Every penny donated to the Manx Grand Prix supporters’ club charity goes towards funding the rescue helicopter, providing medical equipment for use around the course or supporting injured riders.

The assurance has been given after questions were asked by some fundraisers who feared money donated may have been used to sponsor Wednesday afternoon’s lightweight/supertwin race when the supporters’ club name appeared on the race details in this year’s programme.

The allegations were made in an anonymous letter sent to Isle of Man Newspapers.

Club secretary Sally Wallis said she was happy to set the record straight and confirmed none of the funds raised was used to sponsor the event and no money was used except to fund the helicopter, support injured riders and fund medical equipment, as usual.

‘We work on behalf of the people who donate money to us,’ she said. ‘The last thing we want is to upset anyone who raises money for us. This was not sponsorship, it was just called The Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club Race in recognition of the past 39 years’ support we have given to the MMCC and to the riders. We as a group have not contributed any money at all to the running of that race.

‘What we did give was the usual contribution, which this year was £45,000, towards the cost of providing the rescue helicopter. Over the past 39 years we have donated £700,000. The last thing we want is for the general public to think that the money they have generously donated had been used in sponsorship.’

Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman Harvay Garton said: ‘It is very very important that people do not get the impression that they sponsored the race. We simply wanted to give them some recognition. A £45,000 donation was made to the helicopter fund this year and I can categorically state that’s exactly where all of it will go. It’s an amazing achievement from a small body of fundraisers and we simply wanted to put their name in lights in the programme. They do great work and long may it continue.’

A further allegation of ‘luxury hospitality at public expense’ was also refuted: two club members started the race and awarded the trophies and received a snack luch (no alcohol). This was not from club funds, Mrs Wallis said.

Corlett Bolton & Co. is to expand with the acquisition of the law practice of Judy Thornley Advocates in Port St Mary

It takes place with effect from January 31, 2015.

The southern practice will be enhanced with a wider range of services available to existing and new private and business clients, supported by the additional specialities and experience of a respected larger firm, with offices in Douglas and Peel.

Judy Thornley has been practising in Port St Mary for more than 21 years during which time she has built up a thriving and reputable business.

retiring

Judy, who will be retiring, said: ‘My aim has been to provide a convenient, high quality and personal legal service, particularly for the southern community, although we do have clients from all over the island and abroad.

‘I have a wonderful team of very experienced staff who have worked with me for a long time.

‘We like to make sure clients are put at ease and made to feel welcome.

‘It is a happy office and we have enjoyed a good relationship with many lovely clients who often return time and time again.

‘Corlett Bolton and Judy Thornley Advocates have many synergies, from the types of legal assistance we provide to the high standard of service we aim to give to our clients.

‘Our two practices share the same ethos when it comes to the way we do business and what we want to provide to the community.

‘I am delighted that Corlett Bolton will be taking over my business so that my clients can continue to be provided with high quality legal services in Port St Mary.’

Judy Thornley Advocates’ staff will join the team at Corlett Bolton ensuring that clients will be able to deal with the same familiar faces.

Corlett Bolton provides high quality legal services to private and corporate clients, such as litigation, family law including mediation and wills, property and business acquisitions and employment law.

The firm’s corporate services Company (CBAS Ltd) licensed by the FSC will also be available from the new Port St Mary office, with company administration, trusts and intellectual property services offered including preparation of annual returns and registered agent facilities.

Corlett Bolton will also bring their ‘Pay As You Go’ advice service to the south, assisting people in managing their legal bills.

Corlett Bolton director Sally Bolton, well known for involvement with boundary review changes, said: ‘We are delighted to announce the expansion of our business by taking on Judy Thornley’s practice in Port St Mary.

‘Judy and I have been longstanding colleagues and friends, having passed the Manx bar at a similar time in the early 1990s, so I deem it a great privilege to be entrusted by Judy to look after her valued clients.

‘We also look forward to welcoming her well respected members of staff to our team.’

As preparations are made to demolish another sea front property in Port Erin, commissioner Phil Crellin said he does not want the site to be turned into a storage area.

A plan to build 15 flats on the former hotel site is being considered.

Mr Crellin said other promenade developments have been left to look ‘like storage units’.

‘It made a mess of the promenade. It is unacceptable that contractors use the highway (for storage) ... to make it easier for themselves. I think it’s wrong.’

A court this week heard a woman claim that former Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis put his hands between her legs at a nightclub in the Isle of Man in the 1980s.

A jury at Southwark Crown Court was shown a recorded video interview with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Mr Travis.

The woman, who is not a complainant, said the alleged incident happened when she was working as a barmaid at the nightclub, where the DJ appeared some time between 1983 and 1985. She said she had taken a tray of drinks into a room that had acted as his dressing room when he grabbed her on the breast and between her legs.

‘I was dumbfounded, came out shaking,’ she said in the interview. She said she decided to report the alleged incident when she saw Mr Travis on television during a previous court appearance.

Cross-examining the alleged victim, Mr Vullo said she had ‘entirely fabricated’ numerous visits by Mr Travis to the nightclub, to which she replied: ‘That is not correct at all.’

Travis denies two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

The DJ, 69, is being retried on one count of indecent assault of a woman in the 1990s and another of sexual assault on a different woman in 2008 - after a jury failed to reach verdicts earlier this year.

The trial continues.

The number of people out of work in the Isle of Man dropped last month.

Figures released by the government this morning show that there were 904 people out of work at the end of August.

That compares with 934 at the end of July.

It’s also considerably down on the figure a year ago, when 1,028 people were out of work.

During the month 181 people signed on, but 211 signed off.

There were 629 vacancies notified to the Job Centre and at the end of the months there were still 320 held on file.

Often the people out of work do not have the skills required for the jobs on offer.

For example, there were 64 empty positions in healthcare, but only 12 with that background looking for work.

Two hundred and sixty three people out or work have never worked before.

The island’s unemployment rate is 2 per cent. In the UK the rate is 6.4 per cent, in the Republic of Ireland it’s 11.2 per cent, in Germany it’s 4.9 per cent and Spain’s is 24.5 per cent.

The Manx figure includes 12 people who need a work permit, 43 people under 18 and 43 people who are signing on for credit only.

It doesn’t include 37 people who are under 18 but not claiming benefit.

The largest number of people out of work in the island in August in recent times was in 1985. Then 2,023 were out of work. The lowest August figure was in 2001 when 182 were on the register.

Steam Packet bosses have expressed their frustration at a lack of ‘real progress’ in talks to renegotiate the user agreement.

Chief executive Mark Woodward has warned that unless agreement can be reached before early next year they will have no choice but to end the charter of the MV Arrow.

The MV Arrow was secured on long-term charter in April, to cover for the Ben-my-Chree during overhaul and to boost the fleet during the TT fortnight and at other times of peak demand.

But already it has been sub-chartered, for a period of three months, and is currently operating freight services to the Channel Islands for Condor Ferries.

Mr Woodward revealed the vessel was chartered as part of a revised user agreement that was being negotiated – but with talks stalled there was now a real possibility the charter could be terminated altogether as the cost could not be justified.

The user agreement gives the Steam Packet a guarantee of near-exclusivity over the government-owned linkspan. It expires in 2020 with an option to extend to 2026. The ferry operator is looking to negotiate a further extension and in return, commit to invest more than £50 million in new vessels and infrastructure.

Mr Woodward said: ‘The charter of MV Arrow was agreed almost a year ago to provide additional freight back-up capability and to ensure we were able to overhaul the Ben-my-Chree when needed.

‘At an annual cost of several million pounds, the vessel was taken as there are so few suitable vessels available – a number that is decreasing each year – and, crucially, on the understanding that it would be a key requirement in a revised user agreement package which we believed we would be negotiating with the Isle of Man Government.

‘However, while trying to get the government to engage for almost three years, no real progress has been made and the user agreement has not been amended.

‘As such, we cannot realistically justify the ongoing cost and, unless progress is made before early next year, we will potentially have little option but to re-consider the ongoing charter.

‘The Arrow is a freighter and can provide additional freight back-up capability when not in use elsewhere, and it can provide extra capacity for TT when integrated with the remainder of the fleet. However, in essence, it is a very expensive insurance policy for the Isle of Man and one that is not required under the current user agreement. Shipping operators simply cannot afford to have vessels on standby without earning and this is why Arrow has been sub-chartered this summer.’

Mr Woodward pointed out even if she had been available, it would have made ‘absolutely no difference’ to the recent Manannan sailing cancellation.

He said: ‘Technical issues which led to cancellations such as those experienced recently with Manannan are very rare, but all ships have component failures from time to time – in recent years both Condor Ferries and Northlink have had technical issues without direct back-up capability.

‘Regrettably, the majority of technical issues here in the Isle of Man in recent years have been caused by fishing gear ingestion in Manx waters which is beyond the control of the Master.

‘Over the past several years there have been repeated fishing gear ingestion issues, which have inconvenienced many thousands of passengers.’

Mr Woodward said the most significant contingency action to improve shipping reliability would be to strengthen controls of fishing pot activity in shipping lanes so as to reduce the likelihood of incidents.

He said: ‘We have raised this issue with the DoI on many occasions previously as controls on fishing gear in shipping lanes would greatly improve reliability for Manx passengers, and we will again discuss this issue with the new minister.’

A 16-year-old boy who sought help from the island’s drugs helpline after he became addicted to synthetic cannabis has warned others to stay clear of it.

Last month, the Manx Independent reported the Drug Advice Service and Helpline had seen a sharp rise over the summer in the number of cases of young people taking legal highs.

Calls came from parents worried about their children, adult users and in particular young people seeking help following bad experiences or feelings of dependency.

The teenager, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘I wouldn’t recommend it.

‘You think it’s fun to start with but you’ll find you end up using more and more and become addicted to it. Then you’re stuck using it.’

He described the rebound effects once it had worn off as ‘horrible’, adding: ‘How you behave affects your family.

‘You start pushing them away and all your money goes on your habit.

‘I’ve been seeing someone at DASH and since I stopped using it I feel more positive and my family trust me more.

‘Not using it makes me feel like I have control over my life again. It’s no longer the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning any more.’

DASH advises anyone currently using or thinking of using synthetic cannabis – sometimes marketed as ‘Herbal Incense’ – to get in touch and get some advice or help sooner rather then later.

The charity’s director, Shelly Stanley, said: ‘Synthetic cannabis is not a like-for-like substitute for cannabis.

‘It is a substance sprayed with artificial cannabinoids and smoked with the expectation that the user will experience the same effects as cannabis although in the majority of cases we have seen, that is not the case.

‘Brand names such as K2 and Spice are already banned in a number of countries due to the number of deaths and serious health effects caused.

‘Test purchases have found that not only do packets of these substances not contain those ingredients listed but also contain other, sometimes illegal, substances.’

Miss Stanley said that buying these products online was no safer than buying from a local dealer.

‘The substances are not regulated; the quality and contents are not guaranteed,’ she said.

Miss Stanley said ‘Herbal Incense’ can cause heart palpitations, increased temperature, psychotic symptoms in those with existing mental health problems, and has been linked with deaths in other parts of the world.

‘It is important if someone does insist on using it that they get the facts and information to make informed decisions first,’ she said.

‘Do not use it alone and make sure someone is there to call for help if needed.’

For confidential advice or information contact DASH on 615622 or email info@drugs.org.im

The fact that the two-day NATO Summit was held at Newport in South Wales last week was a little surprising but welcome.

The world’s leaders seem to be willing to spread themselves around a bit.

In that case it might have been a good idea for Chief Minister Allan Bell to nip across the water and invite them to come to the Isle of Man next time.

We have much to offer. For instance, there is that great, empty and apparently unwanted space on Douglas seafront, the site of Summerland. What we should do is level it all out as far as it will go and plant it out with grass.

Then we will be able to offer the leaders of the civilised world just what they need for their highly important debates, a level playing field of suitably impressive size.

Coming in at No l, of course, would be President Obama and, clearly, he would have to stay at Government House.

But only as long as the Royal Family aren’t coming. The Queen has first claim on bedding down in the royal suite.

It would also be nice to see the First Lady shopping in downtown Douglas on a Saturday morning. But where she would find a parking place I don’t know.

David Cameron would be welcome and, if he doesn’t still qualify by then, we might have Boris Johnson. He seems to like islands. He wants to build international airports on them, possibly the Isle of Man when he sees it.

But one thing which must be made clear to these world leaders is that they should pick their time carefully in coming over here with their wives and families and entourages in need of accommodation.

Don’t come in TT Week. We’ll be full up.

----------------------

In her BBC Radio 4 programme ‘The Reunion’ Sue MacGregor talked to journalists who launched Britain’s most popular tabloid, The Sun, and there was reference to Sun photographer Arthur Edwards, claimed to be the Royal Family’s favourite snapper. This prompted Sue to say his greatest scoop was ‘when he got Princess Diana pregnant’.

Now there’s a sign of royal favour.

----------------------

The Daily Telegraph headlined: ‘Driverless cars are about to hit the streets.’

And what else? Or should I say who else?

----------------------

A regular reader whose only identity is his email address tells me: ‘I’d like to nominate you, in your capacity as a minor Isle of Man celebrity, for the ice bucket challenge.’

That should make a splash in the Examiner.

----------------------

This week’s Manx crossword clue, sent in by Barbara Taylor, is from the Daily Telegraph Toughie, as follows: ‘Dependency on self? I am confused. (4, 2, 3) – ISLE OF MAN.’ (Look for the anagram).

----------------------

World headline seen in an American newspaper called The News and Observer: ‘17 remain dead in morgue shooting spree.’

Thisphotograph of a small car parked across two spaces outside a Spar shop in Douglas has come in from Keith Webb of Manor Park, Onchan, in response to my comments last week about the parking extravagances of drivers of outsize cars in the Isle of Man. The registration number can’t be identified.

But you know who you are, don’t you?

Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft MHK has hit out at the recently-announced increase in Manx Gas charges.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/business/mild-weather-blamed-for-rise-in-price-of-gas-1-6804336|As the Isle of Man Examiner reported on August 26}, Manx Gas, the only supplier of mains gas in the island, is putting the cost of gas up by 2.9 per cent per unit from tomorrow (Friday).

The standing charge is increasing by 3 per cent.

Mrs Beecroft said: ‘It appears that the Office of Fair Trading think it is acceptable for Manx Gas to raise prices their so that their profits are kept within the acceptable returns range established in a 2008 report.

‘This price rise is going to impact more on those with low and/or fixed incomes and, given that we do not have a definition of fuel poverty with appropriate measures of mitigation, this new price rise is going to have a significant effect on many of our citizens this winter.’

In the company’s justification for the price rise, it said demand had been lower than expected because of the mild weather.

An Office of Fair Trading investigation in 2008 concluded that Manx Gas was not making excessive profits. The company adopted a 10.6 per cent return on capital target and used that to calculate its latest price rise.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/gas-price-increase-does-seem-a-bit-odd-says-chief-minister-1-6817667|The Chief Minister’s reaction to the price rise}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/manx-gas-s-figures-make-sense-says-oft-1-6810980|The OFT’s explanation}

Isle of Man Bank is sponsoring the Award for Business Person of the Year at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Island director Bill Shimmins explains how the bank is developing leadership in a changing world, one of the key characteristics of a successful business person…

‘As a leader myself, part of my role is to support trends both in the market and within the company and I think to succeed in business you need to anticipate what your market is looking for and react accordingly,’ said Bill Shimmins.

Isle of Man Bank, like any other financial institution, has had to respond in recent years to a changing world. Some of the changes affecting banks are driven by technology and some by external factors like regulation. Customers, too, are changing both in their expectations and in the way they like to interact with their bank.

‘At Isle of Man Bank we’ve embraced some of the technological change – we offer mobile banking and we’re very active on social media and that’s been very successful for us. We now have over 4,000 followers on the Isle of Man Bank Facebook and Twitter pages.

‘That provides valuable feedback for us and enables us to engage with our customers in real time,’ said Bill.

Within Isle of Man Bank there are also significant changes in the workforce, more specifically in the widening range of ages of staff employed at the bank. From the Baby Boomers, to the so-called Generation X (35 – 50 year olds), Generation Y (born in the 1980s and 90s), and younger, there is no longer a one size fits all solution to career progression and motivation.

Bill said: ‘To a degree, there’s always been different age groups working together but they’re more pronounced than they used to be.

‘For me it’s clear that these kinds of multi-generations have got implications for all employers. It requires distinct management styles and work environments to get the best out of people and to get a really effective team.

‘That’s why we are very much focussed in the bank on leadership in this changing world,’

Clearly, people of different ages have different ideas about work life balance and career development and the bank has been finding solutions to deal with this diversity. These include the creation of the Aspiring Leaders Forum, which comprises representatives from the younger generations working in the bank.

‘The idea is to look at how younger employees can influence the business. It enables them to pitch ideas to senior management about working methods and it looks at how we can explore career progression and what barriers might exist to that now we have people working longer. It also encourages development outside the traditional hierarchical structure which we’ve been used to.

‘Alongside the Forum we’ve got a broad programme of internal and external learning development and engagement initiatives: events seminars, presentations and leadership programmes, including some professional qualifications.

‘The aim is to support our people becoming market leading experts and that requires a commitment on both sides. So, for example, our people on business banking teams are expected to undertake a minimum eight days of continuous professional development each year,’ explains Bill.

And he concludes: ‘I believe that if our people are informed and insightful they will provide solutions and advice and support to our customers to help them achieve their goals. Hopefully we are also helping to provide the support for our future “business people of the year”.’

----------------

Have You Entered Yet?

Business Person of the Year is one of 16 award categories at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence, offering opportunities for companies, individuals, public sector teams and charitable and cultural organisations to enter.

You can find full details and download entry forms at www.iomtoday.co.im/afe

Entries close on Friday, September 26.

Grant Thornton has appointed a new audit senior to its team in Douglas.

Emma Latham has joined the firm after more than three years with PwC.

She is the latest recruit to Grant Thornton in the Isle of Man following the recent appointments of four trainees and a new senior tax manager Raj Nandha.

The 24-year-old graduate, who is ACA qualified, said: ‘I am very much looking forward to working with the team here at Grant Thornton and the new challenges it will bring.’

take the lead

Emma will take the lead on a variety of audit assignments covering a wide range of different entities, from Government bodies to large trading companies.

A qualified chartered accountant, she will ensure that the Grant Thornton audit approach is applied consistently and thoroughly in performing audits.

Managing director Dennis McGurgan said: ‘Emma brings experience and great talent to our team and will further enhance our exceptional service to clients.

‘We have made a series of appointments in recent months, allowing us to continue to exceed the expectations of our growing client base and deliver the highest levels of service.’

It’s business as usual for Citywing passengers flying to Blackpool, despite an announcement the airport is up for sale.

Balfour Beatty, which bought the airport in 2008 for £14 million, has decided to sell its operating interests in the site as part of a wider decision to sell all its interests in regional airports.

But it will continue to own the land on which the terminal stands.

Citywing’s managing director, David Buck, said he was committed to the route.

And in fact, the frequency of flights could be increased on peak days from two to three a day.

Mr Buck said: ‘From my understanding the announcement won’t make any difference to us whatsoever.

‘And from our passengers’ perspective it’s business as usual. It wouldn’t make any difference to us if the airport does get taken over.’

Citywing runs twice daily flights between the island and Blackpool.

He said the route was performing so well that increasing the frequency to three flights a day on peak days – typically Fridays – was being considered for next year.

Following an increase in popularity for seats from Blackpool to get to the island for the TT Festival, Citywing is also looking at offering additional flights then too.

All passengers aged 16 years and over departing from Blackpool are required to pay a £10 airport development fee towards ‘infrastructure development and investment’.

Since its introduction in 2009, the airport says money has been invested on taxi-way and runways, car parks extensions, improvements to security and a new fire and operations centre.

The departure lounge has also been fitted with new carpets and toilets.

When asked if he would be in favour of a new owner scrapping the fee, Mr Buck said: ‘If it was scrapped it would give us something additional to assist in selling the seats.’

Balfour Beatty has invested almost £30m in the site since it took it over.

But passenger numbers have dropped over the years from a peak of around 500,000 in 2007, and the terminal has continued to make an annual loss, currently running at about £1.5m a year.

Manx Telecom’s customers will be able to use 4G on their Apple iPhones soon.

Many were disappointed that their ‘4G-ready’ handsets could not use superfast connections on the superfast network when it was launched, {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/business/iphone-users-stuck-in-the-slow-lane-for-4g-1-6759789|as we reported last month.}

After a software update due on Wednesday, September 17, customers in the Isle of Man with an iPhone that supports 4G will be able to use the service.

The Sure network will be updated to provide 4G services later in the autumn.

One of the island’s longest established independent financial advisers is moving to new premises in a former menswear shop.

MBL Financial has been in business in the island for 28 years.

The doors to the new premises opened this week at the site in Victoria Street, Douglas, which was the home of Garrey Corneil before moving to Strand Street.

The company says the move shows the confidence it has in the market for mortgages, pensions, investments, personal protection and savings.

The company says it signals the beginning of an exciting era for the business with the recruitment of new staff to bolster its already experienced team, providing access to modern products and initiatives.

Matty Evans, sales director at MBL Financial who has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial advice sector, said : ‘Our ethos at MBL is to make financial advice as accessible and straightforward as possible.

‘It’s essential that clients feel comfortable when they call in to talk to our advisers – and the relaxed surroundings of our new offices will play a vital part in achieving that goal.’

The senior members of the MBL team also include financial consultant Andy Corkill, who has more than 25 years’ experience as a financial adviser. He has many long-standing clients who have benefited from his trusted advice on pensions, investments and mortgages.

John Shields has 20 years’ experience as a consultant, and for the last 15 years he has specialised in all aspects of mortgage advice and arrangement.

In addition, he provides personal protection advice associated with mortgage finance, including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection.

Leeanne Keary has worked as a paraplanner for 10 years, and her role is to support the advisers and assist them in providing the best possible solutions and service to clients.

MBL’s new premises on the corner of Victoria Street and Duke Street sees the company returning to the tradition of a High Street financial adviser.

Dance music disc jockey Judge Jules will be performing at a Douglas nightclub next month.

make an exclusive appearance at Tahiko nightclub on Friday 3rd October.

The event, on October 3 at the Tahiko nightclub at the Palace Hotel in Douglas will be open to over 18s only and take place from 11pm to 4am.

Judge Jules has hosted his own Radio 1 show, performs often at clubs and dance events, and continues to play the popular ‘Judgement Fridays’ nights in Ibiza throughout the summer season each year.

A multiple award-winning artist, Judge Jules has received accolades including Best DJ at the Muzik Awards, Best International DJ at the Dancestar Awards and Best Radio DJ at the Smirnoff Dancestars.

He is also well-known as a producer and broadcaster, as well as having mixed a number of hit DJ mix compilations for Ministry of Sound, Universal and Warner Bros, including the legendary MoS Annuals, Clubbers’ Guide, and Trance Nation, racking up over three million compilation sales.

Sefton Group marketing manager Nicola Wilkinson said: ‘We are really excited to be welcoming Judge Jules to the Isle of Man next month, and we can’t wait for what is sure to be a fantastic night. Tickets are available now for £10, so we hope that the island’s clubgoers will snap these up as early as possible to avoid disappointment and join us in giving Judge Jules a warm Tahiko welcome!’

Tickets for the event are on sale at River Island in Douglas and the Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino reception desk.

Approval has been given to plans to build a fishing complex with lakes, a cafe, four holiday cottages, an educational facility and landscaping at Ballgyr Lane in Peel.

The applicant, Sunset Lakes Limited, whose office is in Castletown, say that they aim to create ‘a tailor-made, professionally managed angling centre’ as they say there are no coarse venues on the island.

In the UK over four million people participate in coarse angling.

The site will comprise of three lakes totalling around six acres in size. Each lake will have purpose built angling platforms to allow easy access to the water.

Each lake will have a different planting scheme and stock different levels of particular fish.

There will also be a learning centre, containing a classroom, fish tanks and other wildlife learning aids, providing the opportunity to learn about wildlife and ecology. An outdoor wildlife-dipping pond will also be created to be used by school fieldtrips.

The cafe will be towards the back of the building, with panoramic windows to give views of the lakes and countryside.

Four two-bedroom holiday cabins will be created onsite, styled around a log cabin theme.

The whole site totals 15 acres and is currently used for occasional grazing of cattle, sheep and horses.

The lakes will take up approximately 40 per cent of total area of the site.

Work must start within four years of the approval being given.

Tracey Bell, Isle of Man is pleased to introduce a new dentist Dr Razvan Savu.

He has 13 years’ experience in cosmetic dentistry and root canal treatment under the microscope.

Dr Savu is an experienced restorative dentist who has a special interest in endodontic (root canal treatments), cosmetic dentistry and dental implantology.

Dr Bell said: ‘It is a great pleasure to introduce and work together with an experienced and well known face of European dentistry. 

‘With his broad vision, passion and technical skills in dentistry, he is a real asset to the clinic and patients.’

Dr Savu brings many new technologies and treatments to the island and to British Isles dentistry and starts with root canal treatments under the microscope which greatly improves their standard and quality. He will work from the Ramsey practice with weekly appointments also available in the Tracey Bell Douglas Practice for endodontic treatments.

Dr Savu said: ‘It is extremely exciting to work with such a professional team which is totally dedicated to its patients and determined to give the best care possible.

‘I look forward to putting all my dental knowledge into Tracey Bell clinics and to treating and making all the patients happy.’

The Tracey Bell group will introduce digital dentistry and specialist services within the next six months. The practices are in Douglas, Ramsey with a new site due to open in Casletown in 2015.

Digital dentistry involves the introduction of CAD /CAM ­ an acronym for computer­aided design/computer­aided manufacturing.

It has been used for decades in the manufacturing industry to produce precision tools, parts and automobiles. It has been increasingly incorporated into dentistry over the past 20 years.

As the materials and technology available for CAD/CAM dentistry have improved over the years, so too have the restorations that patients can receive from this form of dentistry. Today’s CAD/CAM restorations are better­fitting, more durable and more natural looking (multi­colored and translucent, similar to natural teeth) than previously machined restorations.

Dental CAD/CAM technology is available for dental practices and dental laboratories, enabling dentists and their staff (or a laboratory technician) to design restorations on a computer screen.

The CAD/CAM computer displays a 3­D custom image of patient’s prepared tooth or teeth obtained by digitally capturing the preparations with an optical scanner. Alternatively, the 3­D images can be obtained by scanning a traditional model obtained from conventional impressions of the preparations.

The Tracey Bell Clinic is also to install the first CT Bone Bean scanner for dental diagnostics on the Isle of Man.

PokerStars will host a combined chess and poker tournament in Douglas on October 3.

This will coincide with the overlap between the PokerStars UK and Ireland Poker Tour and the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess in Douglas in October.

The event will require participants to play both chess and poker in the same tournament.

It will cost £200 to play (plus £20 fee), and will take place in the Villa Marina.

The combined tournament will first feature each player playing chess – five rounds of blitz chess, where each player gets seven minutes to checkmate or run the other player out of time.

The players will then take part in a turbo poker tournament to crown a winner.

Each victory in the chess rounds will earn each player 1,000 in extra tournament chips, in addition to the 8,000 chips that each player ordinarily starts with.

Already confirmed to participate include the world’s number nine chess player Maxime Vachier Lagrave; British number one chess player Mickey Adams; poker pro and chess champion Almira Skripchenko; chess grandmaster Laurent Fressinet and Supernova Elite poker players Radoslaw Jedynak and Simon Ansell

Radoslaw thinks he may be a small favourite since the format suits him perfectly.

He said: ‘I like my chances but it is close. The poker tournament is a hyper turbo style, which is exactly the formula I play every day.

‘A strong poker player can lose all five chess games, win a coin-flip and have more chips than any grandmaster.’

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the highest-ranked chess player in the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament has also signed up for the chess/poker event.

He plays poker every couple of months with friends and thinks poker pros have the best chances.

‘Even an edge on chips doesn’t guarantee anything if you don’t follow it up with good poker. Almira (who has final tabled World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events) could be a favourite given her experience.’

Almira said she thought the format would give an advantage to the strongest chess players.

‘I am not sure they will be able to exploit it, since the stacks are rather deep at the beginning,’ she said.

She added she’d pick her husband, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet, as the favourite.

‘He is very good in rapid chess and quite an experienced player in tournament poker,’ she said.

‘As for Maxime, he is very strong in rapid, but his poker is a bit wild, he bluffs a lot!’

Talented young singer Christian Cooper said he felt on top of the world after winning the Guild’s junior title, the Sheffield Plate, as well as Young Singer of Mann.

The 13-year-old Ballakermeen High School student is only the second youngster to win both titles in the same year.

And since then, Christian, of Westmoreland Road, Douglas, has been in high demand to perform at a number of events.

He said: ‘It feels amazing that people ask me to do these things and each event gives me more confidence. I hope to inspire other girls and boys that singing and acting is not just a girl thing but for everyone of all ages and it’s fun.’

Since then he supported Junior Achievement and Robert Owen House’s Summertime Special and took part in the Broadway Theatre Company’s Alice in Wonderland workshop and Joe Hillard’s A Night at the Musicals show.

He also sang at the biennial Children in Song concert, held at the Villa Marina in June.

Dr Jill White, who put him into the final of the Sheffield Plate, has offered to be his mentor.

His next performance will be at the I Love Culture show, at the Villa Marina on September 20. And he has been invited by Dot Tilbury to sing at a fundraising event for the island’s cyclists.

Christian wants to go to music school or musical theatre school and produce a CD with his favourite songs, including Time to Say Goodbye and Nessum Dorma.

He dreams of singing in the Sydney Opera House and meeting Andrea Bocelli.

New legislation governing private sector rentals should not be extended to public sector housing according to Douglas Corporation.

A select committee is currently examining the bill which would govern private rentals, requiring landlords to be registered and observe minimum standards in their accommodation.

The committee has also been taking evidence on whether the same legislation should be extended to cover public sector housing but the proposal has been robustly opposed in a written statement to the committee from Paul Cowin, assistant town clerk of Douglas.

In his response, Mr Cowin points out the proposed registration fees alone would cost the council £25,000 in total which could impact on rents charged to tenants.

In addition, he points out: ‘If the same minimum standards which are imposed on private sector housing are imposed on public sector housing, it may very well be that a number of units would require significant work, or indeed would have to be closed entirely, which would cause a considerable problem in individuals having to be re-housed.

‘While no doubt having all public sector housing to meet the same high standard as of the private sector would be highly desirable, it is also highly questionable as to whether it is practical or affordable.’

Councillor David Ashford, chairman of the housing committee said they were not saying council properties were sub-standard.

‘We already exceed the standards currently set down for local authoritiy housing and we don’t see the need for the Landlord and Tenant Act to be extended to local authorities because we run the risk of creating a piece of legislation that is a monolith. There is already a whole set of standards in place covering local authorities, so what additional benefit would there be?’ he said.

Ramsey has the second largest number of council houses after Douglas. Town clerk Peter Whiteway said they had given evidence to the committee this week. He described the new legislation as a ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’ and said existing legislation was largely good enough.