The Tynwald building will be lit up in red on Saturday evening in support of the island’s HIV Support Group’s ‘Turning the Island Red’ campaign on the eve of World AIDS Day, Sunday, December 1.

In addition, a candlelight vigil will be held and prayers said outside the building from 9pm.

Ahead of the event, Lee Clarke-Vorster and Tony Watterson of the HIV Support Group presented the President of Tynwald, Clare Christian, with a red ribbon - the universal symbol of HIV awareness and support - encrusted with red crystals.

Mr Clarke-Vorster , who is also the founder of the Manx Rainbow Foundation, said: ‘We are so very grateful to Madam President and Mr Speaker for their support and for granting us permission to turn “the Wedding Cake” red for one night only as part of the Island’s contribution to World AIDS Day. We are also delighted that the president has agreed to wear the ribbon, a move we feel sure will inspire the Isle of Man community to show their support for those living with HIV and pay respect to those lost to the virus.’

Mrs Christian said: ‘Mr Speaker and I applaud the efforts of the Manx Rainbow Foundation to promote HIV awareness campaigns, challenge the stigma of the condition and support those living with the virus. To this end I hope illuminating the Tynwald building red on November 30 will lend visibility to their campaign.’

Last week we {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-are-to-wear-red-ribbons-on-aids-day-1-6255132|reported that the island’s police officers were to wear red ribbons to mark World Aids Day}, which prompted a lot of comments on our website.

The Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence took place on Thursday night at the Villa Marina in Douglas.

During the glittering ceremony, hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis, winners were announced in 16 categories.

After picking up each award, representatives of the winning firms were then interviewed by Julie Blackburn.

Featured on the attached video are:

First Names Group award for Charity Cultural and Social Enterprise: Joint winners, Crossroads Care and Peel Traditional Boat Weekend.

Celton Manx award for Business Person of the year - Chris Gledhill

Claremont Hotel award for Customer Service - Lloyds Bank

PokerStars award for Volunteer of the year - Derek Peters

Isle of Man Advertising and PR award for Company of the Year - Manx Gas

Friends Provident International award for International Business of the year - G E Aviation

Microgaming award for Marketing and PR Effectiveness - Isle of Man Golf Tours

Isle of Man Government award for Freedom to Flourish - Isle of Man Post Office

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Awards for Excellence winners’ interviews (part one)

Cheers and tears at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence ceremony

The winners in Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence

Karma Urban Yoga Studio is celebrating a major expansion following its move to new premises in the heart of Douglas.

The business has re-located to a newly converted studio on the second floor of the Peter Luis building on Duke Street, giving clients a stunning, contemporary base from which to practice.

The studio has two light and airy training rooms, one of which is smaller to allow for the teaching of courses or more intimate groups and private lessons, a changing room and spacious reception area.

More than 20 group classes a week are taught there, including popular lunchtime sessions.

Karma was launched seven years ago by one of the island’s most renowned teachers, Sammie Walker; the move marks a 50 per cent expansion in the business’s footprint and means the delivery of more classes, specialist courses, teacher training and events can now be facilitated.

Its increasing popularity with Manx residents meant it outgrew its previous base in Douglas.

Organisers say Karma is unique in its approach to teaching and its ‘urban’ feel, with a focus on fitness and personal relaxation, dispels the myth that yoga is simply a religious practice. It places a strong emphasis on development of the anatomy, core strength, mobility and flexibility rather than meditation, in a non-religious and non-competitive environment.

Its clients range between 20 and 80 years of age, and four levels are catered for from ‘absolute beginner’ to ‘advanced’.

Classes are very dynamic, designed to allow clients to push themselves and work to their own level, with class numbers being small enough to allow for more personal attention from teachers.

Sammie, who began teaching nearly 20 years ago following the birth of her first child and who trained in Canada, is excited by the continuing rise in popularity of yoga.

She said: ‘Yoga truly gives a health and lifestyle benefit, and I think people are more aware of the importance of having personal time and fitness in such a 24/7 society.

‘The popularity of our lunchtime sessions with corporate clients proves this.

‘Yoga makes people sharper and more positive both mentally and physically, and is fantastic for reducing stress levels and building confidence.

‘It can also be developed into a high intensity cardio and weight-loss workout if desired, or simply a calming and more mobility-based practice.

‘It’s very easy to fit into peoples’ lifestyles, and for them to adapt to suit their own needs which is another reason why I think it’s becoming more and more popular.

‘It is also an incredible amount of fun and very inclusive, which is important if people are to integrate this into their lifestyles.

‘I am delighted we have been able to open our new studio in the Peter Luis building and offer even more choice to our clients, as well as to other yoga fans in the island.

‘I am looking forward to welcoming our existing clients to Karma, as well as those who want to come for a tour and find out more about practising yoga.’

Greeba Powell is a long-standing client of Karma and said: ‘I met Sammie when she opened Karma seven years ago – I’m one of the originals! I started practising yoga in 2000 and studied it in London.

‘When I returned to the island I was looking for someone practising Ashtanga yoga or a similar discipline and thus met Sammie, and studied under her for two years.

‘I’ve never looked back, and after my baby is born in March I will begin teaching at Karma.

‘Sammie is truly an inspiration and that is why Karma is so popular.

‘It’s fun, and you can be pushed to your own personal limit while still having a smile on your face, and that’s really important.

‘Karma is almost a halfway house between traditional yoga and the gym world, and I know it’s non-intimidating and friendly environment will continue to prove popular with Manx residents.’

Karma offers a wide range of classes, courses, payment options and packages.

Anyone who wants more information can log on to:

www.karma-iom.co.uk or call 663300.

Have you ever felt inspired to explore the environment beyond the Manx coast line?

Because if you have, you can take the plunge courtesy of the Isle of Man Sub Aqua Club.

The club, which celebrated its 50th anniversary a few years ago, is starting its latest training programme by offering try dives as a taster for anyone curious to try out the sport in the safe environment of a swimming pool.

Club chairman Clive Bush said: ‘We are so lucky in the Isle of Man because we have such a great variety of dive sites easily accessible, from from wreck dives to scenic dives, shore dives and dives further afield using one of the club’s two ribs.’

The club is hoping to attract not just people who have not dived before but also anyone interested in taking the sport up again after a lay-off, perhaps having trained abroad on holiday and now wanting a refresher course.

Clive added: ‘I think people would be surprised at the variety of wild life in the water here, such as seals and basking sharks and much more. I’ve dived in the Med and for sheer variety of marine life I think the Isle of Man is better.’

The try dives take place at King William’s College swimming pool on December 1 and 15 and all equipment will be provided. The 2014 training programme starts early in the new year for anyone inspired to take it further and a basic diving qualification should be obtainable by the spring. Formal training starts off with pool sessions when students work with instructors to become familiar with equipment and safety procedures and practise basic skills before venturing out to some of the more sheltered open water dive sites. The club is also intending to start snorkelling training for children in the new year.

For more information about try dives or any other training, contact clive-bush@manx.net or call 464218, or paulleneghan@manx.net call 495931.

The prosecution has outlined its case against the Attorney General in a case that’s currently taking place in Douglas.

Today’s Manx Independent reports the case on the front page.

The paper also includes:

- Some shocking photographs of Laxey’s tram station. We report why it looks like a bomb site.

- An interview with Phil Drowley, the police officer who’s scaled eight of the world’s highest peaks.

- A description from media worker Paul Moulton of Manx Radio, in which he says the station has ‘lost its moral compass’

- News about food banks collecting for the island’s needy this weekend.

- A follow-up to the Manx Independent’s story last week in which the paper revealed that six phone boxes were likely to be scrapped. Now a campaign has started to save them

- A story about the Market Hall in Douglas and plans to turn in into an education base

- The latest on the Flybe situation. The airline says its only profitable destination from the island is Manchester.

- News that a sex disease is to be screened.

The paper also includes its feature-led Island Life section, including two pages of What’s On and 10 action-packed pages of sport.

We have not allowed comments on this story because of the Attorney General’s trial, which is continuing and must not be prejudiced through comment in the media.

A chlamydia screening programme will be introduced in the island from next year.

But in the House of Keys, Health Minister David Anderson was pressed on why he would not agree to condom machines being introduced in secondary schools to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Lib Van Peter Karran (Onchan) asked if he would develop a trial screening scheme, similar to that in the UK, with pharmacies setting up a free, confidential chlamydia testing service by post.

Mr Anderson said it would not be a trial but a definitive programme with the intention of having it implemented by March next year – although that date might be ‘slightly optimistic’, he said.

He told MHKs: ‘The department has been in the process of considering the most cost-effective way of implementing chlamydia screening locally. Three options have been identified and these are being evaluated. The options are primarily about the actual test being carried out.’

Mr Anderson explained that some steps would need to be brought in – such as publicity, treatment, partner notification and treatment – whatever option was selected for carrying out the test.

He continued: ‘Pharmacists will be involved in providing advice and publicity for the screening programme and act as a distribution point for test kits and in providing treatment.

‘The local pharmacists have been enthusiastic in participating in the screening programme and one of our representatives has been working with public health in introducing the programme.

‘In short, I can confirm that a chlamydia screening programme will be introduced with participation from pharmacists. It will not be a trial but a definitive programme which obviously will be modified in the light of changing circumstances.’

He pointed out that the scheme is already operating in the UK.

Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) welcomed the move but wondered where the funding was coming from.

Mr Anderson replied that he hadn’t got definitive costs but he didn’t think the cost implications would be extensive – and that it was going to save money in the long run.

Leonard Singer (Ramsey) called on the Minister to reconsider his stance on condom machines in high school as sexually transmitted disease infections were ‘prevalent’. Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) added: ‘Prevention is better than cure. Will he reconsider the policy on banning condoms?’

The Minister replied that he was not going to change the current policy, adding: ‘I believe education is better than cure.’

In a written reply to a Keys question from Zac Hall (Onchan), Mr Anderson said it was not possible to ascertain the number of teenage pregnancies as some would result in miscarriage or off-island terminations. He could confirm, however, there were 40 births to teenage mothers in 2011-12, 18 last year and six so far this year.

Ramsey’s swing bridge will be closed for a lot longer than first anticipated.

Planned maintenance work began in September and was expected to be completed by Christmas.

But this week it was revealed by the Department of Infrastructure that the condition of part of the internal mechanism of the bridge is worse than expected – and it’s now hoped that the work will be completed by the end of March.

At the beginning of the project, engineers from the DoI aimed to repair damaged and worn parts of the mechanism, after it was discovered operational parts of the bridge were misaligned.

However, during the opening up and dismantling of the structure, they found that the construction of the central pier was not as indicated on the record drawings and that the condition of the operating mechanism was worse than expected.

This resulted in the need to undertake additional works to the stone pier and a need to reassess the work required to repair the operating mechanism.

The bridge deck was lifted earlier this month following extensive strengthening of the central stone pier and work to dismantle the operating mechanism is progressing.

The DoI apologises for the continued inconvenience caused by the works and thanked residents for their patience.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, visited St Mary’s School, in Douglas, as part of his four-day visit to the Isle of Man.

The senior Vatican official is pictured with the cast of the school’s key stage two pantomime.

During his visit, he celebrated mass at St Mary of the Isles Church, in Douglas, and met members of the public for a coffee and a chat in Coffee Republic.

He also met Chief Minister Allan Bell and Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood.

Cardinal Napier also went behind the scenes at Isle of Man Post Office’s Integrated Mailing Solutions, which processes all of the European donation payments for his charity the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban.

Manx Radio has lost its moral compass.

That was the claim made by broadcaster Paul Moulton to a Tynwald select committee assessing the future of public service broadcasting in the island.

Mr Moulton repeated his call that the BBC should be funding public service broadcasting. And he said the committee should put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to find out how much it was spending in Guernsey and Jersey, which both have BBC radio stations.

The case should then be put to the corporation that they should spend the same, per head, in the island.

Ron Berry, 3FM managing director, was questioned on his proposal to merge the island’s three radio stations, Manx Radio, 3FM and Energy FM as a Manx Broadcasting Corporation.

Its submission led to a Tynwald debate on the issue being adjourned last October.

Mr Berry said it was intended as a ‘discussion document’ to stimulate debate.

‘I’m not saying this is the way it should be,’ he said. In fact, his main priority is to secure 3FM’s licence, which is up for renewal next year.

When asked by committee member Zac Hall (Onchan MHK) whether he believed Manx Radio – which receives an annual subvention from government – had an unfair advantage, Mr Berry said: ‘I think there’s times when it can be, yes.’

The committee, chaired by Castletown MHK Richard Ronan, was set up to examine the policy, delivery, cost and scope of public service broadcasting.

A food bank to collect provisions for the needy will take place over the weekend

Shoppers in Douglas will be invited to donate food in the Neighbourhood Food Collection between Friday, November 29 and Sunday, December 1.

Tesco’s Douglas store in Lake Road will be handing out a specially selected shopping list to people when they enter the store. They will be asked to pick up an item of food, such as long-life milk, cereal, tinned foods and tea and coffee, before donating it at the end of their visit.

The collection is for the Isle of Man Food Bank which launched this week.

The organisation’s chairman, David Gawne, said: ‘We have four strategic partners providing the services: Housing Matters, the Salvation Army, the Office of Fair Trading Counselling Service and the Department of Social Care.

‘The number of people needing food doubled between 2011 to 2012 and we expect it to happen again this year.

‘Our partners will be providing many services to help people, not just food.

‘Anything raised will be used in the island.’

The Salvation Army’s captain, Simon Clampton, described the level of poverty in the island as ‘shocking’ recently.

Mr Clampton said: ‘This year so far we have helped 444 people, from January to October. Last Christmas we helped 1,397 people with food.

‘I don’t think there is a simple answer as to why people seek help. We certainly treat people on a case-by-case basis.

‘We also offer help with fuel payments, furniture and clothes too.’

Joanna Chapman, of Housing Matters, said: ‘We act as a referral agent for the Isle of Man Food Bank.

‘Our referrals have increased by 20 per cent.

‘It’s not just about giving people food though, it’s also offering them help with things like debt management and budgeting.

‘Or we can help by giving them a referral to careers if they are struggling to find work.

‘Our main aim is to help people out and reach out to those who are in need.’

Tesco is joined by food banks charity the Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare for the collection to the Isle of Man Food Bank.

Douglas store manager Steve Forbes said: ‘Our customers were incredibly generous when we held our last food collection in the summer, so we’re hoping to collect an even bigger total this time around.

‘In the run up to Christmas we want to do our bit to feed those in need.’

BBC1 show Songs of Praise, filmed in St German’s Cathedral, will be aired this Sunday, December 1, at 5.15pm.

The episode was filmed in October along with a second episode that will be shown in next March.

Pupils from Peel Clothworkers’ will be among those to feature on Sunday.

A cash-strapped government department, which is facing a £500,000 budget overspend this year, forked out more than £225,000 on creating its new Pullman-style dining experiences train.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Graham Cregeen justified the spending in a written reply to a House of Keys question - saying it was estimated the dining car initiative would generate extra net income of £50,000 a year.

He was replying to a question from Zac Hall (Onchan) who asked whether there was a business case and cost-benefit analysis of the project.

Mr Cregeen said: ‘The department decided to take up a business opportunity to provide a unique dining experience for visitors, residents and business by converting these carriages into dining cars. This has created 66 dining spaces.’

The biggest cost has been to convert an old ‘Empress’ boat train van into a kitchen car, which Mr Cregeen described as the ‘unique feature’ of the dining train. Total upfront cost over the last two financial years was £149,369, which included ‘schematics, body overhaul, bogies overhaul, new wheels and kitchen fit-out’.

A further £46,576 was spent on overhauling an existing saloon bar carriage which was already planned for overhaul as it had woodworm.

And three other saloon carriages dating back to 1905 have so far been converted for the dining train at an extra cost of £9,900 per car - although the Minister didn’t give a figure for the refurbishment cost.

All the work was done with the DCCL’s existing budget through minor capital works with no additional funding requested from Treasury, he stressed.

Mr Cregeen said the main elements of the kitchen car had a life expectancy of 15 years and the carriages themselves would not require major overhauls for at least 30 years.

He said the dining train was an ‘obvious next step’ on the back of the success of the Snaefell dining experience.

The Minister said: ‘The department conservatively estimates additional net income of around £50,000 each year from the dining car initiative, which when marketed as corporate hospitality is a major income generator for heritage railways throughout the UK. We cannot afford to stand still but we must be clear and sure of our priorities and where we invest in the future.’

He said the DCCL’s calculations were based on a modest 3,334 bookings a year. Initial feedback had been ‘more than positive’, he said, adding: ‘The dining car is proving to be an exciting new facility.’

IMGold, the Douglas-based gold bullion depository and trading company, has appointed Sara Findlay as head of operations.

Responsibilities in her new role include vault management, office security, customer services, key partnership relationships, and operational finance.

Sara grew up in the Isle of Man and has spent the majority of her career in the offshore financial services industry.

This includes 10 years working for the fund administration business of one of the world’s largest banks in supervisory and management roles.

Sara also has extensive experience dealing with corporate and high net worth clients and has worked in the UK and Europe in business development roles.

Sara said: ‘The fact that IMGold is the first business of its type in the Isle of Man was a major factor in my decision to join the company.

‘It’s exciting to be part of a brand new venture, and to play a key role in developing a unique business concept here in the island.’

Ed Pearce, IMGold managing director, said: ‘With a small but dedicated team at IMGold the role of head of operations is a critical one in our business model.

‘We’re delighted to have recruited someone with Sara’s experience and skillset and she will make a significant contribution to the growth of the business.’

IMGold is the trading name of Isle of Man Bullion Ltd which can buy, sell and store gold and silver bullion.

Based in Victoria Street, it has offices and below ground vaults which are electronically protected and monitored by G4S with security systems equalling or exceeding industry standards.

IMGold offers depository facilities to both small and larger-scale bullion owners with amounts from 500g.

Customers also have the freedom to visit IMGold’s premises and withdraw, deposit, or purchase bullion for their holding at any time.

For more information go to www.imgold.com or call 888 888.

One of the island’s radio stations has won an award from an industry body.

Manx Radio has won the North West category of the Radio Academy’s 2013 Nations and Regions Awards for stations serving under a million people.

However, when asked about other entrants, Caroline Evans of the Radio Academy said: ‘I cannot say whether they were any other entrants.’

That information was confidential, she said, and the Radio Academy would not release it.

{http://www.radioacademy.org/events/nations-regions-awards-2012/nations-regions-awards-2011/nations-and-regions-awards-2010/nr-awards-09/|In 2009, the Radio Academy did publish other nominated stations’ names and a volunteer-run station based in Greater Manchester was the other nominee.}

Neither of the island’s other radio stations, 3FM and Energy, entered the competition.

Manx Radio will now go forward into the Station of the Year (under 1 million) category at the 2014 Radio Academy Awards.

The Academy’s verdict on the station was: ‘A station which works hard to deliver a broad and comprehensive service to its audience. Proudly local, but with a world view, there’s a real depth to Manx Radio and a huge passion and dedication to deliver for their audience, but all the while demonstrating excellence across the board.’

Manx Radio competes against commercial media in the island for advertising revenue but is also subsidised by the taxpayer. According to the station’s website, 45 per cent of its £2m annual costs are paid for by the state.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto tomorrow (Saturday) from 10.30am until 1.30pm at Onchan Methodist Church.

Morning coffee and light lunches will be served together with various gift stalls, cakes and crafts.

If milk is stolen from your doorstep, the police want to know.

They have issued an appeal for information about the crime after a theft in Douglas.

In the early hours of Tuesday, several pints of milk were stolen from outside the newspaper shop on Brunswick Road.

A police spokesman said: ‘We would like to take this opportunity to remind all stores and persons who receive milk to arrange with Isle of Man Creameries to have the delivery secured.’

Constable Mike Griffiths said milk theft was a growing problem and that people needed to be more security conscious.

He also said that it was ‘essential’ to report the crime to identify patterns and trends in local areas.

The police sent the picture above and said: ‘You do not need to go to the extent as pictured however, a lockbox would go some way to deter thieves from taking your milk.’

This year’s Santa Dash is to take place on Wednesday, December 18.

The event will see an important change to the route.

The event’s organiser, the Isle of Man Bank’s head of community investment, John Lindon, said: ‘The works by the Department of Infrastructure on Loch Promenade have meant we have had to amend the Victoria Street section of the course. The change has been approved by the police.

‘Instead of going all the way down Victoria Street, as in previous years, the competitors will turn left and enter the lane at the rear of the Royal Bank of Scotland building and then onto the promenade via Villiers Square. After that everything will be as normal - along the promenade and up Church Road to Finch Road, finishing at the entrance to the South Douglas Old Friends Association.’

As the diversion will make the course slightly shorter it has been decided that even if the fastest-ever times are broken they will not count as new records.

The men’s best of four minutes 20 seconds was set by Kevin Loundes in 2011 while Rachael Franklin’s time of five minutes five seconds last year is the quickest to date by a lady Santa.

Entry forms are available in any branch of Isle of Man Bank or by downloading from the bank’s website.

They must be returned to John Lindon at Howard Pearson House in Victoria Road by December 17.

Competitors should be aged 18 or over and running on behalf of a Manx-registered charity.

Participants can raise individual sponsorship for their chosen charities but on-course collections are not permitted.

The Isle of Man Bank will be putting up £2,900 worth of prizes.

Cheques for £300, £200 and £100 go to the first three finishers with £100 awarded to the first lady Santa. There will also be rewards of £100 each for the best dressed Santas and, in addition, 20 spot prizes of £100 each for pre-determined - but secret - finishing positions.

The dash starts from the bank’s premises in Athol Street at 12.30pm but competitors must sign in at the South Douglas Old Friends’ Association, Finch Road, from 12 noon.

That is where each competitor will receive a goody bag at the warm-down reception and where the results will be announced.

Action should be taken to reduce the speed of traffic in Castletown before there is a serious accident.

This was the warning made by residents David and Brenda Brown, whose request that the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) impose a 20mph speed limit on the majority of the town’s roads was rejected by the department.

The Douglas Street residents said the speed of traffic on their street alone has ‘definitely’ increased in recent years, they, and other residents, feel action should be taken.

The town’s local authority is sympathetic to their stance.

Last year, Mr and Mrs Brown made a similar request to the department, but it fell on deaf ears. Prompted by a similar action in Peel, where the local authority’s suggestion for a 20mph limit on all but major arteries was also rejected by the department, the Browns reiterated their request.

‘The DoI have said “no” to Castletown and now “no” to Peel,’ said Mr Brown. ‘Collectively, we need to continue the pressures on the DoI to listen to our concerns, through the various local town commissioners and their respective MHKs.

‘It is a very serious matter and the DoI must put public safety at the top of their agenda. Pedestrians throughout the island are now at risk of serious injury with the increasing number of vehicles on our narrow town roads and the deteriorating standard of driving.’

Mrs Brown added the town has four schools meaning there are a lot of children negotiating narrow pavements.

‘What is needed is some common sense from the DoI to change their position on the introduction of 20mph in residential areas. It works well in many towns and cities across,’ said Mr Brown.

He suggested 20mph be painted on the roads with signposts and ‘twenty’s plenty’ written on them.

In response to their latest bid to impose the limit, Kevin Almond, network traffic and transportation manager at the DoI’s Highways Division said there were no reported personal injury road traffic accidents on any of the residential streets within Castletown within the last three years.

‘Speed data collected from various residential streets shows that only a very small percentage of drivers travel faster than the post speed limits.

He said that the majority of drivers travel within the speed limit so the department ‘would not support creating additional 20mph speed limits within Castletown at this time’.

Mr Brown said: ‘We are all very disappointed as we had the full support of Castletown Town Commissioners and from many residents in the town.

‘It looks as if there has to be a number of reported accidents before any action is taken by the Highways Division, which is baffling as the purpose of our proposal was to prevent accidents happening in the future with a minimum cost factor for signs, etc.’

We should know in the next two to three weeks which routes Flybe will retain and which will go when it closes its island base.

But there’s also a question mark over early morning flights on surviving routes if the airline chooses not to stable aircraft here overnight.

Questions about Flybe’s plans to close six regional bases including that at Ronaldsway from the end of March next year dominated this week’s House of Keys sitting.

Questioned over the impact of the closure, Infrastructure Minister David Cretney said despite looking to shut the base and make most of its island staff redundant, Flybe is keen to stress it will continue to fly scheduled services to and from Ronaldsway.

But Mr Cretney, who alongside Chief Minister Allan Bell raised concerns at a meeting with the airline’s chief executive office Saad Hammad last week, added: ‘At this stage the company has not declared which routes it will continue past March 31, 2014. I believe this news will be forthcoming over the next two to three weeks and until their determinations are concluded we can only speculate on the effect this may have on businesses and tourism.’

Mr Cretney said the company was forced to make drastic cuts to try to secure the future of the business as a whole.

He said Mr Hammad had made it clear that only one of its routes out of Ronaldsway is profitable - the Manchester route.

He told MHKs that Mr Hammad was asked if there was an opportunity for island-based staff to transfer to the Manchester base but be permanently rostered to Manx routes - allowing them to continue living here, save on redundancy costs and provide savings on overnight stays incurred by nightstopping aircraft using Manchester crews.

The Minister said: ‘The chief executive said they would look at this proposal. However, it would be dependent on how the aircraft were scheduled as it is unlikely one aircraft would fly to and from Ronaldsway the whole day as happens now.’

It is understood, however, that Mr Hammad told staff during his visit last week there are no plans to stable aircraft here overnight. If all aircraft have to fly in from the UK first, this could have an impact of early morning services.

Mr Cretney told the Manx Independent: ‘He spoke about the costs of overnight staying here but I don’t think anything is finalised yet.’

He said his department was also talking to a number of alternative airlines should Flybe choose to drop some of its routes.

This would include the patient transfer service to Liverpool, for which Flybe signed a three-year contract, worth £1.6m a year, only in September.

He told MHKs: ‘We made it very clear to Flybe that we understand there’s an obligation. However, if it’s obviously going to change in some way we understand others may be able to take up such a service.’

Mr Cretney said he had met on Monday with senior executives from BA CityFlyer and remained confident of a ‘satisfactory outcome’ to talks over restoration of early morning flights to London City, a service currently cut to one flight a day.

Questioned earlier about the impact of Flybe’s base closure, Treasury Minister Eddie Teare voiced misgivings about a suggestion that governent should set up an airline run on a franchise basis.

‘I would be very concerned if government became involved in an airline company. There would be a temptation to interfere in schedules and fares,’ he said.

The island has endured a year of bad news about its air links.

All links to Scotland have ended.

Flybe is to pull out of London Gatwick in March next year, removing four flights a day from the airport.

While EasyJet has increased its, the flights will be less frequent and at less convenient times.

BA CityFlyer has reduced its London City service from three times a day to one.

CityWing has pulled out of Leeds and Oxford.

Secluded by tall trees, Laxey tram station has always exuded an air of timeless charm - the silence between arrivals and departures broken only by the cawing of the rooks.

But the site presents a very different scene today as contractors moved in as part of £678,000 ‘improvement’ scheme.

With the rails ripped up and a number of trees felled, it looks more like a bombsite than a hub of the island’s historic rail network.

Tynwald approved funding for project to replace aging trackwork at last month’s sitting amid warnings that without these vital engineering works the Manx Electric Railway would be forced to close for good. The scheme will also allow the first phase of the Laxey regeneration to begin.

But enthusiasts fear heritage is being destroyed - and the station’s unique atmosphere lost forever.

Manx Electric Railway Society spokesman Richard Dodge said: ‘It remains this Society’s concern and fear that plans for Laxey station, as approved by the planning authority, will effectively destroy the character and ambience of the station and do nothing to enhance the passengers’ MER experience.

‘Although at the site clearing stage, this is already in part evident through the felling of a number of trees and creating a distinct and obvious hole at the point where a ‘hatchet’ shaped walkway is to be created, robbing the station of its secluded timeless charm.

‘But this is just the start. If proposals are fully implemented the area is to be given a modernistic makeover with wholly inappropriate materials and street furniture more suited to a newly built out of town shopping centre than a Victorian station in a conservation area.

‘Comments from the DCCL Minister that money for such an approach is currently not available are largely irrelevant, planning approval has several years until expiry and there is nothing to suggest that funding won’t be found from the railway’s budget or elsewhere in a future financial year.

‘This whole unfortunate episode highlights a lacklustre approach to a rich Manx heritage by a seemingly unconcerned government. Rather than destroying what the island should be proud of, efforts should be concentrated on promoting the island’s unique heritage worldwide.’

No one from the DCCL was available for comment. It is understood that a number of trees have been cut down to make way for a pedestian walkway to a proposed new ‘Town Square’. The rustic-looking station building and kiosk will be retained.