PLANS for a three-storey extension at Ballakermeen High School, in Douglas, went on public display last week.

The Department of Education and Children’s estates director, Richard Collister, architects, project managers and school representatives explained the proposals to 23 neighbouring residents and a number of Douglas councillors who attended.

Mr Collister said there was ‘general support for the need to progress the scheme’, adding: ‘We welcome the constructive comments made and are currently making some amendments to the proposals to address issues raised, prior to progressing with our planning applications for the extension and the temporary “Balladome” relocation.’

Head teacher Adrienne Burnett said: ‘We thought it was important to make sure that our neighbours had as much information as possible, and to give them a chance to make suggestions and raise any concerns.’

The £3.2m project involves extending the dining and post-16 facilities by building an extension on the hard surfaced area of the playground.

The DEC hopes to take the project to Tynwald in July 2013, with a phased hand-over of the project which would see post-16, first and second floor levels operational for September 2014, with the ground floor dining/kitchen opening after the October half term.

ONE of the most upmarket bars in Douglas has closed.

The Mailbox restaurant and deli was in a building on Circular Road in the capital.

The board of directors this afternoon issued a statement. It reads: ‘We wish to advise that The Mailbox restaurant and deli was closed to business . . . following the failure of negotiations to sell the business as a going concern to new investors.

‘The directors of Rivertown Limited, the company which owns The Mailbox, convened a board meeting yesterday morning to consider what options might remain available to them to enable the company to continue trading.

‘A liquidation expert was invited to attend the Meeting and detailed consideration was given to ways in which it might be possible for the company to continue trading, thus providing the board with a window of opportunity to seek alternative potential purchasers.  

‘Regrettably, having listened to the advice given, the directors were left with no alternative but to make arrangements for the company to cease trading forthwith.  Accordingly, the managers and staff were informed of the position and the company subsequently ceased to trade at 3pm yesterday afternoon.

‘Pursuant to Section 226 of the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 2004, the directors are required to call a meeting of the creditors.  This meeting will take place at Capital House on December 3, 2012, at 2pm, in order that a liquidator may be appointed as required under Sections 227-229 of the above mentioned Acts.  Advertisements for the attention of creditors will be placed in two local newspapers at the earliest opportunity. 

‘The Mailbox has taken a number of Christmas party bookings and the directors will give assistance to customers who wish to relocate their bookings to other local establishments. Direct contact will be made with customers during the course of this week.’

The statement ends: ‘The directors would like to thank the many customers, staff and suppliers that have supported The Mailbox over recent months and years. No stone has been left unturned in attempts to secure the future of The Mailbox and it is with great sadness that the directors have been left with no alternative but to pursue this unpleasant course of action.

‘For further information, please write to the directors, Rivertown Limited, Capital House, Circular Road, Douglas, IM1 1AG, or e-mail info@themailbox.co.im.’

There will be more on this story in this week’s Manx Independent.

TELEVISION viewers in the Isle of Man may find they are missing some of their channels next week unless they retune their sets or digital boxes.

Digital UK has advised viewers they may experience disruption tomorrow (Wednesday November 14), with their Freeview service, but this should return to normal by the late afternoon.

This is the point at which channels could have disappeared and a retune will be necessary.

To do this viewers need to press ‘Menu’ on their remote control. Next they need to find ‘settings’ or ‘set up’. Alternatively, if the set uses picture icons they will need to select the tool box, satellite dish or spanner option.

If a PIN number is required but not known, try entering ‘0000’ or ‘1234’.

The next stage is to select ‘first time installation’ or ‘default settings’ then press ‘OK’ if the equipment asks if you want to delete all your channels. This is normal and should not cause alarm.

For further help with retuning or to check predicted changes to television reception log on to {http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/granada|www.digitaluk.co.uk/granada} or call 08456 505050

The Isle of Man switched over to digital television in July 2009 when analogue transmitters were turned off.

The changes to the service started when the analogue signal for BBC Two was switched off in June of that year and the eight BBC digital channels as well as the red button service became available.

When the Ulster TV region became the last part of the UK to go digital at the end of last month, this affected some households in the west of the island, for example in Kirk Michael, which picked up their television signal from the transmitter near Belfast.

Viewers picking up their digital signal from Ireland receive 67 channels as opposed to the 16 relayed by the Isle of Man transmitters.

THE organisers of Mannifest have announced they will not be holding the annual three-day festival in 2013.

The music and family event, held at Glen Lough Farm in Glen Vine, would have been in its fourth year if it had gone ahead next August.

In a statement posted on Facebook today (Tuesday), the team said: ‘Having had a cracking three years at Glen Lough farm, the Mannifest team have decided it’s time for us, and this year’s waterlogged fields, to have a well earned rest.

‘So we’re sorry to announce there will be no Mannifest in 2013. We thank you for all the support and great times, and hope to return full of new ideas in 2014.

‘We do have some different entertainment lined up for summer next year though - keep an eye out for announcements in the media.’

www.mannifestlive.com

NEW-LOOK registration plates featuring the letters MANX could prove a money spinner for the Treasury.

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK will seek Tynwald approval next week to introduce fees for certain high-value numbers plates. A MANX1 plate will set you back £100,000 while 1MANX will be available for £50,000. MANX007 or MANX888 could be yours for £20,000.

Other combinations of MANX and one, two or three digit numbers will be priced between £5,000 and £15,000.

PEEL’s enlarged Shoprite store in Derby Road was unveiled to the public on Friday.

A formal launch took place before the revamped store opened to customers.

The supermarket has more than doubled in size from 8,000 sq ft to more than 17,500 sq ft, and parking has been extended.

Work has included a complete redesign of the store’s fixtures, fittings and layout to bring the ‘Fresh Marketplace’ concept – which has already proved popular in Port Erin – to the town. The store now has an in-store bakery, a hot and cold delicatessen counter, and meat and fresh fish counters as well as a Subway Café.

Chief executive Andrew Thomas said: ‘This is a major development for the area and provides people living in the west of the Isle of Man with a quality food market store.’

The work was part of a £4m investment in Peel, which included refurbishing the ‘Little Shoprite’ convenience store in Michael Street last year.

AN MHK is calling for a senior off-island figure to lead an independent review of Tynwald members’ pay, pensions and expenses.

Alfred Cannan, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, has tabled a motion to this month’s Tynwald sitting calling for an independent body to be appointed to review the remuneration of MHKs and MLCs in the light of their respective duties and to report with recommendations.

The Michael MHK says the body should seek the opinions of Tynwald members, the Chamber of Commerce, the public and the trade unions.

Mr Cannan believes it should be headed by a chairman who is a senior figure of standing from off-island, such as a member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. A senior legal figure practising in the Isle of Man should be vice chairman and the body should also include the Lord Bishop and two lay members from the island who would be appointed by the chairman.

But Chief Minister Allan Bell pointed out that such a review would not come cheap - and it could conclude that our politicians are not actually paid the going rate. He also warned about getting caught up in a ‘populist witch-hunt’.

Vote on this issue using our web poll panel at the right of this story

There has been growing public discontent about Tynwald members’ pay, culminating in revelations that four Tynwald members were not making a voluntary contribution to their pensions.

Politicians’ pay is linked to that of the island’s 2,300-plus civil servants. A 1.08 per cent pay award this year, backdated to April, has taken the basic salary of an MHK and MLC to £37,822.

On top of this, they get 30 per cent extra for being a department member (40 per cent for Treasury) and 50 per cent for being a minister. The Chief Minister gets 80 per cent on top of his basic and the Speaker 60 per cent.

Members also get a £6,178 tax-free lump sum to cover expenses incurred while carrying out their parliamentary duties. There have been proposals that the lump sum should be scrapped but added on as taxable income to the basic salary - a suggestion that sparked an angry exchange between TUC vice president Angela Moffatt who said it would amount to a 17 per cent pay rise, and Mr Cannan, who insisted it would result in a net decrease in pay.

Mr Bell pointed out an independent inquiry into members’ pay and conditions had been carried out a number of years ago and this had concluded that our politicians were not paid the going rate. Tynwald rejected the report and instead members’ pay became linked to the civil service salary scale.

Comparisons of salaries in other jurisdictions compiled by Tynwald’s emoluments committee in April 2011 showed that an MP’s basic salary at that time was £65,738, while a Welsh Assembly member received £53,852, a member of the Scottish Parliament £57,521, a member of Northern Ireland’s Legislative Assembly £43,101 and a member of the States in Jersey was paid a basic £41,182.

Mr Bell said: ‘I do think we’ve got to be a bit careful. If an inquiry comes up with a conclusion that finally puts to rest the debate about members’ pay there may be some benefit in considering it. But it will not come cheap if you have an off-island specialist. We should not get caught up in a populist witch hunt. The majority of members work extremely hard - it’s a shame their commitment and hard work isn’t always recognised.’

Ms Moffatt said Mr Cannan’s motion reflected public concerns. She said she could see the merits of an independent review but warned about the expense. ‘I would like to see it handled in terms of a full consultation. This issue should be led by the public.’

What do you think? Email {mailto:opinions@newsiom.co.im|opinions(at)newsiom.co.im} or sign in to add your comment below.

ALICIA Cain has joined Simcocks.

Alicia is an English solicitor who trained and worked at Baker McKenzie in London and has experience in a broad range of areas such as pensions, private client, dispute resolution, UK taxation and general corporate law.

Alicia, who was born in the island and a former pupil at Ramsey Grammar School, is fluent in French and Italian and speaks Spanish and German.

Simcocks, which is based in Ridgeway Street in Douglas, currently employs 50 people and earlier this year expanded its services to offer advice on all aspects of BVI (British Virgin Islands) law.

Chief executive, Phil Games said: ‘To continue delivering exceptional results Simcocks has to have a first class team.

‘We are delighted Alicia has joined us and know she will fit in seamlessly and offer our clients a first class service.’

Alicia said: ‘Simcocks is an ambitious company with an impressive client base both locally and internationally and I am delighted to be a part of that. The firm was recently recommended by researchers from the independent legal directory, The Legal 500, and was ranked in the top tier for insurance and pensions and private client and trusts so it is an exciting time for me to be joining the practice.’

THE Manx Wildlife Trust is welcoming emergency measures taken to try to prevent the spread of ash dieback disease to the island.

Environment Minister Phil Gawne announced last week that an immediate ban had been imposed on the importation of ash trees, seeds and products.

No cases of the disease have yet been identified in the island but common ash trees make up a quarter of the trees in the Manx countryside.

And Mr Gawne warned that if steps were not taken to combat not only ash dieback but Dutch elm disease and sudden oak death disease, more than three quarters of the island’s trees could be lost.

Some 40 per cent of ash trees growing in Manx Wildlife Trusts sites are to be found at the Cooildarry reserve outside Kirk Michael.

Duncan Bridges, chairman of the Manx Wildlife Trust, welcomed the ban on ash imports.

He said: ‘The threat of ash dieback is serious and should not be understated - that’s what happened in the UK where they have miscalculated how quickly it can spread.

‘Some 30 per cent of all trees in the UK countryside are ash. We don’t have quite that number of ash trees but we’ve also had the threats of sudden oak death and Dutch elm disease.

‘I was pleased to hear the Minister’s announcement and welcome this new ban.’

He said most of the island’s ash trees were found in hedgerows and small spinneys.

Mr Bridges said that we have an advantage as an island in combating the spread of disease. While Dutch elm disease wreaked havoc across, the Isle of Man now has the biggest population of elm trees in the British Isles.

Mr Bridges pointed out that the latest threat affected common ash trees which should not be confused with mountain ash or rowan trees that are found in many gardens and are a completely different species.

However, sudden oak death, more commonly known by its Latin name of phytophthora ramorum, is a fungal disease that has jumped species. It continues to affect larch trees in the plantations but has also been found on species such as viburnum, rhododendron, camellia, magnolia, beech, heathland plants and both horse and sweet chestnut trees.

A number of sweet chestnut trees with the disease were felled on Water Authority land at Injebreck earlier this year.

THE founder of Jurby Transport Museum says he won’t be bullied into standing down.

Chairman of the Manx Transport Trust Richard Davis said he fears the plug could be pulled on the Jurby attraction which has had 32,000 visitors since it opened in 2010.

But the Department of Community Culture and Leisure, which sublets the museum building to the trust, insists the museum’s lease is not in jeopardy.

The dispute centres on the sale of a bus used in open-top sightseeing tours.

Members of the board of the Manx Transport Trust last week voted on a proposal for Mr Davis to stand down as chairman and take up the honorary title of president. In a statement, director Barry Edwards said that while the chairman had done nothing wrong, his actions ‘had caused embarrassment’ to the DCCL.

The vote, which was split with three for and three against with one abstention, followed an acrimonious discussion about the sale of an ex-Bus Vannin double decker owned by retired police officer Mr Davis to Mann Sightseeing Tours boss Steve Dugdale.

Mr Edwards, who had voted for Mr Davis’s removal, claimed the chairman had left the board and two other directors had left with him.

But Mr Davis, who has been involved in bus restoration for 30 years and was the brainchild behind the transport museum, said he has no intention of resigning.

He said the board feared the DCCL could terminate the museum’s lease when it comes up for renewal next September.

Mr Davis told iomtoday: ‘The price for remaining open is for me to step down. But I’m not prepared to be bullied into doing that. I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.’

Mann Sightseeing Tours boss Mr Dugdale said: ‘If the DCCL has been embarrassed they shouldn’t take it out on the Manx Transport Trust. It’s ridiculous.

‘If the DCCL pull their financial support then they could go under.’

Mr Davis explained double decker number 65 was one of four redundant Leyland Olympians he had personally bought from Bus Vannin in 2010.

There were no restrictions put on his use or subsequent disposal of the vehicles except that he pay for any tyres retained and that the Isle of Man Transport fleet name branding and logos be removed which was done immediately upon their arrival at the museum, he said.

He said its sale to Mr Dugdale was provisionally agreed on the basis that the tour operator boss was successful in obtaining an operator’s licence from the Road Transport Licensing Committee. He said this was done to ensure any possible controversy over the use of the bus was resolved by the RTLC which could hear any objections from operators if they felt it was detrimental to their business.

But no objections were registered and a licence was issued by RTLC - and the sale of the bus went ahead.

Mr Edwards said the museum will continue to be open as advertised and the board was committed to continuing to provide the island with a ‘brand leading’ attraction.

DCCL Minister Graham Cregeen said there had been no embarrassment to the department. ‘We thought the bus was going to the museum. We’ve got no issue with the bus tour. The question of the chairmanship is a decision for the board.’

Nick Black, chief executive officer of the DCCL, said: ‘The department has made no suggestion whatsoever that the lease on the museum will be ended prematurely.

‘The property is owned by the Department of Infrastructure but is leased to this department and sublet to the Trust. The department expects to renegotiate the lease in the usual way when it is next due for review. Current concerns appear to relate to roles within the trust, which are a matter entirely for the officers and members of that trust.’

MY daughter and her family have a place in Spain. It’s not a big place like Madrid or Barcelona.

It’s a duplex apartment on what’s known as the Costa Tropical, a safe distance from British-occupied Spain.

With apparently commendable devotion to her ageing and increasingly dependent parents she invited us both to spend a week there with her and I’ve just got back to the Isle of Man.

But I nearly didn’t. Why she thought it might be a good idea to abandon me out there I haven’t worked out yet. She insists she didn’t mean to.

The apartment is high up on what is called the Punta de Mona or Mona Point. What the connection with the Isle of Man is I have no idea. But that, as you might say, is not the point just now.

The first morning she drove us down to the nearby seaside resort of La Herredura where mainly Spanish holidaymakers disport themselves and which is the birthplace of Andres Segovia, the Spanish classical guitarist.

We were to take breakfast in the sun in a seafront cafe. She parked the car outside. Afterwards she and her mother went back out to it and I followed leaning on my walking stick.

(I know I am not known to friends and colleagues in the Isle of Man as using a walking stick. But on holiday it does help with all the tramping around that’s involved – and Spanish people are notably kind to the aged and infirm).

She and her mother were in the front seats when I got there and opened the back door. The engine was running as I tossed the stick into the car and heaved my right leg in, which was when my daughter drove off at speed and disappeared round a corner. The door slammed shut of its own accord. I was left standing on one leg in the road.

The only useful thing about this was that it was my good leg. Otherwise I was stranded.

As I say, the Spanish are kind to oldies. Two girls ran to me from the cafe, taking me protectively by the arm.

‘Abuelo,’ they gasped. ‘Por Dios, que es lo que ha pasado aqui.’

This worked out as: ‘For God’s sake Grandad, what’s happened to you?’

They sat me down where I pondered the employment opportunities for a Manx freelance journalist in a place like La Herredura.

I hadn’t got far with this when the car came back. To the disgust of an increasing crowd of Spanish sympathisers, mother and daughter were convulsed with laughter.

The girls gave me my stick and helped me into the back seat.

‘Suerte viejo,’ they said with evident concern. This meant the best of luck old man.

Back at the apartment my daughter had stopped laughing long enough to apologise. ‘Sorry Dad,’ she said. ‘I just didn’t realise we’d left you behind. But you have to admit, it was funny.’

She’s not a little girl any more, otherwise I’d have taken my stick to her.

• EDDIE and Sue Booth are back in Port Erin after a holiday in Cyprus where they read the following story in the Cyprus Weekly: ‘Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found at a poultry abattoir in Oras village in the Larnaca district, even though foul play has been ruled out.’

Eddie and Sue told me: ‘These foreigners don’t have a clue how to spell English words. Surely it should have been fowl play.’

They obviously chickened out.

• LIBERAL Vannin Party chairman Roy Redmayne emails me to say: ‘Many thanks for taking the time to identify the spelling error on our website. I take full responsibility and will be writing the word out one hundred times.’

On the website?

• THIS week’s Isle of Man crossword clue is: ‘Article on races hurt case (6) – ATTACHE (Kevin Nicholls, Glasgow Herald).

PASSENGERS flying to and from the island will have less choice from the New Year.

Manx 2 has announced it is to stop flying to Leeds/Bradford and Oxford from January 8 for the first quarter of the year.

More on this story in tomorrow’s Manx Independent.

PREVIOUS efforts at finding oil and gas reserves under Manx territorial waters were not encouraging, MHKs were told.

In the House of Keys, John Houghton (Douglas North) asked Economic Development Minister John Shimmin what estimate he had made of his department’s share of Irish Sea oil off the west coast of the island.

Mr Shimmin replied that the government had issued a number of hydrocarbon prospecting licences in the 1990s to assess the potential of oil and gas in the waters owned by the island up to 12 nautical miles from our shoreline.

He said: ‘Applications for a first round of exploration were received in 1995 and licences for a six year period were awarded to Elf and Marathon. Elf relinquished its licences prior to the expiry of the six-year term after disappointing results using 2D seismic survey work and a drilled well in 1996.

‘Based on these results off the west coast of the island, Elf did not consider further exploration was justifiable as it considered there was no source rock potential in the area. Marathon also drilled a well in 1996, which was abandoned as a dry well.

‘In 1996 out of round licences were granted to Marathon and BP but both have relinquished these licences early after disappointing results.

‘The previous well and seismic data relating to our territorial seas to the west of the island is available for use by the oil and gas industry. Should the department be approached, I would consider applications for an out of round licence.

‘However, the results from Elf are not encouraging.’

THE island will implement any best practice recommendations that come out of UK review into the Liverpool Care Pathway for dying patients, the Health Minister told the House of Keys.

David Anderson, replying to a question from Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) said there had been a lot of adverse media coverage about the care being given to dying patients. But he said these concerns had come about where the Pathway had not been fully implemented.

Reports in the UK media suggest families have been shocked to find loved ones put on the Pathway without their consent – and had fluids, food and medication withdrawn.

Mr Anderson said UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt wants a revamp of the NHS Constitution to ensure medical professionals speak to relatives before implementing the Pathway. But he said that this was already enshrined within the Liverpool Care Pathway.

He said an audit in the Isle of Man showed 95 per cent compliance with the standard relating to communication with relatives. He said the recent appointment of a Liverpool Care Pathway co-ordinator would ensure high standards were built on. ‘We will ensure we implement any further best practice recommendations that come out of the review,’ he said.

ORGANISERS of the weather-hit Garden Party have confirmed that it has completed the refund process for the festival.

And they say that all payments will be issued to customers this week.

The first night of the two-day event, at Begoade, in Onchan, on July 6-7, had to be abandoned for safety reasons at 7pm following a day of rain and high winds.

In a written statement released by organisers on Monday it said: ‘The Garden Party have completed the refund process for the event, abandonment claims and all payments will be issued to customers this week.

‘Adverse weather threatened to cause health and safety issues for performers and customers during the first day of July’s event so Friday’s line-up was cut short before great acts like Yashin, Reverend and the Makers and Newton Faulkner could take to the stage.’

It continues: ‘The Garden Party would like to thank everyone’s kind words and support regarding the difficult decision and their continued support for what turned out to be a glorious day of music and fun on the Saturday.’

Some of the acts decided to relocate to perform at Jabberwocky, in Douglas, and those revellers who were lucky enough to get there before the venue reached full capacity got to see the likes of Newton Faulkner and Reverend and the Makers perform.

Meanwhile, everyone with a Friday-only ticket was invited to go back to the Garden Party on Saturday for nothing.

Alternatively, they were invited to request a refund, upon receipt of a complete Friday wristband or full Villa Marina ticket.

In addition, so that weekend ticket-holders didn’t miss out, organisers said they were willing to provide them with a partial refund.

On October 19 organisers posted a message on the Garden Party’s Facebook page saying: ‘As you can see from the picture attached the wheels are now turning and we are beginning the refund procedure.

‘We’re sorry this has taken a little longer than expected but thank you to everyone who has stood by us.’

Weekend tickets cost £50 for adults and £30 for under-16s, while one-day tickets were £30 for adults and £20 for under-16s. The festival, which was in its third year, was originally called Fockerfest.

It was renamed the Garden Party in 2011 after a traditional Manx social event, which precedes Tynwald Day.

The 2012 event was a new era for the Sure Garden Party festival, moving away from solely Manx acts.

This year, it also featured international headline acts, two additional performance areas and the introduction of family entertainment.

The biggest coup of the festival was indie icons The Charlatans who headlined on the Saturday night. Saturday’s line-up also included Starsailor frontman James Walsh and Turin Brakes.

COLLINS Stewart Wealth Management has appointed James Swaisland to lead the compliance team in the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.

Mr Swaisland will work with all departments and the compliance team to ensure Collins Stewart continues to adhere to all relevant legislation and financial regulation within the three jurisdictions.

He has worked in the investment compliance industry for more than 15 years and has held a number of senior departmental positions in Guernsey and the UK.

He began his career at The Royal Bank of Canada as a graduate trainee in the compliance department and moved to the UK to take on senior roles at firms including Johnson Fry Asset Managers PLC in London and Aberforth Partners LLP in Edinburgh.

Mr Swaisland has a Diploma in Investment Compliance from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, and a degree in Public Sector Management from Sheffield Hallam University.

After a number of years working in the UK, Mr Swaisland, has decided to return to Guernsey with his family to take on the senior position at Collins Stewart.

‘I am looking forward to getting to grips with the size and breadth of the Collins Stewart business with its wide range of international products and services,’ he said.

‘The challenge continually faced by compliance professionals is coping with the pace and variety of regulatory change combined with the increased influence of global regulation on our local markets. I’ll be working with the Collins Stewart compliance team to ensure we are at the forefront of all regulatory changes in all jurisdictions.’

A MOTHER has set up a charity in memory of her daughter Hope, who was stillborn last year.

Helen Sheppard, aged 27, of Ballakilley Close, in Port Erin, has launched A Little Piece of Hope, to provide emotional and financial support to families who have lost children from gestational age up to 16.

She said: ‘There’s more support needed for parents on the island who have lost children.

‘Even from the professionals there are no leaflets given out by doctors at the hospital.’

Helen, who has two boys aged two and four, from a previous relationship, said that it was really difficult time for the whole family after she gave birth to Hope, stillborn, at 25 weeks.

‘It was unexpected. You just think when you’re pregnant it is going smoothly.

‘I had a scan two days before and no problems were seen. It’s just one of those things, you don’t know why it happened.’

Helen said families who had been in a similar position to her and her partner Phil Walmsley had welcomed the charity’s launch this month.

‘They think it could be really useful because there is no support on the island really,’ said Helen.

‘They have the funeral and that’s it.’

Along with a small group of friends – many of them mums – as trustees, they want to provide financial support for headstones, plaques and funeral services.

She said that for many parents their child’s death would be unexpected, so they might not have sufficient funds available to cover the costs, which can be substantial.

Cases will be assessed on an individual basis.

Helen believes that it may benefit parents to be able to talk to someone who had been through the same thing.

She stressed that any support would be confidential.

The charity’s first fundraising event, a sale and raffle, takes place on Sunday, 2pm to 4pm, at the Royal British Legion hall, in Droghadfayle Road, Port Erin.

At the time this article went online she didn’t know whether she would be able to attend the event herself – because she is due to give birth to a girl in the next week.

There are lots of fundraising ideas at the planning stage, and they hope to hold a monthly event to start with.

In the future, Helen also hopes that A Little Piece of Hope will work with other charities and organisations.

They include Look to the Moon, a bereavement support group which helped Helen. Set up earlier this year, it provides free online support and the chance to meet up at different places across the Isle of Man.

The charity is looking for sponsorship. If you can help, or would like to find out more about A Little Piece of Hope email {mailto:littlepieceofhope@manx.net|littlepieceofhope(at)manx.net}.

Alternatively, call Helen on 378284 or Nicola Walton on 202870.

ONE of the biggest occasions in the Manx social calendar takes place tonight (Thursday) when Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence event takes place at the Villa Marina.

More than 1,000 people will attend the event, which recognises achievements in the private, public and charity sectors.

There were more than 100 entries for the awards and 48 finalists were chosen by an expert panel of judges.

The finalists will find out on the night who has won each of 16 categories.

There will also be a special award for lifetime achievement.

TV star Clive Anderson will host the event, which will be attended by the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister and leading members of the island’s business, charity and political communities.

Richard Butt, editor of Isle of Man Newspapers, said: ‘While we know that there are problems in the island and further afield, this is an opportunity to be positive. It’s a celebration of the many successes of the island over the past 12 months.

‘I know our deputy chairman, Trudi Williamson, and her team have been working hard on the event since the end of 2011’s. They always come up with a fantastic evening and they are promising some special surprises too.’

The event’s principal sponsor is Royal Bank of Scotland International.

You can watch the live stream online at {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/afe|www.iomtoday.co.im/afe}.

DEEMSTER Montogemerie has expressed his frustration after what he says was a ‘drafting or printing error’ meant he did not have the power to ban a man who appeared before him from pubs.

The Manx Independent tells the full story in today’s paper.

The newspaper also includes the latest details in the investigation into the TT sponsorship deal that hit the front page on November 1.

Former MHK and government minister Martyn Quayle says he was shocked and appalled at the situation he discovered. A £1.6m contract was not signed.

The paper has lots of news from the Keys. The politician in charge of public transport says that bendy buses could save the taxpayer money.

Just under 70 per cent of long-term incapacity benefit claimants have had their payments stopped following the introduction of fitness to work assessments. It’s all down to reviews carried out by a company that’s caused controversy in the UK.

Elsewhere, we look into the closure of the Mailbox bar in the face of increased competition.

Meanwhile, in the face of continuing declines in passenger numbers at the airport, Ronaldsway boss Ann Reynolds comments on the decision by Manx2 to withdraw from Leeds and Oxford from January.

In Castletown, a bar boss says he’s been the victim of racist abuse after a false rumour spread in the town. We talk to him.

In our leisure and entertainments section, we look forward to Grease, which is due to be performed later in the month.

Former England manager Kevin Keegan is to visit the island. The Manx Independent has details.

In sport, we celebrate Manx achievements in an 80km walk in South Africa. We also look at the Forest Rally, football, golf, athletics and more.

The Manx Indepedent also includes its usual two pages of What’s On.

The paper is in the shops now.

THE chairman of the Office of Fair Trading said he would support a private member’s bill calling for a ban on cold calling.

David Quirk (Onchan) gave his support in the House of Keys to a crackdown on cold calling after revealing details about the scale of complaints about cowboy builders.

Replying to a question from Howard Quayle (Middle), Mr Quirk said that over the last three years the OFT had handled no fewer than 1,209 complaints about builders and home repairs - with a further 197 complaints this year up to the end of October.

He told MHKs: ‘Not all of these complaints were about cowboy builders - some were perfectly reputable builders for whom things went wrong and indeed not all the complaints were justified.

‘However, this category represents over 10 per cent of the complaints which the OFT receives and I’m afraid a small but busy number of cowboy builders, both resident and itinerant, do feature regularly.’

Mr Quirk said he did not believe the OFT has sufficient powers to deal with the problem of cowboy builders and one method for disrupting their activities would be a ban on cold calling.

He explained: ‘This would create a victimless offence that could be enforced. It would not solve the problem completely because despite all the warnings, people still respond to advertising and leaflet drops.’

Mr Quayle asked the OFT chairman: ‘Given the high number of complaints received would he support a private member’s bill calling for a ban on cold calling?’

Mr Quirk replied that personally he would be happy to support such a move and would seek the views of the board at its next meeting.

Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) asked what action the OFT had taken given this ‘very, very serious problem.’

And John Houghton (Douglas North) also questioned how active the Office had been in pursuing convictions. He asked the chairman: ‘Can he tell us how many people have been arrested and prosecuted and how many have been convicted over the last 12 months?’

Mr Quirk promised to get back with the figures.

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney raised the issue of a potential abuse of the small claims court by some cowboy builders who he claimed were using it to ‘bully consumers into submission’.

‘I will ask the Office,’ Mr Quirk replied.

He said that trading standards officers treated cowboy builders as a high priority, not just based on the volume of complaints but particularly because of the ‘real hardship and anguish that they cause’.

He said the problems had been limited until relatively recently by a handful of local cowboy builders and small numbers of a tarmacadam gangs from adjacent jurisdictions but within the last few years most issues had been caused by itinerant traders.