Chris Walmsley has come a long way since the horrific accident which left him with severe injuries in 2006.

Now, the expertise and equipment which is being used to help him on his long road to recovery is being made available to others.

His mum, Carol, has set up Hope Home Care Limited and taken on premises at Harcourt Drive in Balthane industrial estate, Ballasalla.

The facilities were brought in with Chris in mind but Carol said others may benefit from them too.

‘We are offering care in the home, as are others I know, but specifically brain injury care as our staff are all trained in this area,’ she said.

‘We can offer care to anyone who needs it – from the cradle to the grave as the saying goes, and one of our team members is highly experienced in child care.

‘That’s not to say we will only care for folks with a brain injury though – we want to offer a range of care to anyone who needs it, and we are fortunate in having many contacts with specialists, not only here but in the UK too, so we can tap into specialist training as and when necessary.’

Facilities at the unit include a therapy room equipped with a standing frame, therapy tables, hoist, slings, treadmill, vibration plate, multi gym, exercise bike, trampette and floor mats.

Carol said the ‘star of the show’ was the hydrotherapy pool and jacuzzi, which Chris, aged 35, went in for the first time earlier this month.

‘He absolutely loved it, he relaxed and really enjoyed it. I’m so proud of him and I’m convinced he’s got much more to give.’

There is also a shower, toilet and kitchen facilities, as well as a training/meeting/conference room.

Chris is now in the standing frame at least three times a week and he is doing chewing exercises.

The family saw a big step forwards a couple of weeks ago when he wiped his mouth with a towel several times.

For more information, call 827917.

Tynwald has approved all but one of the recommendations of an inquiry into the government’s bail-out of the Sefton Group.

Controversy surrounded the bail-out deal announced in April last year, in which government approved a £1.3m loan repayable over five years and a £3.2m sale and lease back agreement for the Middlemarch site (on the corner of Lord Street and Walpole Avenue in Douglas).

At the time, Chief Minister Allan Bell said it was designed to prevent the debt-ridden group from going under.

It later emerged the Sefton Group had been given an earlier government loan of £450,000 April 2012 to clear the company’s significant debts.

The Economic Policy Review Committee’s brief was to consider whether government acted within the law and within existing scheme guidelines and codes of practice.

It concluded ‘the government acted in a manner which stretched its powers to the limit – and, we think, beyond’.

There will now be a review of the law to government to support a company which falls foul of the Enterprise Act 2008 over payment of income tax and national insurance, but, where there is no suggestion of dishonesty.

The Financial Assistance Scheme guidelines will be reviewed to set out more clearly the process for handling applications for support by enterprises that are in financial difficulty.

And the Enterprise Act will be re-examined, with a view to creating a better framework for supporting businesses on the island.

A recommendation that Treasury should examine the situation in respect of the Sefton Group and the impact on local businesses who did business with it, on a quarterly basis failed.

The Council of Ministers had argued it would be ‘entirely inappropriate for the Treasury to monitor the many trading relationships of any private sector enterprise, let alone a PLC, with its creditors’.

Douglas South MHK Kate Beecroft (Lib Van) had called for the committee to re-examine the issue, saying there were still ‘loose ends’.

But her amendment failed to get sufficient support.

The company behind The Abbey Restaurant at Ballasalla has been given the green light to develop the former Hop Garden at Santon.

Bravo Foods Limited’s application for a ‘small, high quality country hotel with bar and restaurant facilities, small function suite and associated ancillary accommodation’ was approved by planners.

The company says its plans are a ‘natural next step in its expansion’ following its success at The Abbey.

The work involves refurbishing the original building on New Castletown Road and demolishing the outbuildings.

These are described as being ‘completely out of keeping with the context’.

The refurbished original building would then be extended and connected to areas of new-build, including a one and three quarter storey annex building.

The Forge will feature 22 bedrooms while about 170 patrons could be accommodated in the bar and restaurant.

A courtyard will be created, with views across one of the two ponds on site and towards woodland.

In the design statement it says it will ‘create significant employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, to local supply chain partners’.

The bid was approved with a condition that before work starts, measures to mitigate the potential impact of flooding are approved by planners. There are two interconnected ponds on site, fed by Crogga River.

The Salmon family announced in March 2013 it had sold the business after running it for more than a decade.

Professional IT services company Skanco Business Systems Ltd is seeking to expand its business in the Isle of Man with the appointment of Dee McLoughlin as business development manager.

Over the last five years as a sales account manager at Skanco, Dee has managed and developed some of its top accounts, focusing on driving new projects through and introducing new products to the island’s businesses.

Managing director David Butterworth said: ‘With the island’s economy continuing to grow, we’re looking to increase business and we see Dee as a crucial part of this.

‘During her time at Skanco, Dee has proven to be a key asset to the company and we’re delighted that she has taken on the challenge of this new role.’

The position will see Dee build on her experience, proactively focusing on new business development within both Skanco’s existing customer base and new businesses on the island.

Dee said: ‘I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to develop new business for the company and am very excited to be working alongside such a strong and dedicated team.’

For the second year running, Dee will be responsible for co-ordinating Skanco’s IT Showcase, which takes place at the British Hotel’s Embassy Room in Douglas on February 27. The event will see many UK specialists from respected IT vendors such as Microsoft, HP, Symantec, Veeam, VMware and Citrix on hand for appointments and drop-ins, offering first-hand advice to attendees.

Dee said: ‘This showcase is an opportunity for our customers and the island’s IT professionals to connect with market leading vendors either on a one-to-one basis or simply to find out about new products or solutions arriving on the market this year.

‘The event shows once again that although we are a local company, Skanco can offer globally recognised specialist solutions to island-based companies.’

Graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a Sports Science degree, Dee began her career as a trainee recruitment consultant in Leeds, West Yorkshire, focusing on new business generation. 

Over the six years with the ATA Group PLC, she worked her way up to running the Manchester team. 

Dee moved back to the island in 2008 and started working at Skanco as an account manager. 

Dee added: ‘From day one, Skanco has given me the tools to succeed in my role, from providing access to the continuous technical training required to support our clients, to funding professional courses such as marketing at the International Business School.’

Skanco’s core business is providing complete IT solutions to businesses on the island.

It has continued to develop since its inception in 1985, in particular over the past five years, as a result of growing the expertise and skills within the technical team and the training and development of a successful and confident sales team.

The owner of a business which operates from the picturesque Tholt-y-Will glen says a forthcoming road closure will have a devastating effect on her trade.

Susannah Goodson, who runs the Tholton Tea Room wheat-free patisserie, said the closure from March to May, to rebuild a retaining wall at the side of the road, coincided with two of their potentially busiest weekends of the year.

Writing on the social networking website Facebook, she said: ‘As it stands at the moment there is no access, including for pedestrians or walkers. I don’t know what arrangements are made for residents.

‘It’s 10 weeks of trading just wiped out. I have already bought stock for opening in early March. I can’t believe this. Somebody doesn’t want our business to succeed.’

Speaking to the Isle of Man Examiner, she said: ‘I don’t know who decided this and how long ago but it was a bit of a shock to find out from the road closure notice in the local paper that we can’t open at the normal time.

‘May Day Bank Holiday weekend and Easter week can be very busy, one of our busiest periods if the weather is good. It will also affect the Bistro upstairs. I’m told by the contractors that the minimum is about eight weeks if the weather is good but it is likely to be nearer 12.

‘I was planning on opening in March as usual but now it’s not feasible until the road has reopened. I live in Sulby so my drive in would be much longer.’

Mrs Goodson added it would have been quite possible for the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) to contact her via the telephone number displayed on the tea room or by putting a message through the letterbox, but nothing was received.

‘We rent the building from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and we will be asking them for some kind of compensation,’ she said.

Karl Meier who runs the Bistro in the same building at Tholt-y-Will was also worried by the closure: ‘It doesn’t so much affect my business as destroy it. I have a list of 70 or 80 regular customers to call and tell them we will not be opening in March as planned. The road is closed for three months: I don’t know where I go from here. I have to remain closed for the three months while the work is done because in practice they close the Mountain Road so often – bad weather, fallen trees, roadworks, accidents. Then it’s questionable if it’s worth opening just for three months in the summer.

‘The government have known for two or three years the work was needed and if they had told us, it would not have been a problem, but now we have bought stock. I also have to tell two staff there’s no job for them.’

Ian Hutchinson who lives at Tholt-y-Will and whose family also owns and rents out Corrody Cottage said the DoI had been in contact with them to warn of the impending road closure.

He said they did not expect any major impact on the holiday cottage bookings but he added they had some worries about access to Ramsey and Douglas because all journeys would be via the Mountain Road while the work was carried out.

‘Travel to Ramsey is pretty much unaffected for us whether it’s over the mountain or via Sulby. The problem could be that the closure is at a time when we are most likely to have snow which could close the Mountain Road. We have been assured that every effort will be made to keep the road open.’

Nigel Foster, highway services manager, confirmed the A14 Tholt-y-Will Road to Sulby Glen would be closed for vehicle or pedestrian access by Tholt-y-Will plantation from 6am on February 19 to 6pm on May 19, but could reopen sooner if work is completed ahead of schedule.

The closure is to allow repairs to be done to the retaining wall below the road.

He pointed out the affected area at the side of the road has been coned off for some months and that access to properties will be maintained, as well as access for emergency vehicles.

Parking is suspended on the closed section of road and the alternative route is via the Mountain Road.

Imported milk and bread could be served in school meals as part of a cost-saving policy to centralise services, critics claim.

Ramsey Commissioners have written to Chief Minister Allan Bell urging him to ensure government tenders only for produce that is locally sourced.

During the Budget debate this week, Michael MHK Alfred Canann said the government’s procurement policy was wrong and needed to be changed back.

The Chief Minister announced last month that catering services would be brought together within the new Department of Health and Social Care as part of a move to share government services with the aim of saving more than £4m a year.

In his letter to Mr Bell, Ramsey Commissioners clerk Peter Whiteway said: ‘It is understood this process will mean the cessation of supply to Ramsey Grammar School of produce from local butchers and the local bakery, that this position will similarly apply for other schools in Peel and Castletown, and it has been suggested that the centralised tendering process may permit the importation of meat and bakery produce from off-island.’

Mr Whiteway said the commissioners viewed the proposals with ‘grave concern’ – not only because of the need for a varied and nutrious diet for school children but because of the ‘considerable’ impact this may have on local suppliers.

In Tynwald, Mr Cannan said local suppliers would be ‘cut out of the loop’. He said: ‘It appears it is the cheapest option or nothing, even if that means buying bread and milk from the UK. As a Manxman I want to see local industry succeed, as a resident I want to see my towns thriving and as a parent I want to know my children are eating locally grown, healthy food. This particular procurement policy is wrong and must be changed back.’

Centralised procurement was introduced in 2010, generating significant savings. It is understood that most suppliers have been local. It is the management of catering not the production of meals being centralised.

In a written reply to a Tynwald question, Mr Bell said some island secondary schools have stopped using Manx bread. He said there was no government policy requiring departments to use Manx produce. The prison, too, has stopped using Manx bread as have some care homes.

A row has broken out between Peel’s MHK and a Peel Town Commissioner after the recent requisition meeting held over the controversial ‘toilet tax’.

In an email sent to Tynwald, members of the Legislative Council and the press after the meeting, Peel commissioner Ian Davison accused the town’s MHK Tim Crookall of saying that ‘he had already agreed with Mr Bell, was voting for the tax and he did not care what his constituents thought and that if he was wrong this would reflect in the next [general] election in 2016, if he stands for re-election’.

Mr Crookall responded in an email to Mr Davison, also copying in politicians and press.

He strenuously denied that he had made such a statement during the meeting, saying: ‘I categorically state that at no time at all did I say “I do not care what my constituents thought”, also, I did not say anything about “if I stand for re-election”.

‘What I did say was that the constituents would judge me at the next election.’

Mr Crookall then asked Mr Davison to retract the statement.

But Mr Davison has replied to the request in a further email, saying: ‘I am unprepared at this time to retract any words that you disagree with, which you say were not the words you used at the requisition meeting, until I speak again with the people at the meeting who put this particular question to you and ask them again for clarification.

‘The recollections were written with consultation with some of the people at the meeting who asked you questions.

‘I will ask the television people for a copy of the recording made and then a decision can be made based on exactly what you did, or did not, say and if any of the comments need to be retracted then they will be.’

Mr Davison’s email went on to say: ‘I did hear at the meeting that decision had been agreed by the Council of Ministers of which Mr Bell is the Chief Minister, it therefore seems that you have agreed with Mr Bell on this decision does it not?

‘Or are you prepared to stand against him and vote no?

‘If there was care for what the constituents thought, you would have asked their views first, and stood with what the majority of the constituents voted you in to do, which is represent their views.’

A petition against the tax, with more than 6,300 signatures, was handed to Tynwald on Tuesday (see page 3).

The commissioner also confirmed that he and Peel’s Geoff Birkett had responded privately to Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK over an issue regarding his inability to attend last week’s requisition meeting.

Other members of government that did attend the meeting were Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw and Michael MHK Alfred Cannan.

Port St Mary Commissioners’ recycling initiative, in which Douglas Council collects recyclable waste at various places in the port on Saturday mornings, will be extended for a year.

The trial began in December and in week one it was used by 41 people. Over Christmas, the numbers dropped to 21 people (on December 21), and rose to 42 people on January 25. 
The amount of paper dropped off has ranged a week from 60kg to 140kg; plastic from five to 40kg; glass from 20kg to 80kg; steel cans from eight to 32; and aluminium cans from two to four. The total amount recycled so far (to February 15) weighs 2,115kg. 
The amount recycled (in reduced refuse costs) equates to £86.89 in 2013 alone; given the rise in waste disposal costs at current levels this will equate to £244.45 by 2018.

Last week, the authority wrote asking the council to extend the trial for a year, but become fortnightly collections (from March 15) and rationalise the rounds, so the vehicle remains longer at more popular spots and does not visit those less well used.

The incentive for reducing waste is soaring disposal charges at the incinerator.

Plans for establishing a credit union on the Isle of Man will be unveiled next week at a meeting of the Positive Action Group at 7.30pm on Monday at the Manx Legion Club, Market Hill in Douglas.

The Manx Credit Union Working Party, accompanied by guest Dawn Vear, Operations Manager of UK Credit Unions Ltd, will give a presentation on the benefits of a credit union and how it differs from high street banking by offering a more ethical way of saving and low-cost alternative to other forms of borrowing.

At the same time the group will launch a public ‘expression of interest’ campaign to test demand for such a service among the Manx population.

Credit unions are non-profit member-owned community organisations typically offering savings accounts and small loans from pooled deposits. Interest rates are usually more favourable than other providers as there are no external shareholders to pay and any surplus is invested back into the credit union’s services.

Chairman of the Manx Credit Union Working Party, David Talbot, said, ‘Credit unions have been fantastically successful in other parts of the world where they offer ethical and affordable financial services and information to local communities. We have long felt there is a place for a locally based credit union on the Isle of Man which really addresses the needs of the Manx community but current legislation makes it difficult to set one up.

‘We hope that by explaining the benefits of a credit union we will gain public support for this idea and encourage Manx politicians to bring financial legislation up to date so it allows the inclusion of the credit union model.

‘We are very fortunate to have Dawn Vear in attendance – Dawn has a great deal of experience in the establishment and management of local credit unions throughout the UK, including Northern Ireland, and will be on hand to dispel any myths and answer questions people may have.’

The group has set up a website www.mcu.im which has links to the expression of interest form and more information on credit unions.

Admission to the meeting free.

The organiser of an island-based beach cleaning programme has described their volunteer workforce as ‘simply fantastic’ and has appealed for more helpers this weekend.

Bill Dale of Beach Buddies said that the response from their volunteers and residents in the area made last Sunday’s effort at Port Grenaugh ‘one of the best events we have ever organised’.

The 39-strong team collected 26 bin bags of rubbish along with oil drums, fishing gear, traffic cones and half a fibreglass boat as they tried to clear the beach after recent storms.

Mr Dale said: ‘With so many volunteers we absolutely blitzed the place in no time. Inside an hour they 
had turned a truly horrendous sight back into a 
beautiful beach, totally clear of rubbish.

‘I think that in more than seven years of running beach cleaning events, this is probably the most effective session we have ever organised. Each and every one of our volunteers has to be praised for setting an example and inspiring others to do the same.’

Beach Buddies provided the team with litterpickers, gloves and bin bags and disposed of the rubbish afterwards, recycling it wherever possible.

Mr Dale reiterated his call for new volunteers to take part in the next Beach Buddies events, taking place in Castletown and at The Lhen this weekend: ‘When you’re a new volunteer you don’t really know what to expect, but Sunday morning was an example of just how truly satisfying and fulfilling it can be to give an hour of your time and see what, collectively, a group of people can do to make a difference to our island.

‘We transformed one of the island’s most lovely small beaches, everyone had a smile of their face and we all went away feeling great. What more do you want from life?’

For tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) event in Castletown, volunteers should meet at the car park near Hango Hill at 10.30am where the team will be divided into two groups which will separately cover Castletown and Derbyhaven beaches.

On Sunday morning the team will meet at the car park close to the beach at The Lhen at 10.30am. New volunteers of all ages are always welcome.

The Manx Stars in Your Eyes team raised £14,000 at November’s sell-out show at the Villa Marina – and cheques have been presented to two local charities.

The money raised has been split between two charities: Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, to fund free heart screenings for people aged 14 to 35 to detect heart defects, and the Manx Youth Band and Manx Concert Brass, which continues to provide the island’s children with musical tuition.

This amount will take the grand total raised by Manx Stars in Their Eyes to just under £200,000 since the event began 2000.

For the first time the singers were backed by a full brass band instead of a backing CD.

The event was won by Jack Divers with his performance as Bobby Darin.

Pictured are, from left, organiser James Proudfoot, Paul Healey from Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, organiser Scott Christian, Richard Skinner and Peter Smith from Manx Concert Brass and organsier Paul Moran.

Six local screenwriters are a step closer to seeing their scripts become reality as the shortlist for MannIN Shorts’ 2014 screenplay competition has been selected by former Hollywood reader and author Julie Gray.

The shortlisted screenplays are ‘Battle of Ronaldsway’ by James Franklin; ‘Soul Funk Mix Tape’ by Adrian Hall; ‘The Three Legs of Diddy’ by Gary Tyrer; ‘Muck’ by John Craine; ‘Breathless’ by Shawn Sturnick and ‘Chips, Cheese n Gravy’ by Kevin Ford.

Three of the six projects will be made into short films this year by MannIN Shorts, the film training and production scheme for new and emerging film-makers in the Isle of Man. The completed films will be previewed at the Isle of Man Film Festival in September before being submitted to international film festivals.

Mrs Gray, the author of the acclaimed ‘Just Effing Entertain Me: A Screenwriter’s Atlas’, was greatly impressed by the quality of the entries: ‘I was absolutely thrilled at the creativity, originality and uniqueness that I saw in the scripts. The Isle of Man is a gold mine - Hollywood better watch out!’

The writers of the six screenplays, chosen from a field of 46 submitted to the contest, must now attach a producer and director to their projects before a production package is presented to a panel of judges in March. The panel will include representatives from the Arts Council and Isle of Man Film alongside professionals in the fields of directing, writing and producing.

Mrs Gray, who blogs for the Huffington Post and runs online courses in screenwriting through her website, added: ‘I always thrill when I read a good script and the sheer number of them in this competition blew my socks right off. This validates for me what I have long held - that Hollywood does not have the corner on creativity and, in fact, it is in places like the Isle of Man that we can find stories that are heartfelt, unique and meaningful.’

Commenting on the extremely high standard of work, MannIN Shorts’ Dave Armstrong said: ‘We’ve always been confident of the high levels of talent in the creative industries over here, but it’s brilliant to have our convictions confirmed by someone with such experience and industry credentials as Julie. We wish the best of luck to all the writers who entered the competition.’

Police cracked down on vehicles with defects this morning on the main routes from the south of the island to Douglas.

A total of 12 of the vehicles checked had various defects. One van was scrapped as a result of the checks and two vehicles had damaged wing mirrors.

Officers were working with staff from the vehicle testing centre based in Tromode.

More checks will be conducted around the island next week.

Earlier this week, officers checked vehicles passing Creg-ny-Baa in Onchan.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/nine-vehicles-with-light-defects-1-6449160|That story is one of the most commented-on this week on iomtoday.co.im. Click here for a reminder.}

This Saturday, the Erin Arts Centre, in Port Erin, plays host to Unplugged: A Celebration of the Acoustic Guitar and Other Instruments.

This event sees the likes of Chris Gray, Matt Creer and Tim Cass to Pete Woodman, John Gregory and other special guests performing. The event is being held in order to raise funds for Manx mental health causes.

I spoke to event organiser, John Gregory, to get his view on how it’s all coming together. ‘The ticket sales have gone through the roof and the event is already sold out, which I’m absolutely thrilled about,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted that we’re going to have more than a 130 people there on Saturday. We’ve put in extra seating, as the demand for tickets has been so high.

‘We’ll also be raffling a guitar that was signed by Davy Knowles recently. I should point out that the guitar isn’t one from Davy’s own collection, but was actually given to me by Chris Ewan, who’s a best selling author who lives here on island, so it’s great that we’ve got that to give away. Davy’s dad, Tony, is going to be playing a couple of numbers with me on the night.

‘All of the musicians are donating their time for free, which is extremely kind of them, because I do realise that they could be doing their own paid gigs.

‘Both Matt Creer and Chris Gray have been in the studio this week working on their respective albums, so they’re both taking time out from that as well.’

There is a reserve list, just in case any tickets become available. Please email bluejohnmedia@hotmail.co.uk or call John on 204320.

• Now for something a little different. This Saturday Amber, in Douglas, plays host to a relatively new group, Lava El Elefante. This band can be comfortably described as a lounge act, however there’s much more to it than that. Yes, there’s the expected sprinkle of Sinatra and the Rat Pack, a smattering of jazz and swing, but musically they also take you via the Great American Songbook, and further still via some more contemporary acts. Having heard their rendition of No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age, played in a jazzy, Latin style, I can certainly attest to that.

Support on the night comes from It’s My Shadow, an acoustic due comprising of ex Maldune/3 Million guitarist, Alex Cowley and Simon Gilman. These two are also making waves on the Manx music scene having just released their five-track mini album, Orbiting The Sun.

The doors open at 8pm and the event is free entry.

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmuring, news and views on forthcoming events from in and around the Manx music scene each week in the Manx Independent. Email stories and pictures to leachsteve@hotmail.com

A Valentine’s Dinner Dance held at the Palace Hotel, in Douglas, raised more than £3,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Everyone enjoyed a romantically themed evening, enhanced by a sumptuous three-course dinner, a little bit of magic from Chris Burns and great music – thanks to DJ Dave Kelly who kept guests dancing until 1am.

Breakthrough event organiser Sandy Denning thanked everyone who supported Saturday’s event, including sponsor Moore Stephens and those who donated raffle prizes.

Meanwhile, tickets are on sale for a Neil Diamond tribute act billed as being one of the best in the UK. Mike Leigh’s Diamond Nights will perform at Peel Centenary Centre at 8pm on Saturday, March 22.

Thanks to sponsor 4Hire, all the proceeds will be going straight to the charity.

It will feature the favourites from this popular American performer, from the powerful and uplifting songs of the jazz singer to the haunting soulful ballads that have made Neil Diamond the legend that he is.

Buy tickets (£15) at www.centenarycentre.com or from Celtic Gold, Peel; Shakti Man, Ramsey; Peter Norris Music and Thompson Travel, Douglas.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education with the aim that one day there will be the real possibility of a future freed from the fear of breast cancer.

Organisers of ManxAid’s annual carnival fun day are looking for groups, charities and organisations to take part in the event.

The fun day will take place at Noble’s Park, Douglas, on Sunday, May 4, from 11am to about 5pm.

And Wendy Douglas said she expects this year’s event to be ‘bigger and better’.

‘We are looking for charity stalls, arts and crafts, writers for our writers’ corner, artists and photographers for our exhibition section, people in the mind, body and spirit area, market traders and Farmers’ Market, car boot sellers, children’s entertainment, live entertainers, dance groups, gymnastics, martial arts, schools, youth groups, in fact just about anyone who has any type of cottage industry, small business, charity or organisation,’ she said.

The charity is also keen to hear from potential sponsors, and anyone who wants to lend a hand on the day.

Contact Wendy on 331367 or email manxaid@manx.net

For years this house in Douglas has been a blight on the life of neighbours in Prince’s Street in Douglas where it has been neglected and decaying for more than a quarter of a century.

Despite efforts from the council, the property has now reached a point where it may be beyond salvage according to one Douglas councillor.

Councillor Ritchie McNicholl, who is chairman of the environmental services committee, told the Manx Independent: ‘It is one of the properties that gives us the greatest cause for concern because it has been dilapidated for about 30 years.’

Mr McNicholl added the property is overlooked by the offices of Capital International and he was concerned at the poor impression this creates of Douglas and of the island in general.

‘We keep taking them to court. We have not been idle. I believe the owner does live in the island, but nothing gets done. It is falling down now: there are holes in the roof, the outlet has fallen in and the pigeons have taken over inside,’ he said.

In addition the property has an impact on the two neighbouring houses that form the terrace and these are now being affected by damp which can permeate through the party walls.

‘It’s frustrating for us, particularly when we take someone to court and still nothing gets done,’ Mr McNicholl said.

One option open to the council is to carry out repairs needed on the property and then place a charge on the property to recoup the money when the house is sold at a future date, however Mr McNicholl said this was not always a viable option: ‘It can be costly and money is only recovered once a property is sold, which may be a lengthy process. We can spend money doing the work, which can prove to be very expensive. Then if the owner is not planning to sell the property, that money is then tied up until he does.’

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Is there a derelict property in your area which is causing problems and in need of renovation? Email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

Island highways boss Richard Pearson will leave his post at the end of March after four years in the job, it has been announced.

Mr Pearson said: ‘I have really enjoyed the Isle of Man, the people and the issues and hopefully I will leave the place in a slightly better state than when I arrived, although I am only one of many people who try to do that on a daily basis.

‘The government faces some very challenging financial issues and so I understand that it needs to reduce staff and cut costs and am happy to play my part having also benefitted from four years employment.

He added: ‘One advantage for my family and I is that we can be closer to ageing parents and if we had to move then my kids are the right age to do that now rather than delaying.’

In an email addressed to his colleagues he also said: ‘As some of you may know, and is evident now in the new structure, there are plans to reduce the number of directors.

‘Whilst this has only recently become more apparent to you, the issue has been around for over a year and this has made my position less tenable and more than a little worrying.

‘In this light I have been keeping an eye on opportunities ‘across’ and the government has recently refreshed the VRS scheme so this provided me with an option to seek another way forward.’

Infrastructure minister David Cretney said: ‘The work to merge highways and operations functions is coming to fruition on the 1st April and the outcome is a further reduction of a director post, at a saving of approximately £75,000. Anticipating this reduction, Richard has made the decision to relocate to the UK and the Department wishes him well.’

A cyclist required hospital treatment yesterday (Friday) after being struck by a van’s wing mirror.

The incident happened at around 4pm on the Poortown Road, near Peel.

The driver of the van stopped at the scene but did not leave his details.

If you are the driver or have information, contact Peel Police Station on 842208.

The Isle of Man’s Fairtrade Group is launching a fun detective trail to help celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, which takes place this year from February 24 to March 9.

The activity is open to everyone and involves tracking down Fairtrade goods which are sold in various outlets around the island.

There is a fairly-traded prize for the entry with the most locations visited and another prize for the most imaginative submission which could involve using Fairtrade labels, press articles or photographs.

Fairtrade Detective forms are available from the One World Centre, local libraries and the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas, Copies can also be downloaded from {www.iom.selectfairtrade.co.uk|here}.

The One World Centre pop-up shop in Duke Street, Douglas, will also be operating from Wednesdays to Saturdays in Fairtrade Fortnight.

Activities taking place there will include an opportunity to make Fairtrade banana smoothies using the Manx Co-operative’s Smoothie Bike.

Energetic riders will be able to pedal up a blend of bananas and fruit juice to make a super-healthy smoothie drink – and get some exercise into the bargain.

The Manx Co-operative will also be holding Fairtrade tasting sessions at the Duke Street, Douglas store on Wednesday, March 5 (2pm to 5pm) and morning of Thursday, March 6 (10am to 12noon).

Meanwhile, children who attended the One World Centre’s Fairtrade Conference last November will be putting their learning and ideas in to action with a selection of events taking place at schools around the island.

Special Fairtrade assemblies will take place at St John’s, Peel Clothworkers’ and Scoill Jubilee schools and tuckshops or Fairtrade stalls will be held at Arbory, Peel Clothworkers’ and Ashley Hill schools. First Malew Guides are also holding a Fairtrade workshop.

Local businesses are being asked to support the Fairtrade cause by holding Fairtrade bake-offs or competitions for the most original dish including Fairtrade bananas.

Recipe ideas are available from the Fairtrade Foundation website {www.fairtrade.org.uk|here}.

Bananas are a special focus this Fairtrade Fortnight. Currently only one in every three bananas bought in the UK is Fairtrade and the aim is to increase this proportion during 2014.

Produce showing the Fairtrade mark mean the farmers and producers, who often live in challenging areas of the world, have been paid a fair price for their goods enabling them to support their families and build sustainable farms and businesses.

The Isle of Man has official Fairtrade Island status in recognition of support here for Fairtrade goods and crafts. For more information on Fairtrade on the Isle of Man go to {iom.selectfairtrade.co.uk|here} or call the One World Centre on 800464.

Photo: Children at last year’s One World Centre Fairtrade Conference for primary schools have fun learning about Fairtrade bananas