Castletown Residents’ and Traders’ Association (RETA) will hold its first public meeting at 7pm on November 11 at St Mary’s in the Harbour.
The association aims ‘to represent and advance the best interests of Castletown’.
RETA’s five directors – Johnny Kipps, Mark Moorley, town MHK Richard Ronan and commissioner Andrew Thomas and David Watts – will discuss RETA’s achievements so far and future areas of concern.
Mr Kipps said: ‘We need members and supporters of RETA to get their ideas, refine them and focus and develop a strategy.’
Although the initial area of concern for RETA was Callow’s Yard, a number of extra issues - from promoting youth facilities to flood defences - has gained their attention.
Top of the list is housing, which is a ‘serious issue,’ said Mr Kipps.‘The Southern Area Plan partial review has not taken place, and I needs to. In the plan, the inspector recommended more land be made available for housing in Castletown. It’s long outstanding, nothing is happening on releasing new residential land. We need housing young families can afford to buy.’
He is keen to stress they want to work with the local authority.
‘Some of the commissioners probably think we are worthwhile and some think we will be a hindrance, but that’s not the objective at all, it’s to support the commissioners in the best interests of Castletown.’