Ian Thompson has retired as chief executive of the Department of Infrastructure after more than eight years in the post.

His last day was Friday, and he has handed the department’s reins to Nick Black, previously chief executive of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure.

‘I’ve had a fantastic team behind me over the last eight years and I’d like to thank everyone within the department, past and present, for their hard work and support,’ he said.

For a full report, see today’s Isle of Man Examiner.

The Isle of Man’s economy is heading for a real growth rate of three to four per cent in the current financial year, the Government’s latest quarterly economic report indicates.

The report, produced for the Council of Ministers by the Treasury’s Economic Affairs Division, covers the three months up to the end of June.

Chief Minister Allan Bell has welcomed the report, saying: ‘The continuing growth of the Isle of Man economy is the result of a number of factors, including our policy of diversification, the partnership approach between Government and the private sector, and our competitive, reputable business environment.’

But he warned that continuing growth ‘will not get Government off the hook of its budgetary challenges’.

‘One of the reasons for our economic success is the island’s competitive tax structure, but that structure does not produce growth in public revenues at the same rate as growth in the economy.

‘There is something of a disconnect between the two, so we cannot rely on economic growth alone to bridge the Government’s fiscal gap.

‘Four per cent growth doesn’t mean four per cent increase in Government revenues.’

The quarterly economic report states: ‘The local economy remains stable and on course for meeting expectations of real growth of 3-4 per cent in 2013/14.

‘Inflation is 2.9 per cent and with global food prices falling and with manufacturers’ prices also tightly constrained, the inflation outlook is not threatening.

‘The numbers in employment, as per tax records, are at a record high.

The report provides positive updates and outlooks for various sectors including manufacturing, e-business, shipping, aircraft registration, clean tech and tourism.

But it shows that some of the inward-facing local sectors – construction and retail – are struggling.

It says manufacturing offers ‘good growth prospects and over 50 additional jobs a year ‘if skilled workers can be provided.

The E-business sector is continuing to grow rapidly, and prospects for the industry in terms of organic growth and by the attraction of new business are ‘good’.

The report states construction industry activity levels continue to be flat, with ‘competition intense’ for government projects.

Construction remains the sector with the highest level of unemployment.

‘There remains a lack of demand for new housing and commercial developments, and until this situation changes, the general outlook for the construction industry remains flat.’

The outlook for the retail sector ‘remains challenging’.

Mr Bell said that like in the UK, retailers were fighting against competition from the internet, as well as a lack of consumer confidence and willingness to spend in the current economic climate.

Despite investment in Strand Street, in Douglas, Mr Bell said there was concern over the increasing number of empty shops.

Read the report at www.gov.im/lib/docs/cso/q2economicreport2013.pdf

Experiencing horses up close proved to be a huge hit with a group of pupils from Manor Park School.

Six children from the Douglas school were delighted to take part in an equine assisted learning programme with thanks to funding from the Mannannan Lions Club.

The group attended the EAGALA-certified Enbarr equine assisted learning centre, in Baldrine, over several weeks.

Equine assisted learning involves individuals working with a horse or pony on the ground, in a countryside environment to develop trust, control, communication and relationships.

The key idea focuses on a participant learning to bond and effectively communicate with a horse or pony.

The children were encouraged, by a trained EFL practitioner, to use natural horsemanship training methods and the horse’s own subtle system of communication in order to achieve this.

Manor Park deputy head teacher Gesina Loubser said: ‘The children had a fantastic time at the Enbarr Learning Centre and it was amazing to see how much all the children actually got out of the programme. ‘

She thanked the Mannannan Lions Club, saying: ‘It was a truly unforgettable experience for these children form our school.’

Extra safety barriers could be in place at the bottom of Bray Hill in time for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT races later this month.

A review of safety in the area was carried out after and accident during this year’s Senior TT which saw 10 spectators injured, some seriously.

Speaking after the incident, course clerk Gary Thompson said safety would be reviewed in the area so that any recommendations could be implemented ready for the Manx.

Shaun Counsell who oversees course preparation for both the Manx and the TT said the issue was still being considered.

‘At the moment we are still looking at it and some work is being done,’ he said.

He added any work required by the event insurers would be completed by August 15 which is the day when final inspections take place for course safety.

As part of continuing improvements to course safety Mr Counsell said extra Recticell barriers were being installed at various different points around the course. This is part of a rolling safety programme to replace straw bales, with Recticell barriers which offer superior protection.

In addition, some sections of barrier are bespoke - specially made to fit a particular bend, entrance or obstacle - something which is not possible using straw bales. Large sections of the course have also been treated with chippings in readiness for the racing, which starts with practices and newcomers’ sighting laps on August 17.

Stretches of the course from Union Mills to Glen Vine and north of Ballaugh have had work completed and resurfacing work has also been carried out at Bedstead corner where the surface had become worn and polished.

Major work on the famous Creg-ny-Baa corner will start in the autumn once the Manx has finished. This will involve a complete reprofiling of the corner to make the camber more favourable, eliminating the need for a shell grip surface of the type currently on the corner but which is prone to wearing out.

Safety concerns were expressed after Jonathan Howarth a competitor from Barnsley in South Yorkshire came off his bike on the way down Bray hill on the opening lap of the Senior race. Though Mr Howarth escaped with relatively minor injuries, 10 people spectating by the former shop near the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill suffered leg and lower body injuries, some serious, requiring hospital treatment. Many of the spectators were next to a makeshift grandstand on private land but the area had no viewing restrictions on it. Debris from the bike also cleared a garden wall and hit the window of a nearby house as the occupants watched from an upstairs window.

Emergency services and volunteers with St John Ambulance, Hogg Rescue and the marshals were praised for their prompt and efficient action dealing with the accident.

The race had to be stopped so casualties could be dealt with, and was later restarted.

The eventual winner was Morcambe’s John McGuinness who claimed his 20th TT victory, setting a new race record in the process. The 90th anniversary Manx Grand Prix races take place on Wednesday 28 and Friday 30 August. The inaugural Classic TT, formerly the Manx Grand Prix classic races are on Saturday 24 and Monday 26 August. Practising for both events is during the preceding week starting on Saturday August 17. The Marshals’ Association has called for marshals.

Negotiations are continuing to resolve problems with out-of-hours diving cover for the island’s ferry services after the Ben-my-Chree sailings were twice disrupted after rope and debris became tangled in its propellers.

Because no government commercial diving team is available on stand-by at the weekend or out of hours the problem could not be rectified quickly. Most recently this resulted in the cancellation of Sunday sailings and a delayed Monday morning departure to Heysham while work was carried out.

When the problem occurred at the start of July the Royal Naval diving team who were visiting the island as part of the Tynwald day celebrations, carried out the work and allowed the ship to sail.

Harbours and airport director Ann Reynolds said she was were not aware of any suitable commercial diving services in the island other than the DoI team which currently offers no out of hours cover at all. She said the Steam Packet paid a fee for their services on an ad hoc basis and they hoped to resolve matters shortly.

Steve Cowley, of Discover Diving in Port St Mary, which offers both leisure and commercial diving services said all commercial diving was understandably controlled by red tape and this was not exceptional.

‘You need to be able to provide things like risk assessments and method statements and there has to be communication between the diver and surface team, so there is some but it’s not insurmountable,’ he said.

‘There are set codes of practice for commercial diving that we have to adhere to and it’s not cheap. I hate to think how much it costs to run the DOI team per year,’ he said.

For all those people who have spent their idle moments wondering how to make armpit fudge help is at hand at the Family Library in Douglas on Tuesday, August 13.

There, visitors will be treated to a drop-in session on making Augustus Gloop’s Armpit Fudge – the latest in a season full of activities to tie in with the Family Library’s summer reading scheme on the theme of the Roald Dahl favourite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The session runs from midday to 1.45pm and is open to children of any age. There is no need to book in advance and it costs just £2 to take part.

It is one of many sessions and workshops that are being held over the summer.

This year is the seventh in-house summer reading scheme designed by the Family Library and numbers are up on previous years.

The Junior Reading Club has a Hansel and Gretel theme for its scheme.

Keep up to date with activities on the Summer Reading Scheme by looking up Family Library on Facebook and visiting the website www.familylibrary.co.uk

The Family Library is in Westmoreland Road, Douglas, next to the children’s playground.

For more information call 640650

An ambitious plan to use the Castle Mona Hotel as the base for an information technology ‘university’ centre is ‘dead’.

You can find out why in the Isle ofExaminer today.

The Manx economy is growing more strongly than most in the western world. The paper has the figures. We also learn that more are in work in the island now than ever before.

The island’s planning regulations are changing. We find out about concerns regarding the introduction of a £150 fee, which is being introduced to anyone who makes an appeal.

The front page picture is of the Supreme Champion at the Royal Agricultural Show.

It was a great event and we have two pages of photos from it.

In court, we covered a restaurant worker who broke the window of a police van, a 17-year-old who told the police ‘You’re just public servants. I can swear wherever I like’ and another who swore at police officers who investigated why he was smashing bottles in the street.

In other news, three Steam Packet captains are remembered in this week’s paper after their recent deaths. We have tributes to them.

The paper also lists those music students who’ve recently passed exams from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, Trinity College, Rockschool and the government’s music award scheme.

With action-packed sport, the Green Column, Terry Cringle’s Times Past, eight pages of business news, our popular prize crossword and the Social Diary, the island’s favourite newspaper is a great start to the week.

It’s in the shops now.

Car dealer Brent Mealin is pioneering the latest responsive design technology to assist with sales to customers who want to study their options on their smartphones and technology.

But Brent Mealin says that embracing that technology does not mean a reduction in the personal touch which he believes is crucial in his industry.

His firm, based at Snugborough in Union Mills, is believed to be the first car dealer in the Isle of Man to utilise responsive technology on its website, which means that it adjusts to the size of the device using it.

That means that, whether you are looking up cars on your computer, your tablet or your smartphone, you will be able to view properly the vehicles available and their specifications without those awkward attempts to resize pictures to fit your screen – or, worse, making do with only being able to be seen on one part of the picture at any particular time.

Brent, whose prestige and sports car dealership celebrates 25 years in 2014, said: ‘It means our customers are able, through their mobile devices, to get so much more information before they call at the showroom. They know about the full specifications of the car.

‘Thankfully, buying a car is still a human transaction, so they still get the personal service when they make a follow-up visit to our showroom after seeing what’s on offer online.

‘We like to think that’s what we have always offered and the introduction of this responsive design technology on our website enhances that.’

He added: ‘Our belief is that the difference is in the detail and in our knowledge.’

The enhancements to online services have come as part of an overall rebranding of the Brent Mealin business image, including a new-look overall to the brentmealin.com website, which has been upgraded by design and marketing consultant Dave Macdonald.

‘I wanted a more active website,’ said Brent. ‘Now it is updated every day.’

Indications from the first weeks since the revamp of the website are that it has been a boost to business, with the portion of mobile/tablet viewing of his website visits reaching nearly 35 per cent, compared with an average in the UK of 20 per cent.

‘The market has moved on,’ said Brent. ‘We know customers now have far greater access to far more knowledge before they visit the showroom.

‘We are embracing that and assisting them.’ Thanks to the aspirational nature of society, the prestige/luxury car market is still doing well, he said.

‘Everybody now aspires to luxury, whether it be a watch, a holiday or a car.’

The upgraded website is live and can be seen at www.brentmealin.com

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault in Douglas last night.

The incident occurred at about 11.30pm on Sunday near the junction of Loch Promenade and Granville Street.

A police spokesman said: ‘At this time it is believed that members of the public intervened in an incident involving a man and a woman.

‘Police want to speak with anybody who may have witnessed this and particularly any persons who may have intervened.

‘In particular, police would like to speak to the occupants of a car that it is believed stopped at the incident.’

Police are urging anyone with any information regarding the incident to contact Constable Leanne Cullivan at police headquarters. Ring 631212.

Peel’s annual lifeboat service was interrupted for a second year running by a rescue call-out.

Having watched two teenagers from Peel getting into difficulty in an inflatable kayak, lifeboat operations manager Allen Corlett decided to launch the Ruby Clery to help the pair who by now were being blown rapidly out sea.

The crew, under the command of coxswain John Hunter, immediately left the service and launched to recover the 15 and 16 year old local lads who had underestimated the strength of the offshore wind.

By the time the lifeboat reached the two they were almost half a mile from Peel breakwater and getting into breaking seas.

They were taken on board and returned to Peel wet but unharmed.

During last year’s service an almost identical incident ended up with a five-year-old boy more than a mile out to sea.

The nervous wait will be over later this week for hundreds of A-level students across the Isle of Man.

They will receive their results, and find out whether they have got the grades for their first choice university, on Thursday.

At Isle of Man Newspapers, we are keen to celebrate the success of our youngsters.

If you have a results story that you would like to share, please email jackie.turley@newsiom.co.im or call 695658.

The A-level results will be in the Isle of Man Examiner of August 19.

A new local film project supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council wants to pay tribute to Manx and UK war veterans.

For more information, or if you would like to participate, email a military-related photo (in uniform, on deployment, etc) of the veteran to cookemilyATlive.co.uk before Friday, August 16.

The film makers want those who contact them to include the veteran’s name, dates of birth and death (if applicable), and any information about deployment location or wartime anecdotes.

Forty per cent of the island’s population of larch trees has been infected by disease, the forestry division has confirmed.

Some 200 hectares (about 500 acres) of larch trees have had to be felled due to phytophthora ramorum – commonly referred to as sudden oak death.

Along with Dutch elm disease, it’s one of two diseases affecting the island’s trees.

In addition, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture remains vigilant to the threat of a third, ash dieback.

Head forester John Walmsley said: ‘The main disease problem at the moment is phytophthora ramorum.

‘This is sometimes referred to as sudden oak death although we – the forestry industry – are trying to avoid that title as it is misleading.

‘Although P. ramorum killed thousands of oaks in America, where the disease caused significant damage, it was found that when the disease reached UK shores it switched species and attacked larch.’

He said: ‘The disease is generally spread in moist air currents by infected spores and to date some 40 per cent of the island’s larch population has been infected.

‘As the disease is air borne there is not a lot we can do to stop this disease, but we do ask for the public’s help to minimise the risk of further spread by observing restricted area signage and cleaning of footwear before leaving forest areas to access adjacent heathland and before visiting other forests and sites.’

DEFA is continuing to monitor and fund the dutch elm disease programme.

‘Unfortunately the long hot and dry spell of weather during July was perfect for the elm beetle which carries the spores of the disease and resulted in numerous flying days – the beetle only flies when temperatures reach about 24C,’ he said. ‘The number of new sites of infection has increased by seven with previously infected areas all showing further infected trees

‘ The number of diseased trees felled to date in 2013 has increased by 30 per cent from 2012.’

Meanwhile, the island remains free of ash dieback disease. Mr Walmsley said DEFA was continuing to monitor the situation, with additional surveying work taking place in the spring.

He said that although large scale publicity in the UK press had died down, ‘the potential impact of this disease reaching the island remains significant’.

Legislation is in place preventing the import of all ash trees and ash products.

A claimant who alleged he was unfairly dismissed has had his case struck out by the employment tribunal which found he had behaved scandalously and unreasonably.

Anthony Adenaike was claiming unfair dismissal against Paddy Power (on-line) Limited because of alleged racial discrimination.

But tribunal chairman Dr Sharon Roberts allowed an application by Paddy Power’s advocate Christopher Arrowsmith to stike out Mr Adenaike’s claim because of his unreasonable behaviour.

Giving her decision Dr Roberts said: ‘I have no hesitation in finding that Mr Adenaike has not behaved in this tribunal courteously or civilly.

‘He has been insulting on many occasions and offensive. I have stated several instances of these in this decision.

‘These are indisputable I heard them myself. A transcript of the hearing will bear this out.

‘The leaving court behaviour was particularly extreme and occurred because I would not accede to Mr Adenaike’s wishes. Turning one’s back and ignoring a person, any person, is plainly lacking in courtesy or civility.’

Dr Roberts said Mr Adenaike had persistently interrupted the proceedings before noisily packing up and leaving while the hearing continued, despite warnings that his behaviour would be cited to support a striking out application.

‘Mr Adenaike turned his back on the tribunal and continued to pack totally ignoring my request that he respond,’ she said.

‘I have no hesitation in finding that Mr Adenaike has conducted his case in an unreasonable, disruptive and unruly manner. He has persisted to a point almost beyond patience of anyone.

‘I find that Mr Adenaike has used the tribunal to vilify others namely the advocates for the Respondent. There is no doubt he accused them of conduct, ploys, playing cat and mouse, playing hide and seek and victimising him. I do not find any evidence of a ploy, victimisation or cat and mouse games on the part of the Respondent`s advocates.

‘I find that not only has Mr Adenaike behaved scandalously, vexatiously and unreasonably, but that he has conducted the proceedings in such manner as well.’

A subsequent appeal by Mr Adenaike was allowed by Deemster Corlett. He said Dr Roberts had been wrong to strike out the case and referred it back to the employment tribunal for hearing before Dr Roberts.

However a further appeal by Paddy Power (on-line) Limited in the High Court confirmed Mr Adenaike’s action should be struck out.

The island has updated its lists of animals and plants listed under the Endangered Species Order 2011.

This controls the movement of various rare and endangered species on or off the island.

Controls cover live or dead specimens, but also products manufactured from listed species, such as items made from various exotic hardwoods, herbal products and elephant and walrus ivory.

The new lists within the order, which is managed by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, take account of changes made at the 16th conference of the countries signed up to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) which was held in Bangkok in March this year.

Changes to the list include the West African manatee, which is subject to multiple threats, and which has been uplisted from Appendix II to I (restricting international trade to non-commercial purposes).

New Zealand green geckos and the Mangshan pit viper have also been listed on Appendix II (requiring a permit for all international trade) and a number of terrapins and turtles in high demand in trade, or subject to overexploitation have been listed, or uplisted, due to further decline.

A number of hardwoods have been listed, many from Madagascar, but also rosewoods from south-east Asia and South America, and east African sandalwood, due to high levels of exploitation.

Some sharks and Manta rays have been listed, including the porbeagle shark. The finning industry is implicated in declines in some of these species, such as the oceanic white-tip shark and some hammerhead species.

On the other side of the process, a number of species believed extinct have been deleted from the lists, including one only described as a species in 1984, the Northern gastric brooding frog of Australia, and including a number of marsupials, such as the thylacine, pig-footed bandicoot and buff-nosed rat kangaroo.

The British Red Cross shop, in Castle Street, Douglas, has launched a naked calendar.

The calendar, on sale for £6.99, was the idea of assistant manager Amie Charmer, pictured above with volunteer Jean Atherton – who persuaded 12 men, including her fiancé, brother-in-law, cousins and even the charity’s shop window cleaner to feature. ‘We wanted to do something that was different and would get us noticed,’ she said.

Many of the pictures, taken by Kelly-Anne Drinkwater, were taken inside the shop, with the men’s modesty protected by everything from loyalty cards, balloons and collection buckets. Picture: MP130809 (63)

Standard Bank has appointed Jonathan Peake to the role of head of risk to develop and maintain a risk management framework for the Group’s offshore operations in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Mauritius.

Mr Peake’s primary focus is to ensure that the high quality of Standard Bank Group’s risk management policies and standards are maintained and enhanced. He will work closely with the Group’s Risk team in South Africa.

Mr Peake’s appointment has been welcomed by John Coyle the chief executive officer of Standard Bank Isle of Man. He said:‘We cannot underestimate the importance of risk management in today’s rapidly changing world.

‘There are lots of challenges that we have to face in our day to day work and in the search for new markets, and I feel confident that Jonathan will not only rise to those challenges but also use his excellent experience and technical skills to further consolidate our offshore operations.’

Prior to joining Standard Bank Mr Peake was head of risk management at Deutsche Bank International in the Channel Islands, where he gained experience of offshore banking operations.

He has also been a senior manager at KPMG Forensic Services where he was recognised as an emerging leader.

Mr Peake led several large investigations, including one into a $400m Hedge Fund fraud. He originally trained as an accountant.

Mr Peake is a keen runner.

He also enjoys playing football in his spare time.

Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets and earnings.

Hundreds of new jobs and a boost to the Manx economy worth millions is predicted with the development of the island’s ICT sector.

Rushen MHK Laurence Skelly said: ‘If I was a betting man and if I wanted to put a bet on an industry that’s going to be the biggest growth for the Isle of Man I would say it is ICT.’

But the challenge facing the island is a shortage of people with the skills to work in Information and Communication Technology.

A top-level strategy committee, a joint government and business liaison, has been working hard on the issue and it can now be revealed a project to develop the derelict Castle Mona site as an International Centre for Technology is ‘dead,’ confirmed Mr Skelly.

Instead it can now be confirmed the Nunnery, already host to the International Busiiness School, could be the best location for such a facility as part of the drive to boost ICT in the island.

Rushen MHK Mr Skelly, with a role in the Department of Economic Development, told Business News The Manx Educational Foundation (MEF) which was set up as a charitable trust, had been ‘looking to the Castle Mona as a potential site’ (for an international centre for technology).

But he said: ‘It would appear after considerable research and analysis of that site (Castle Mona) there are a number of complexities to that, to the point that I can confirm that (the plan) is now not going to happen. The deal at the Castle Mona is now dead.

‘The MEF, it’s their responsibility to find the right location that fits them. We as government are here to try and support and facilitate it. And we want to explore options and one of those options undoubtedly has to be the Nunnery.

‘We are still working with our colleagues in education who already utilise this facility (The Nunnery) so it already has planning consent, shall we say, for education. It’s a prestigious location and we need to think that the plan for a local ICT university was not just for local people but to try and import students here on the Isle of Man.’

Mr Skelly said the growth of ICT would fit in with the strategy of having a diversified economy in the island.

‘We in this department (DED) are tasked with growing the economy so our job is to try and create and facilitate that. We recognise a skills shortage was the biggest problem of going forward. We do need to tackle the wider promotion and perception of this industry but we felt that if we created an ICT educational facility that would fit the needs of the Isle of Man economy that would be pretty much our holy grail.’

IT consultant Steve Burrows said: ‘If we don’t have the capability to grow our own skills here then we have to compete. There are more than 100,000 unfilled vacancies in the UK, over 700,000 unfilled vacancies in ICT in the EU; there is huge competition for these skills. There is a significant skills shortage.

‘Unless we can grow our own we are competing against those people.’ Around 1,248 people are employed in ICT in the island and the strategy, hammered out by a top-level committee for the last year and a half, forecasts around 400 to 500 new jobs in ICT by the years 2017/2018.

Mr Skelly said that would be a ‘massive boost for the Isle of Man economy. We have done an awful lot of research to come to this. It is not something new borne out of an idea on the back of a fag packet. This is the great thing about ICT. We have gathered up a lot of evidence to support this strategy and that is a key point. It’s a joint strategy of business working with government.’

The Isle of Man Four Wheel Drive Club was host to visitors from across the Irish Sea keen to enjoy the Manx countryside and extensive off-road network.

Around 10 members of the Red Rose Land Rover Club visited the island for a long weekend of green laning.

The Four Wheel Drive Club’s chairman, Richard Crane, said the group had stayed in one of the seafront hotels in Douglas and a number of members of the group had simply enjoyed the various tourist attractions around the island.

‘The trip was blessed with sunshine for most of the time and about 10 Land Rovers were accompanied on two full days of laning all over the island including restricted use of the upland greenway roads, courtesy of Highways,’ Mr Crane said.

‘In total nearly 30 lanes were driven, about half of what the Island has to offer and it included the first drive up the recently opened Mount Karrin Greenway.

‘As expected, seeing the island at its best in the sunshine from places most don’t get to see was a real treat for all, especially from the Surby Carnanes Greenway looking over the Calf and south of the island.’

Dean Spencer from the Red Rose Club thanked everyone for their welcome and added: ‘Thank-you again from me and our club for hosting a fab weekend and yes we will be returning as soon as possible too.’

The club has a close connection with the island as its founder’s wife has relatives here.

Bank of Ireland Group is to wind down its subsidiary in the Isle of Man, Bank of Ireland (IOM) Limited, expecting it to close by August 31, 2014.

Following a strategic review, the Bank of Ireland Group announced it will close its Isle of Man branch in a year.

As a result of the decision the bank is no longer accepting any new customers or new deposits.

The bank has said that all customers will be contacted in the next few weeks with more details on how this will impact them.