been made, and your views are essential to help shape future direction.

Upcoming Public Engagement Opportunities

How to Review the Documents

Additional Ways to Submit Feedback

All consultation responses will remain confidential and will be cited anonymously in subsequent reporting.

Please be advised that the Public Library will be closed on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.

The closure is to facilitate staff training.

Normal operations will resume on Thursday, 17 September 2026.

The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Thursday, 17 September at 06:00. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty and cargo operations will commence as soon as practicable.

During this time, Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility, the beach, jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will be under Security Access Level 3, meaning these areas will be restricted to authorised personnel only.

Access will remain restricted until all cargo operations are completed and the vessel has departed.

Once the vessel leaves, security will reduce to Access Level 2, at which point only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal working hours (08:00 – 16:00).

The beach, jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will reopen to the public and can be accessed via the public walkway beginning at Liberation House or via the Ferry Service (charges apply).

After working hours, the Security Access Level reduces to Level 1, whereby vehicular access is allowed through the facility.

St Helena Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding.

The public are advised that a period of strong winds is forecast to affect St Helena from 21:00 UTC on Wednesday 16 September 2026 through to 18:00 UTC on Thursday 17 September 2026.

Upper winds are expected to be 22-27 KT through Wednesday, before quickly increasing overnight to 27-32 KT. The strongest winds are currently expected during Thursday morning.

A period of strong winds is expected, with occasional surface gusts of 30-35 KT and choppy sea conditions at times. There remains a low likelihood of peak gusts reaching around 40 KT, particularly in exposed locations.

Care should be taken when walking or hiking, particularly in exposed areas. Residents are advised to secure any loose items that could be blown away, such as wheelie bins and outdoor equipment.

Boat owners should ensure that vessels are securely tied to their moorings. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving, particularly on exposed roads and routes prone to strong crosswinds. Motorists should also remain alert for loose debris on roads.

The Emergency Planning Department and Met Office will continue to monitor the situation. Further updates will be issued as necessary should the forecast change.

The Highways Authority has approved a temporary road closure along the section from Bates Branch to the Junction at Stitches Ridge, St Pauls.

This closure is required to allow the Roads Section to carry out essential surface maintenance. During this period, the Forestry Section will also take the opportunity to fell trees along the route to ensure public safety and minimise future disruptions.

Closure Details

Dates: Monday, 21 September 2026 – Monday, 5 October 2026

Hours: 09:00 to 15:00 daily

Days: Monday through Friday (No weekend closures)

Traffic and Diversion Information

Traffic travelling to and from Sandy Bay should use the standard diversion route via Stitches Ridge Road to Lemon Tree Gut. Full access will be granted to emergency vehicles at all times, with safety protocols in place to allow the work crews sufficient time to clear the roadway upon approach.

Appropriate traffic management signs will be in place to assist motorists.

The Roads Section thanks the public in advance for their cooperation, patience, and understanding while these critical infrastructure and maintenance works are completed.

The public are advised that all Economic Development Portfolio offices, including the Tourist Office and Property Section, will be closed on Friday, 11 September 2026.Therefore, social housing tenants should contact Building Services directly for any faults or repairs while the Housing Office is closed.

The Tourist Office booth at the Airport will open on Saturday, 12 September, from 11:30 to 14:30. The main Tourist Office at the Canister will open on Sunday, 13 September, from 09:00 to 12:00.

Normal business operations will resume on Monday, 14 September 2026.

The Highways Authority has approved a temporary road closure from Corner Wall, near The Briars Junction, to the Viewing Deck at Two Gun Saddle.

The closure will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, from 09:00 to 15:00 to allow the Rock Guards and Roads teams to safely remove a section of bank that has been identified as unsafe.

During this time, access for public transport and emergency services may be limited. Members of the public are asked to use the diversion route via Haul Road.

If the works are completed ahead of schedule, the public will be notified and the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Residents in Constitution will continue to have road access, and The Briars area will not be affected by the closure. Advance warning and diversion signs will be in place to alert motorists. The Roads Section apologises for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thanks the public for their patience, cooperation and understanding

The Health and Social Care Portfolio (HSC) wishes to inform the public that, due to a temporary shortage of doctors, some outpatient clinics will be operating at reduced capacity over the coming weeks.

We recognise that changes to appointments can be worrying, and we want to explain clearly what this means for you and your care.

Most appointments will continue as scheduled. If your appointment needs to be moved, our team will contact you directly. Unless you hear from us, please attend as planned.

If your appointment is moved, you will not lose your place. We will offer you the earliest available alternative slot as full capacity is restored.

Please note that emergency services will not be affected.

The HSC thanks the public for its patience and understanding while we work to restore full clinic capacity as soon as possible.