Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2014 | Page 108
BUSINESS LIFE
Protect thatch
- urges NFU
McCarthy & Stone
Church Road, Bembridge, IW, PO35 5ND
w.www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk
t. 0800 201 4742
M
ake a resolution to protect
your thatched property from
fire! That’s the message NFU
Mutual, the UKs leading rural insurer, is
sending to thatched property owners on
the Isle of Wight.
Thatched properties are treasured
gems of English rural heritage, However,
although no more likely to catch fire
than a home with a conventional roof
if the right precautions are taken, a
thatched roof fire is difficult to control,
and results can be devastating. Any steps
a homeowner can take to reduce the risk
of a thatch fire could help to avoid the
inconvenience and heartache of dealing
with the aftermath of such an event. . So
make sure you are fully protected.
John Heather, branch manager at
NFU Mutual’s office, Newport, said:
“There are many things people can do
to minimise the risk of fire including
having the chimney swept on a regular
basis, checking the pointing on the
chimney stack and having mainsoperated smoke detectors.
“A high proportion of thatch fires
relate to the excessive use of wood
burning stoves, faulty flue linings and
very hot embers landing on a dry thatch
roof. Although only a small percentage
of fires relate to electrical faults, even
electric blankets and tumble driers,
if not checked, may cause a fire. It is
important that people make sure they
have the right level of cover in place and
at what point it comes into effect.”
NFU Mutual has produced a number
of online guides about buying and
caring for a thatched property. To view
the guides visit the Thatch Insurance
page on their website: www.nfumutual.
co.uk
108
www.visitilife.com
Roach Pittis
60 - 66 Lugley Street , Newport, IW, PO30
5EU t. 01983 524431 w. www.roachpittis.
co.uk e. [email protected]
McCarthy & Stone
M
cCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading
developer of retirement apartments,
now has two developments on the
Isle of Wight, offering a wide range
of facilities for the over 60s to enjoy a care free and
relaxing retirement.
Featuring the high build quality which comes
as standard across all of McCarthy & Stone’s
properties, the developer is currently building a
collection of 40 one and two-bedroom Signature
Retirement Living apartments in Bembridge
and 58 one and two-bedroom Assisted Living
apartments at Somers Brook Court, Newport.
The Bembridge development has been designed
exclusively for the over 60s to promote an active and
independent lifestyle. Homeowners will also benefit
from a low maintenance, new build apartment that
offers a range of specialist design features to add to
homeowners’ comfort and security as they get older.
Somers Brook Court is ideal for those who are
looking for additional assistance with daily life, but
are not yet ready, or wanting to consider residential
care. This Assisted Living development offers a
number of enhanced features, exclusively for the
over 70s, to give homeowners the extra support they
are looking for such as a table-service restaurant
offering a hot meal 365 days of the year, an hour of
domestic assistance each week and personal care
from the on-site care team, should the need arise.
In addition to all the features of a Retirement
Living apartment, all apartments at Somers Brook
Court are fully wheelchair accessible throughout.
Roach Pittis
L
ong-established Island solicitors
Roach Pittis pride themselves on
providing clients with a professional,
yet friendly and personal service on
all aspects of law.
Roach Pittis is one of the oldest solicitors firms
on the Island. The first record of a Pittis involved
with the law is an Edward Roach Pittis, practising
as an attorney in Newport in c