Major work is to get under way in the centre of Ramsey next week in a project aimed at enhancing Market Place.

The scheme, which is scheduled to be completed early next year, represents the next phase in the regeneration of the town centre, which has so far seen work carried out to the Courthouse area and Parliament Street.

Planning permission was obtained following a 21-day public consultation period.

A government statement said: ‘The work will improve the setting for the large number of commercial operations located around the Market Place, in addition to nearby buildings which have significant architectural features.

‘The footways will be constructed using easy-to-clean, high-quality granite pavers and will incorporate new planting areas, public seating and pedestrian direction signage.

‘Clearly defined, safe, accessible and convenient pedestrian routes will be created to the car parking in Market Place and through Market Place to the surrounding areas.’

It continued: ‘A total of 66 tarmac parking spaces will be retained within the Market Place. The spaces will be relocated from their current central position towards the Nightlife (western) side of Market Place. This will ensure safer access to the main town centre retail areas and the ability to use all, or sections, of this new car park for local community events when demand arises.

‘A new two-way main road will be constructed on the Royal Hotel (eastern) side of Market Place. This will simplify traffic routing, particularly to the important commercial harbour facilities, and improve coach/public transport access in Ramsey.’

‘During the works it is intended to retain as much parking within the area as possible by carefully managing the construction process.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, who is chairman of the Ramsey Regeneration Committee, said: ‘The regeneration of Ramsey has been instrumental in attracting new investment to the town.

‘This latest phase will further enhance the public realm and help to support the many businesses located around Market Place. The space will not only look much smarter but will create a safer, more usable car park with flexibility for events when needed.’

He added: ‘Planting, including trees will soften the area and the footway on the Royal Hotel (eastern) side of Market Place will be widened. This area provides opportunities for the adjacent premises to offer pavement café facilities to customers at a location which has the greatest exposure to sunlight and where the buildings offer shelter from the wind.’

Richard Radcliffe, Chairman of Ramsey Town Commissioners, said: ‘This project will see further improvements to the town which is already providing a much enhanced environment for residents and visitors.

‘Throughout the works as much parking within Market Place itself will be retained, although it is inevitable that the works will bring inconvenience.

‘It is worth pointing out however that Ramsey has benefitted from additional car parking, most recently at Albert Road where 69 spaces have been provided.’

New works by one of the world’s most widely respected glass artists, Peter Layton, go on display at the Sayle Gallery, in Douglas, this weekend.

There will also be the chance to hear from the ‘grand old master of glass’ himself when he gives a talk at the gallery on Saturday, as the exhibition opens to visitors for the first time.

The exhibition features contemporary glassware by both Peter and his colleagues at the London Glassblowing Studio, which he runs like a collective.

Peter went to school in Bradford, where his aptitude as an artist was first recognised and which led to him becoming friends with David Hockney.’

Art was not a viable way to make a living in Bradford, so he found himself working in the textile business. He was then called up to do national service during which time he resolved to pursue his love of art as soon as he got home.

He applied to Bradford Art College and then went to London’s Central School of Art and Design to specialise in ceramics.

Peter was offered a temporary teaching job in Iowa University’s ceramics department. By chance, Harvey Littleton and a few colleagues were pioneering a revolutionary hot glass technique.

In 1962 Peter attended one of their first workshops and became bewitched by its immediacy and spontaneity.

‘Glass is extraordinarily seductive,’ explained Peter.

‘Every piece is an adventure and you never know exactly what you have created until you open the kiln and see how a piece has turned out. I love that moment of surprise.’

Ever since Peter returned to Britain, he has been at the forefront of promoting glassblowing as an art.

In 1969 he helped Sam Herman build the first furnace at the Glasshouse in Covent Garden and subsequently set up his own glass studio at Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, a Glass Department at Hornsey College of Art (Middlesex University) and, in 1976, the London Glassblowing Workshop in an old towage works on the Thames at Rotherhithe.

In 2009 Peter’s London Glassblowing Studio and Gallery moved to much larger premises in Bermondsey.

Peter has also written several books, received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Bradford, become an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers and been given the Freedom of the City of London.

Peter and members of London Glassblowing recently exhibited at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery in London, as part of ‘Collect - International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects’.

Sayle Gallery chairman Damian Ciappelli said: ‘The Sayle Gallery is privileged to host internationally recognised artist Peter Layton and his associates from the London Glassblowing Studio to a Manx audience.’

He thanked the Isle of Man Arts Council for its support.

The exhibition runs until July 19.

• Peter’s talk, ‘The Extraordinary Seduction of Glass’ takes place at 6pm on Saturday. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Sayle Gallery.

Manx Sport and Recreation is hosting an open day on Tuesday (June 23), offering a safe and enjoyable environment for those who want to cycle with more confidence.

The event will be held at the NSC raceway and is open to enthusiastic cyclists of all ages and abilities.

MSR ensure that whether individuals have a disability, health related issues, or just low confidence on a bike, the ‘Bike for Life’ open day will provide everyone with the right tools, information and guidance to suit their needs.

The free open day, boasting a wide variety of bikes for individuals to use, will be held from noon to 5pm.

Two nursery workers had their hair cut for the Little Princesses charity which produces real hair wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

Sandra Kennaugh, from Castletown, and Agnes May, from Port Erin, who both work at Tiddleywinks Nursery in Port St Mary, took the plunge at Di’s Hair Salon, also in Port St Mary, with hairdressers Diane Russell-Raby and Teadora Dimitrova giving them the chop.

Sandra said: ‘We raise money for a charity every year and this year we thought we would donate our hair for a children’s charity and chose this one as it uses our hair as well.

‘We have hopefully made over £400.’ The Little Princess Trust was launched in 2006 by the parents of Hannah Tarplee, along with help from friends and from Hannah’s school, Hereford Cathedral Junior School. Hannah was diagnosed with having a Wilms tumour and after a brave battle, died in 2005. Pictured, from left, Teadora Dimitrova, Sandra Kennaugh, Agnes May and Diane Russell-Raby.

Peel Chamber of Trade and Commerce have organised two Farmers’ Markets.

They will take place on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, August 2

Both will run from 10am until 4pm in St Peter’s Churchyard, Market Place.

Organisers are looking for people who would like a stall.

Anyone who grows plants or vegetables, makes jewellery or cards, knits or crotchets, bakes cakes, paints or has items to sell can purchase a Trader’s Licence from Peel Town Hall for £5.

If these events are a success, the Chamber of Trade and Commerce hope to make them a regular event during the summer.

For more information, call Kate Felton on 254976.

Isle of Man Friends of the Earth has been named as Group of the Year, in the UK Earthmovers Awards.

The Earthmovers Awards take place annually, and include categories for individual campaigners, local groups and wider campaigns which have made an environmental impact over the year.

There was a record number of nominees this year and the judges said Isle of Man Friends of the Earth was a ‘fantastic example of how vibrant and effective local groups can be’.

Among the achievements the judges applauded were the wide range of issues on which IoMFoE campaigns and lobbies.

In particular, the judges singled out the group’s work in relation to the EcoVannin Partnership, the island’s collaboration between green/community groups and departments in the Manx Government.

They were impressed by the way in which the group has helped bring together those inside and outside the structure of political power, in order to collaborate on short and longterm sustainable action plans. They said that IoMFoE’s analysis on how to do this had been ‘strategic and effective’.

Tributes have been paid to a stalwart of motor racing in the island who passed away at the weekend.

Over four decades of voluntary service Willie Clucas worked his way up to become a key member of the Southern 100 Motor Cycle Racing Club and a familiar face at motorsport events all over the island.

Willie died on Saturday aged 75 and the sad news came through just as the club had finished racing at the Billown Course at the Post TT Road Races.

Phil Taubman, clerk of the course for the annual Southern 100 races, told the Independent: ‘It feels like he’d been part of the club forever. His contribution was immense, not just as a marshal or scrutineer but as an all-round friend and supporter of the club.

‘He really was a gentleman and he’ll be sorely missed by everyone. You don’t get many like him in this life’, he said.

Starting out as a volunteer marshal at Cross Four Ways on the Billown circuit in the 1970s, Willie took over as chief sector marshal and became heavily involved in the club.

Surprisingly it wasn’t until 1997 that he took up his first official appointment as Deputy Club Marshal, a position he held for three years.

He joined the committee in 2000, taking over as Chief Club Marshal where he remained until the end of the 2009 racing season. He was elected as the first President of the Southern 100 Marshals Association soon afterwards.

‘The Southern 100 Club was always at the very top of his mind. He was a true clubman and a loyal supporter of the club’s events’, Mr Taubman said. ‘Nothing was too much trouble for Willie. He was always in the work parties to prepare the course and he’d do anything in the office. Even this year he was helping in the work parties.’

His connection with motorsport spread much further than the Billown course: Willie also spent nearly four decades involved with the Manx International Rally, where he put his engineering background to good use by installing communications equipment in the course cars among his other duties.

He was also a scrutineer for the Manx Grand Prix and spent several years acting as the chief scrutineer and technical official for the Isle of Man TT.

Mr Taubman continued: ‘He was an engineer by trade and was very methodical and very proper in everything he did.

‘He took it as far as he possibly could - he ended up being so well-qualified that he became the teacher and examiner for the island’s scrutineers.’

He added: ‘The TT has the international accolades but I think Billown was definitely his favourite. It’s very special, it’s a close team and we’re like one big family really.’

Paying their own tribute, a spokesman for the Southern 100 Club said: ‘Willie was still very much involved with the racing around the Billown Course and its organisation and was always around to offer advice and lend a willing helping hand, both of which will be sorely missed as the club rapidly approaches its Diamond Jubilee Southern 100 International Road Races in early July.

‘All involved with Southern 100 Racing convey our sincere condolences to his wife Lily, his children, family and friends at this very sad time.’

Ratepayers are today being reminded of an important deadline which is days away.

To receive a prompt payment discount of 5 per cent the last date for the payment of rates is June 30.

Treasury acts as collection agent for local authority, water and sewerage rates, with the exception of local authority rates in Braddan, Douglas and Onchan, which are payable directly to the local authority concerned.

Payment of rates by direct debit is said by the government to be the most popular method with more than 70 per cent of payments being received in this way.

Treasury says it would encourage ratepayers to make arrangements for payment by direct debit either in single lump sum or by instalments over 3 or 10 months.

Advice on how to set up direct debit payments is available from your bank or by contacting the Rates and Valuation Office of Treasury on 685661.

Where this is not possible, other methods of payment are available. The online payment service (gov.im/onlineservices) allows ratepayers to use a debit or credit card.

Payments can also be made by cheque to the Rates and Valuation Office, Illiam Dhone House, 2 Circular Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PX or at a local Post Office or through Port Erin and Peel Commissioners at their local offices.

Joint winners of the 2015 PokerStars Spirit of the TT were presented with their awards on Senior race day.

Eight-year-old fundraiser Cici Reed and 91-year-old Harold Leece were chosen by the panel of judges for the award. They are the award’s oldest and youngest winners in its six-year history.

The award is given to the person or, in this case persons, who best represent the ethos and values of the TT including decency, honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, integrity, respect, team work and commitment to the development of the races.

Cici Reed began growing and selling sunflowers to add a little sunshine to travelling marshal Paul Hunt’s recovery. ‘Big H’, as he is known, is now back home in Braddan having spent almost 11 months in the spinal unit at Southport General Hospital receiving treatment after he came off his TM bike while inspecting the course during qualifying for the 2014 TT.

She has also run online auctions to fundraise for Paul, as well as the TT Riders’ Association, the Rescue Helicopter Fund and IoM TT Marshals Association. Donations are welcome through her facebook page ‘Cici Reed Fundraising Superstar’.

Harold Leece’s hospitality is well known worldwide. He has been welcoming visitors to his Cronk Breck Farm in Greeba for more than 66 years. He opens up a field for parking and allows spectators to wander across his fields to get the best vantage points free of charge, including in his garden. He provides toilets and loves meeting and greeting TT fans from all over the world.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 fans have experienced his hospitality over the years.

Rebecca McAdam, head of PR, live events for PokerStars commented: ‘I’m delighted that this award is able to recognise two members of the local community who have contributed so much to the TT. The fact that there is more than 80 years age difference between them epitomises the fact that the TT touches everyone young and old in the island.’

David Cretney, Isle of Man Government’s political member with responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport added: ‘Cici is a very determined young lady and she has made great efforts to support and fundraise for good causes. I hope that this award will bring her efforts to the attention of a wider online audience and that it helps her to continue to support worthwhile causes. She is a great example to the young people of the Isle of Man.’

He continued: ‘I’m also pleased for Harold as his welcoming attitude typifies the Manx spirit of hospitality that is particularly evident during the TT.’

The presentation, which took place on the podium in front of the TT Grandstand, actually caused a problem for Harold Leece as his farm is situated on the course seven miles from the start, so clerk of the course Gary Thompson arranged for a course car to drop Harold back to his farm to continue his unbroken record of offering hospitality at every TT stretching back to 1949.

Join the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and the landowners for a free guided Wildflower Walk around Ballachurry Meadows.

The walk around the Meadows at St Jude’s, a designated Area of Special Scientific Interest, is open to anyone interested in learning about hay meadow flora and its management.

The walk takes place on Wednesday at 7pm and will last between 90 minutes and two hours.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

For more details call Sophie Costain on 695737 or email sophie.costain@gov.im

A pair of guest speakers will share their inspirational stories as part of a special evening in July to raise awareness of dwarfism.

In their talk ‘Do Something Amazing’, Thomas Mills and Sean Clare from the UK-based Dwarf Sports Association (DSA) will showcase the work of the charity.

Invited to visit by Manx awareness group Finley’s Footsteps, the pair will tour the island’s schools as part of a four-day visit.

Their presentation will take place on Wednesday, July 1 from 6.30pm at the Sports Institute in the NSC.

For more information or to book a place contact Kristy Canipa on 419261 or email kristycanipa@icloud.com

World class Galican piper Anxo Lorenzo is coming to the island for a show at Peel Centenary Centre.

An incredible live act, the show takes place on Saturday (June 27).

The gaita (bagpipe) player, from the small village of Moaña on the Atlantic coast of Galica, is described as a musical adventurer who looks far beyond the traditions of his native Gallica for inspiration.

An exhilarating performer, the audience can expect his fast fingers to be tracing ridiculously intricate melodies.

The concert has been organised by the Centenary Centre’s David Mclean, who said: ‘Any Manx music fans who remember Carlos Nunez at Peel Castle in the ‘90s will not want to miss this performance.

‘He is simply one of the most exciting musicians playing live today.

‘The speed and dexterity of his gaita (Galician bagpipe) and whistle playing have to be seen to be believed.’

Anxo will be supported by Irish guitarist Eoghan Neff and Galician fiddle player Jesus Enrique Cuadrado.

David said they were also delighted to have Matt Creer as special guest for the gig.’

Anxo sees no barriers when experimenting with traditional and contemporary music, and has the ability to seamlessly amalgamate the two into vibrant, fresh and new melodies and rhythms.

He has managed to fuse the unadulterated natural sound of the gaita with a variety of alternative music styles, including rock, pop, jazz, flamenco and electronic.

Anxo has collaborated with numerous traditional musicians, including Michael McGoldrick, Kathryn Tickell, Lunasa, The National Jazz Orchestra, Om/Off and The Chieftains.

Then his first solo album, Tirán, was released on Zouma Records in 2010.

Tracks include his own spin on the Michael McGoldrick composition ‘Road To Errogie’ and joining Kathryn Tickell and her band for an atmospheric reading of her composition ‘The Very First Fish’.

Geoff Wallis of the Irish Music Review described one of the tracks, an untitled set of tunes, as a ‘combination of sheer speed and unbridled imagination that simply defies belief’.

A classically trained musician, soloist and compose, Anxo continues with his research into various fields of music and gives masterclasses all over the world.

Tickets are available from Celtic Gold, in Peel; Peter Norris Music, in Douglas; Shakti Man, in Ramsey and Thompson Travel in Port Erin.

They are also available online at www.centenarycentre.com

Tickets cost £15, which David admitted was ‘really cheap for an artist of his stature’.

But he said the venue was keen to make its gigs accessible to all the island’s music lovers.

A Bollywood night in aid of Relay for Life Cancer Research will be held at Peel Football Club on Saturday, July 18, at 7.30pm.

Organised by the Jaygees Relay for Life team, the evening will include curry and rice, a bar, dancing, music and a raffle.

Cost is £10 per person. Tickets from Richard at Jaygees Studio (next to Gena’s Dance Academy on the Ramsey Road in Peel).

Proceeds go to the Relay for Life Cancer Research charity.

Hundreds of people will paint the town red - and every other colour of the rainbow - as fundraisers run the gauntlet along Douglas promenades in July.

The second Colour Me Rainbow event, which raises money for Hospice Isle of Man, will explode on the streets of Douglas on the day of the carnival.

Clad in white T-shirts, participants will run or walk along the promenades while being pelted with dyed cornflour ‘paint’ by the crowd.

Nearly 400 people were painted last year and event organisers Hospice Isle of Man hope that even more people will take part this year.

Starting at 6.30pm on Saturday, July 18, the route will begin at Summerland and cover 2.5 kilometres to the Sea Terminal before the festivities of Douglas carnival begin.

Individual entries cost £20 per person and includes a white T-shirt, but the rules demand that it doesn’t stay that way. Team entries for up to four people cost £70.

Hospice Isle of Man’s Mary Doyle said: ‘Last year’s event was a huge success and was enjoyed by everyone.

‘I think people were a little bit shy about throwing paint around at first, but by the end there was a huge paint party going on.

‘This time we hope people embrace the idea and everyone will have fun painting the promenade’, she said.

For more information or to download an entry from visit www.hospice.org.im

The island’s property market is the subject of a feature in the Financial Times.

The business newspaper highlights the tax advantages of living in the island compared with the UK and the government’s attempts to lure ‘high net worth’ (rich) people to the island.

However, it also shows a graph showing that prices in the island have fallen while they have risen in England and Wales.

{http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1d529eb8-0f8e-11e5-b968-00144feabdc0.html|To read the FT feature, click here}.

Castletown Community Clean Up will take place tomorrow evening (Tuesday) - and residents are being encouraged to spend an hour tackling some of the problem litter areas around the town.

The special event is a combined initiative between Castletown Commissioners and the charity Beach Buddies.

Bill Dale, founder of Beach Buddies, said: ‘Castletown is one of the tidiest towns on the island, but, sadly, it doesn’t prevent a small number of people carelessly leaving litter lying around which can so easily be avoided.

‘Perhaps if these people realised just how much damage litter causes to wildlife, causing serious injuries and death, then maybe they might change their habits.’

This is the first time a local authority has teamed up in this way with Beach Buddies, and the charity is keen to get involved in similar events in other parts of the island.

Mr Dale added: ‘It was very good news when Castletown Commissioners took the initiative on this idea, and we are delighted to be asked to be involved.

‘Our volunteers will also be involved, and we hope this might lead to other local authorities promoting similar projects around the island.

‘The careless disposal of litter is one of the biggest problems in the world’s environment today, and it’s events like this which will highlight the problem and at the same time give people the chance to do their bit to help make a difference.’

Commissioners’ chairman Alwyn Collister said: ‘This is a community project where local people can help to improve their town.

‘We are hoping for a good response and lots of people will want to be involved.’

Anyone interested in helping, whether a resident in Castletown or not, is asked to meet at the Civic Centre at 6pm.

All ages are welcome and organisers say the work will not be strenuous, collecting items such as tin cans, bottles and food containers.

Participants should wear suitable clothing and decent shoes or walking boots. There is no need to register in advance.

The event will last one hour. All equipment will be provided, including litterpickers, bin bags, gloves and hi-vis jackets. Beach Buddies will dispose of the items collected, recycling where possible.

Refreshments will be served in the Civic Centre afterwards, courtesy of Castletown Commissioners.

If wet, the event will take place the following evening, Wednesday, June 24, at 6pm.

Current MLC Phil Braidwood failed to be re-elected today (Monday) as the two final Legislative Council members were chosen by MHKs.

First, in the third vote of the day, current Peel MHK and Education Minister Tim Crookall achieved the magical 13 votes securing one of the two remaining seats.

Voting then reached a stalemate between former Douglas East MHK Phil Braidwood and Glenfaba MHK David Anderson. The seventh round of voting saw MHKs reject Mr Braidwood, the only candidate, by a whisker as he secured 12 votes.

In the eighth and final round of voting the only candidate was Mr Anderson, who secured 14 votes and was duly elected to the Legislative Council.

Former High Bailiff Michael Moyle secured seven votes and dropped out after the fourth round.

Accountant and former Rushen parish commissioner Adrian Tinkler secured just two votes and dropped out after the second round of voting.

It means there will have to be by-elections in Peel and Glenfaba to find replacement MHKs.

But the winners will not be in post too long because the general election, when all Keys seats are up for grabs, will take place in September 2016.

That election will be fought on the basis of new constituencies. Next year, Glenfaba and Peel will merge to become one, larger constituency, which will elect two MHKs.

Crookall’s elevation to Legislative Council means that a new Education Minister will have to be appointed. Under convention, MLCs are not made government ministers.

Mr Anderson is a former minister, having been at health, education and transport while Mr Braidwood served as minister in both the home affairs department and transport.

The vacancies arose when four service MLCs retired by rotation in February.

They could have all stood for re-election but three didn’t. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/three-mlcs-stand-down-1-7114755|Dudley Butt, Alan Crowe and Alex Downie} decided to retire. Mr Braidwood wanted to keep his job.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/updated-story-two-by-elections-triggered-by-legco-vote-1-7158041|Former MHKs David Cretney and Bill Henderson filled two of the seats in March.}

But MHKs couldn’t agree on who should fill the other two seats till today.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/none-of-above-win-legco-poll-1-7149274|The Examiner offered its readers the chance to vote for MLCs}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/michael-moyle-stands-for-legco-1-7296454|Our story about Michael Moyle standing}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/tim-crookall-i-m-still-committed-to-my-constituency-1-7186392|What Tim Crookall told his constituents in Peel}

Tynwald has rejected a call to introduce a new law making false allegations of child abuse a criminal offence.

Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin told the court: ‘It is felt that to introduce bespoke legislation that specifically criminalises false reporting of child abuse may be counter productive as it may prevent a person coming forward to report abuse for fear of prosecution.’

The call to introduce a false reporting offence was made by the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee following its inquiry into the over-referral of cases to children’s social services.

Committee member Speaker Steve Rodan said in 2012 the number of children in need of protection was about the same as the English average – but the number of referrals, assessments and inquiries were proportionally higher. He said things had got worse since 2012.

He said: ‘This is significant – it suggests we have a problem with over-referrals.’

Mr Rodan said this has a direct, adverse impact on families needlessly subject to the attention of social services. It also had a ‘needle in a haystack’ effect by swamping social services with low level concerns, increasing the risk they will miss the really needy cases, and the extra workload came at an extra cost to the taxpayer.

He told Tynwald: ‘At the moment it is too easy for people working in education, health or the police to rely on the words “if in doubt refer” and to pass all sorts of cases on to social services. Making an unnecessary referral is not protecting the child – it is passing the buck.’

The committee suggested a series of recommendations to address the over-referral problem.

Mr Rodan said it was only asking for consideration be given to a false reporting offence and said he was disappointed the Council of Ministers appeared to be dismissing the idea out of hand.

He accepted CoMin had a perfectly valid point that someone might report child abuse in good faith without sufficient evidence. ‘Obviously prosecuting someone who is simply mistaken might deter other referrals which may well need looking at. However, that is quite different from someone deliberately and maliciously making a false allegation.’

Mr Shimmin said CoMin had taken the advice of the Attorney General chambers and a decision taken that a new offence would not be appropriate. He said there was already adequate legislation in place to deal with a complaint of false reporting with malicious attempt.

Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle said the committee was comparing ‘apples with pears’ - as the UK recorded figures for referrals for help separately whereas ‘our figures are as one’.

The same report also covered the under-preparedness of civil servants when giving evidence to parliamentary hearings.

This followed an incident in January 2013 when the then chief executive of the health department, David Killip, told the committee that a report on bowel surgery gave no cause for concern. Six months later, however, he wrote saying there had been concerns over surgical techniques that required action by Noble’s management. Mr Kilip retired a year ago.

Mr Rodan insisted this was not a witch hunt but lessons need to be learned.

Tynwald rejected the recommendation to introduce a false reporting offence by 15 votes to 12. All the other recommendations were carried.

Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle MHK today officially opened the island’s £4m neonatal intensive care unit.

In a ceremony at Noble’s Hospital Mr Quayle unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion and spoke to guests – including contractors, staff involved in the project and clinicians who deliver care to the island’s seriously-ill babies – to congratulate them on the achievement of successfully completing the project on time and on budget.

The facility ensures that the island can maintain its status as a ‘level 2’ neonatal unit and adhere to the standards set by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine.

Professor Neena Modi of Imperial College London, the President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, was the guest of honour, and travelled to the island for the opening ceremony.

She said: ‘I’d like to congratulate the team on this great achievement. It was a pleasure to tour the unit and I can see there has been vision in its design. It is absolutely up to the specifications that we expect; it is future proof and will stand the island in good stead over the years to come.’

The facility is the first major extension to Noble’s Hospital since it opened in 2003. It is on the first floor of the east wing of the hospital, next to the Jane Crookall Maternity Ward.

The unit provides:

Nine cots with dedicated rooms for resuscitation and isolation

An improved layout and floor plan with two separate ward environments which enhances privacy and reduces the risk of infection

Improved overnight accommodation for parents, an important consideration at what can be an extremely distressing time

Additional storage space for vital equipment.

Consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Noble’s Hospital, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan, said: ‘It’s been almost 10 weeks since the unit opened. The move went well and we have an exceptional facility which is making a real difference to the quality of care we are able to provide acutely unwell new-borns and the support we can provide their parents.’

St Mark’s Schoolrooms will host an indoor boot sale on Saturday, from midday until 4pm.

Tables cost £10, which will go towards the facility’s ongoing refurbishment.

Contact Jenny on 622022 to reserve a table.

Refreshments will be available.