A yob who hurled rocks at police vans and cars as they were parked outside Castletown police station was already subject to a suspended prison sentence at the time.

Christopher David Lunt, of Malew Street in Castletown, did damage totalling £1,295, plus VAT to two cars, a Ford Fiesta and a Ford Focus, and two Transit vans at tea time as they were parked outside the police station.

Lunt, who said he ‘just hated the police’, was arrested nearby soon after.

Hazel Carroon, for the prosecution, said the vehicles had to be taken out of service for eight days for repairs.

Police calculated the cost of the vehicles being out of service was £720 per day per vehicle, she said.

Defending the 22-year-old, Deborah Myerscough said he had been drinking.

She added: ‘He is only 22 and he has pleaded guilty, as well as making frank admissions to the police.’

She told the court the defendant had experienced a difficult childhood, had some health problems and some problems with alcohol.

When he was much younger, she said he had spent time living on the streets.

He had been offence free for the past seven months, which may not sound impressive, but for Lunt was a ‘very significant’ achievement, she said.

The court heard Lunt had been stressed by a number of personal issues, including his accommodation, and suffered from anxiety.

Sentencing him, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes noted that Lunt had a difficult youth but had acquired no convictions until he was 19 years old.

‘This was wanton damage,’ she said.

He received four months’ custody for criminal damage, no penalty for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, all on October 20, plus 35 days in lieu of unpaid fines.

A motorist had a lucky escape after crashing on the Peel to Kirk Michael coast road yesterday (Saturday) afternon.

The single-vehicle accident happened shortly before 3pm at Lynague, close to the Apple Orphanage.

Fire and rescue crews from Peel and Kirk Michael attended the scene, but the sole accupant of the Land Rover Discovery had managed to free themselves before help arrived.

Crews provided first aid until an ambulance arrived, when the occupant was taken to hospital for further checks.

Fire crews made the vehicle safe and were in attendance for around 90 minutes.

A team of six business students from the University College Isle of Man (UCM) are to travel to Birmingham to represent the isalnd in a competion in June.

They beat other island schools to win an Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales’ heat in a business and accounting competition.

The students are in their second year of a national BTEC level 3 extended diploma in business (equivalent to three A levels), a vocational qualification that enables students to understand the wide facets of business, which include marketing, accounting, law, human resources and team building.

Dawn Kinnish, assistant programme manager for the business area said: ‘I was extremely proud of the students’ professional approach on the day, demonstrating the ability to analyse and solve problems under pressure, communicate effectively and work in a cohesive team.’

This is the second accolade in recent weeks for the business programme area, recently the Institute of Bookkeeping awarded the Gold Standard for excellence in teaching and assessment.

College principal Jo Pretty and lecturer Catherine Delaney will collect the award during a ceremony at the House of Commons in London.

A new food bank in the south is being launched at 3.45pm on Tuesday, December 6, at the Methodist Church in Port Erin.

Directors of the Isle of Man Food Bank, which is based in Douglas, David Gawne and Neal Mellon will talk about how the service works.

There will also be a presentation by the homeless advice and advocacy charity Housing Matters.

Manx Gateway Drama Group is celebrating Christmas with a performance of The Innkeeper’s Tale.

The Christmas celebration – a regular events in the group’s calendar – takes place at St Andrew’s Church, in Douglas, on Sunday, December 11.

The Innkeeper’s Tale is the traditional Christmas nativity story based around the Innkeeper and his wife and is being directed by Elan Karran.

Introducing the story will be narrator Katie Toohey.

And it will be told by a host of Angel readers including Rebecca Maller, Julia Karran, Laura Oram, Fiona Powley, and Hannah Cowell accompanied by Amy Towler and Amy O’Rourke.

The Angel soloists are Sonia Plested and Danielle Milligan.

They will be accompanied by John Riley and the choir Musicale will also perform.

Playing the roles of Mary and Joseph will be Amanda Jones and Paul Clucas.

The parts of the Innkeeper and his Wife have gone to William Derbyshire and Julie Hinstridge.

The Three Kings are Geoff Briscoe, James Quilliam and Maria Kaighin and the Shepherds will be Jack Leece, who will also perform a reading, along with Suzanne Woods, Rebecca Corkish and Lian Milne.

Rehearsals have been taking place since October and are said to be going very well.

Elan explained: ‘All of the Manx Gateway Drama productions are conceived, written, staged and directed by volunteers and the amazing costumes are designed and made by a dedicated wardrobe team.

‘The volunteers work with performers with learning difficulties and the objective is to assist them in improving communication, interaction and self confidence skills.

‘The group members have worked very hard to achieve the readings, speaking parts and solos.’

Manx Gateway Drama Group was founded in 2008.

Its chairman is Sandie Newson, who said that everyone was welcome to join in with the group’s celebration.

The concert starts at 6.30pm.

Among the guests will be Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney and his wife Lady Gozney, and Douglas Mayor John Skinner and Mayoress Gill Skinner.

Festive food, products and crafts will be showcased in a Christmas fair in Douglas town centre on Saturday-Sunday, December 10-11.

Organised by Douglas town centre management in association with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the fair will comprise some 50 stalls – from hog roasts to handmade gifts and much more – along Castle Street, Howard Street and Granville Street and will run each day from 9.30am to 5pm.

Christine Howson, from the Manx Crafters Market, said: ‘The Christmas fair is an inspired idea which we’re delighted to be supporting.

‘We see it as a great way to display the wealth of artisanal talent we have in the island to a wider audience and to offer shoppers some fantastic bespoke gift suggestions for Christmas.’

David Paramor, of The Eatery, will also be taking a stall.

He said: ‘Although we trade from our town centre premises in Duke Street we were keen get behind the Christmas fair, as we felt it would be a valuable way of raising our profile, and helping to fuel Christmas shoppers with some of our great food and drink.’

Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire said: ‘We’ve seen how craft and food fairs not only bring a real boost to the vibrancy and street life in the regenerated town centre but also how they increase footfall and benefit local retailers.

‘Response from traders for this event has been really encouraging.

‘The fair will provide a great opportunity to celebrate the talents of local crafters and producers in the run-up to Christmas and offer a wealth of inspirational gift ideas.

‘It will also complement the many other attractions we have planned over the coming weeks in the town centre – from ice carving to carol singing and live music – that will make Douglas the go-to destination this Christmas.’

A fundraising night in support of the family of a mother who died in a car crash has been hailed a success.

The event was held at the Mitre Hotel in Ramsey by friends of Laura Kinrade, aged 27, of Jurby, who died at the scene of a crash in Lezayre in late October.

It saw two of Laura’s childdhood friends, Alecia Foulis and Amy Black, have their heads shaved in front of the pub full of well-wishers by stylist Lynsey Woods.

Alecia, of Ramsey, told the Isle of Man Examiner that she had been thinking of giving something back to the community before Laura’s death, but that the tragic event spurred her into action.

‘We knew that if we had our heads shaved as part of a charity night that it would get a good audience,’ she said. ‘My hair was really long, it hadn’t been cut in nearly four years, and Amy’s was dead thick.

‘It was our way of giving something back.’

Alecia added: ‘Laura would think I’m mad but would have enjoyed it. She would be proud. I’m glad we did it.’

But she admitted that in the current cold spell she now never leaves the house without a hat on!

The night, which also included food, karaoke and a raffle, has already raised £700, with sponsorship money still being collected.

A separate fundraiser, a coffee morning held at The Church on the Rock in Ramsey, raised more than £1,000.

It’s hoped that in total they will raise £3,000.

That was in addition to a successul fundraising campaign that raised money to pay for Laura’s funeral, held at St Paul’s Church on November 23.

Laura leaves two young children, her parents and six siblings.

SMP Partners Group has completed the acquisition of Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) trust and fund administration business in the Bahamas, expanding its operations into the Caribbean.

It will operate from offices in Lyford Cay, with Stephen Turner, CEO – Caribbean Region, leading the team and Deidree Bain, director, who is transferring from RBC, managing the operation and working with Stephen to expand the service offering.

In November last year, SMP Partners announced it had entered into an agreement to purchase RBC’s trust, fund administration and custody business across the Caribbean region, which includes businesses in the Bahamas, Barbados and Cayman.

The Bahamas portion of the transaction, which was subject to standard regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, was concluded last month.

The sale of the Barbados and Cayman businesses will conclude when certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions are fulfilled.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

SMP Partners Group Chairman Steve McGowan said: ‘This acquisition further extends the Group’s global network by establishing our presence in the Caribbean region.

‘We have earned an excellent international reputation as leaders in trust, fund and corporate administration services and look forward to delivering the same high standards to clients from our new offices in Lyford Cay.’

Headquartered in the Isle of Man, the independent SMP Partners Group is wholly owned by its management and is dedicated to providing trust, fund and corporate administration from its offices in the Isle of Man, Switzerland, Hong Kong and now the Bahamas.

The Group has a global client base with solutions spanning more than 60 jurisdictions and extensive experience in trust and company management, fund administration, tax, corporate law and accounting.

Stephen Turner said: ‘SMP Partners is committed to investing time to establish long-term relationships and applying the collective expertise and experience to build and manage tailored solutions that fit precisely with the requirements of our clients.

‘This expansion of the business is an opportunity to bring our high quality services to a new client base while growing our Caribbean trust, fund and corporate administration operations as part of the SMP Group, further enhancing the services and opportunities for clients and staff.’

Focus on strength not growth. That’s the key to emulating family business success

Remi Krug, former president of Krug Champagne and Peter Lamble, chairman of Start-rite Shoes agree that family businesses measure strength rather than growth as the key factor behind their continued success.

Both were speaking at The Exchange, a Barclays hosted event in the island, to explore how the rest of the business world might adopt this approach in order to replicate the long term success of the family-run business model.

Director of global investment strategy at Barclays, Henk Potts, said: ‘Family businesses are driven by their values and try to do the right thing by their key stakeholders.

‘They measure success in more ways than just on a balance sheet. PLCs are driven by their quarterly numbers, which prioritise growth and encourage short termism, whereas family business plan for a 20 year time horizon, ensuring their businesses have the strength to endure.’

Peter Lamble, himself an eighth-generation descendent of the founders of one of the UK’s oldest fashion brands, summed this up by describing some decisions Start-rite had made and how they had taken their time in moving manufacturing jobs to India.

‘As a family business we have the luxury of time,’ he said. ‘Without the pressure of quarterly numbers we can make decisions that are financially sub-optimal but are the right thing to do for the long-term strength of the business.’

The debate was moderated by financial journalist and former host of Sky News’ breakfast programme, Sunrise, Emma Crosby.

The panel discussed family business success being a combination of drive and DNA and how family-run businesses focus on long term decisions aimed at benefitting the future health of the business, rather than looking for short-term gains.

Remi Krug, a fifth-generation descendant of Johann-Joseph Krug, who founded the famous Champagne brand in 1843, said that his family business’ success had perhaps come at the expense of growth. Over the years the brand has resisted the temptation to increase its production: ‘It’s not a matter of size, it could be the energy, the drive or the passion. You could be small but put your ambition and uniqueness into your planning to give you the will to succeed,’ he said.

Director at Barclays, Nick Gordon also reviewed a variety of challenges for family-run businesses, including dealing with multiple dependents and stakeholders and providing an objective viewpoint which benefits all.

‘It’s our role here at Barclays firstly to understand the dynamics between different family members. This is important as their views may differ whether they are actively or passively involved in the business.

‘After this, we have to bridge the gap between these two different groups to find common ground, which can sometimes be tricky.

‘By ensuring you have reasonable governance procedures to deal with the business dimension and consider setting up family councils to deal with family issues and shareholders meetings to deal with ownership issues, there is no reason for your business not to be successful.’

The Exchange, now in its second year, is a thought leadership panel event organised by Barclays featuring experts from the world of business and finance.

Managing director of Barclays in the Isle of Man, Simon Scott, said: ‘The Exchange has yet again been a valuable experience for our clients, local business owners and investors to learn about the success of family-run businesses.’

“Both Peter and Remi have given great insight into their renowned brands and we hope the event will inspire entrepreneurs in the Isle of Man to follow suit.”

A Manx registered company is understood to be linked to the reported saving of about 1,700 jobs in South Yorkshire and thousands more in the wider supply chain.

Tata has signed a letter of intent to sell its Yorkshire speciality steel business for £100 million to Sanjeev Gupta and his Liberty House group.

Gupta had already acquired some of Tata’s UK plants.

The new deal, reported this week, cements Liberty House’s place as one of Britain’s most important steel companies.

And it means the continuing business success of the 45-year-old Mr Gupta.

The tycoon’s company is owned by a Manx registered company called Liberty House UK - which is registered in Ramsey.

Publicly available documents show Liberty House UK was set up in 1992.

An address in Parliament Street, Ramsey is listed as registered address.

The Financial Times reported earlier this year that Sanjeev Gupta relocated his wife and three children to the UK from Dubai last year and his British interests are just a small fraction of his global business.

The FT reported he had plenty of ‘dry powder’ to be able to purchase steel concerns from Tata.

Liberty House said in a statement this week that the latest acquisition would ‘secure the jobs of around 1,700 steelworkers at major production facilities in Rotherham and Stockbridge, a mill in Brinsworth and at service centres in Wednesbury and Boltonm plus thousands more in the UK supply chain.’

It said it expected to close the deal in early 2017.

Since the acquisition of the Newport steelworks reactivated last year, Liberty House has acquired a string of businesses.

Managing director Sharon Sutton took centre stage at a financial planning event at Wembley Stadium.

Sharon, boss of Athol Street firm Thornton Chartered Financial Planners joined a practitioner panel at the Personal Finance Society’s National Symposium.

More than 600 financial planning professionals attended the Wembley gathering which trended on Twitter at one point with 60,000 tweets.

Currently vice president of the Personal Finance Society, Sharon is now also chairman of a new financial planning panel set up by the society to communicate the message of financial planning as far and as widely as possible.

Sharon, pictured above at the event, said: ‘Personal financial planning is a real game changer.

‘People don’t want a collection of financial products, they need to know how much money they need to maintain their desired lifestyle without fear of running out of money or dying with too much.

‘One of our key goals at Thornton Chartered Financial Planners and at the Personal Finance Society is to make as many people aware of financial planning as possible so that they get the right kind of financial advice.

‘The kind of advice that can make a real difference to their lives.’

With financial planning the symposium’s key theme, Sharon Sutton fielded questions about best practices in financial planning and the key role financial planning has to play in people’s lives.

Work will continue when Sharon Sutton becomes president of the Personal Finance Society in September 2017.

The society has more than 36,000 members in the British Isles.

Former Ayre United and RYCOB striker Niall Cummins suffered Emirates FA Cup heartbreak on Sunday.

The Isle of Man FA cap was part of the Curzon Ashton team that lost 4-3 to League One outfit AFC Wimbledon in the competition’s second round.

Niall and his team-mates, who ply their trade in the Conference North three divisions below the Dons, made a dream start to the televised tie going 3-0 up thanks to Adam Morgan’s well-taken hat-trick.

With the Tameside outfit in dreamland and eyeing a place in the third round draw, the full-timers began their remarkable comeback in the 80th minute.

Tom Elliot struck the first of three Dons’ goals in three minutes before a shell-shocked Curzon conceded a 94th minute winner to end the Nash’s cup run.

More in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

Hog The Limelight drama group will be staging another Manx first, the island premiere of Keeping Up Appearances.

It follows their sell-out successes with Open All Hours, The Vicar of Dibley and Abigail’s Party.

Celebrated author Roy Clarke’s play is based on the iconic, hilarious and much-loved BBC TV series of the same name that hit our TV screens throughout much of the 90s .

All of the celebrated characters are there but it’s an original play rather than a stage setting of a TV episode.

The irrepressible Hyacinth Bucket (‘It’s pronounced Bouquet!’) with her embarrassing family – her sister Daisy with her husband, the unforgettable and dishevelled armchair philosopher Onslow, and her man-hungry sister Rose, plus Hyacinth’s neighbours, the artistic Emmet and the accident-prone Elizabeth ‘Liz’.

Liz Wood plays the role of Hyacinth and the cast also features Chris Edge (Daisy). Sue Dennis (Mrs Hebden), Lulu Gillow (Rose), Nick Emery (Mr Milson), Gerald Landels (Emmet) and Wayne Kelsall (Onslow).

The appearances of Liz, played by Jude Dicken and Daddy (Jack Verity) are being kept as a surprise for the performances.

The story sees Hyacinth determined to play an aristocratic lady in a production being staged at the parish hall.

It’s being directed by Emmet who is being ‘assisted’ by his sister Liz.

Emmet is absolutely determined that Hyacinth won’t.

Add in Rose’s sudden passion for the recently-divorced and hapless Mr Milson, the appearance of Daisy and Onslow as key characters in the play, the arrival of the influential and formidable Mrs Debden and the unwelcome appearances of a scantily clad but heavily armed ‘Daddy’, and Emmet’s problems just grow and grow.

Keeping Up Appearances will be staged at Port St Mary town hall nightly from Wednesday to Saturday next week (December 7 to 10).

The performances will start at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10, which includes a glass of wine or soft drink in the interval.

They are available from Mal’s Butcher’s, in Port Erin; Calverts Newsagents, in Port St Mary; or from Jane by calling 833372.

Hog The Limelight was set up in 2012 and is based in the south. The cast has been rehearsing for this production since September.

Police chiefs are planning to recruit more special constables in the new year.

But Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey insisted there was no intention of volunteers being used to replace police officers.

He was replying to the question in the House of Keys from LibVan Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper who asked whether the Constabulary would benefit from a greater number of Special Constables.

There are currently 35 Special Constables and about a dozen Community Volunteers.

Eleven new Specials were recruited in January this year, and Mr Malarkey told the Keys that a recruitment exercise will be undertaken early in 2017.

The Minister said: ‘The Chief Constable is keen to see proper, effective and imaginative use of volunteers as a way of providing the work that helps the Constabulary, and I support him in this ambition.’

He explained that this year a senior management team was appointed for the Special Constabulary and, in conjunction with the Chief Constable, it is producing a plan to develop volunteering across the Manx Force.

‘The plan will broaden the activities of Special Constables and the volunteers, as well as updating recruitment and career developments for volunteers for the future,’ he told MHKs.

It costs more than £1,000 to train and equip at Special Constable.

Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) said specials should not be seen as a permanent replacement for police officers whose numbers have decreased from 248 in 2011, to 214.

Mr Malarkey said: ‘There is no question of Special Constables replacing Constables. It is a matter of working alongside and helping the Force.

‘They are very valued. In the future we will be looking for even more specialised Special Constables who may help us with IT operations, etc.

‘We must remember these Special Constable also have a full-time job – most of them – and they have to balance a full-time job with being a Special Constable and also balance their home life as well, so it is not always that easy to recruit.’

The Christmas period can be a difficult time for many people.

A special event is being held at Tromode House to highlight the wide range of support that is available in the Isle of Man.

Organised by the Prison and Probation Service at the Department of Home Affairs, the open day will provide information, guidance and assistance from a host of government agencies and island charities.

People are invited to attend Tromode House between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday, December 13.

The building, which is the new hub for the island’s probation staff, will be signposted from Ballafletcher Road and Johnny Watterson’s Lane, with parking available at the rear of Isle of Man Creamery.

As well as providing support on matters such as homelessness, loneliness, depression and domestic abuse, the event will also offer practical advice on staying safe, maintaining physical and mental wellbeing and preventing crime.

The format will include presentations, information stands and an opportunity for one-to-one discussions with representatives of the following organisations –

Prison and probation service, the police, St John Ambulance, Victim Support , the Samaritans, the Children’s Centre, Graih (homeless charity), mental wellbeing services, Housing Matters, the Drug and Alcohol Team, Prison Works, the Manx SPCA , the Salvation Army, the fire service, Manx Court Mission and the government’s public health division.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey MHK said: ‘Many people find it difficult to cope at Christmas for a variety of reasons. We are working to spread the message that help is at hand for those in need.’

Nature and the ever-changing light remain a constant source of inspiration for Nancy Corkish and David Byrne.

Some of their new work will be on display at The Isle Gallery’s final exhibition of the year.

The preview of ‘Nancy Corkish, David Byrne & Friends Christmas Exhibition’ takes place on Sunday and the exhibition continues until January 8.

Also on display will be artwork by Jeremy Paul, Eileen Schaer, Julie Collins, Catherine James, Petrina Kent, Bruno Cavellec, Colette Gambell, Juan Moore, Nicola Dixon, Anna Clucas and Kate Jerry.

The couple live in Cregneash, where their home overlooks the Calf of Man and the Sound.

While they do not work alongside each other they love to discuss their paintings and thrash out various problems they encounter – as they say, having a fresh eye to see things they may have missed!

They both admit that they continue to find painting a challenge!

The preview will also see the launch of a framed postcard lottery being run by the artists.

It’s a chance to to bag an original piece of framed artwork for £15.

Meanwhile, Art Reach Studios, which manages the gallery is running a range of Christmas art workshops.

They include ‘Mum and Me’ sessions and those aimed just at children. For more information see www.artreachiom.com

The gallery, at Tynwald Mills, is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm.

Charities wishing to hold street collections and flag days in Douglas town centre in 2017 are invited to apply to Douglas Town Centre Management.

Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire said: ‘Even in these difficult economic times the people of the Isle of Man are noted for being unfailingly supportive of charitable organisations working hard to transform people’s lives.

‘With Douglas town centre having benefited from investment in regeneration – which is helping to boost footfall in the area – the main shopping thoroughfare is the ideal setting for charities looking to increase their visibility and promote their campaigns and services by holding street collections.’

Under Douglas’s 1991 by-laws, 28 applications will be considered in any one year (not including emergency two-day street collections following a disaster appeal).

Douglas Council will also consider applications for licences in non-town centre areas of Douglas on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information search ‘Charitable Collections and Flag Days’ at douglas.gov.im from where application forms can be downloaded. The deadline for applications for 2017 has been extended to December 9.

For more information contact Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire, 696304, ocheshire@douglas.gov.im

A Tynwald select committee established in October to look into the organisation and operation of September’s general election will hear oral evidence on Friday at 10.30am.

The evidence will be heard in public in the Legislative Council Chamber, Legislative Buildings, Buck’s Road, Douglas.

Captain of Onchan parish Peter Kelly will be the first to give evidence at 10.30am, followed by Steve Crowther (11.10am), Tim Baker MHK (12.30pm) and Andrew Barton (1.10pm).

The committee comprises David Cretney MLC, who will act as chairman, David Ashford MHK, Clare Bettison MHK, Daphne Caine MHK and Martyn Perkins MHK.

A skipper who violated the island’s fishing regulations was just 0.4 miles inside a prohibited zone when he was intercepted by the government’s fisheries protection boat.

Ian James McClelland, of Kirkmahoe, Dumfries, admitted flouting licensing restrictions aboard the Scottish boat Saturnus KY43 as he fished for King scallops in Manx waters on November 29.

For the prosecution, Barry Swain said fisheries protection officers noted the boat, and its course was plotted using radar.

‘It was fishing for scallops in a closed area off the point of Ayre,’ Mr Swain said.

‘This is a big commercial vessel operating with derricks. Radio contact was made and it was confirmed they were fishing at the time.

‘The position was plotted on the Admiralty chart and they were 0.4 miles within the closed fishing area off the Point of Ayre. A number of tows had been completed using a drag system. This is a very sensitive area where action has been taken to conserve the Queen scallop breeding grounds.’

Mr Swain told the court the vessel was detained in Douglas and the catch was seized.

McClelland, who has no previous convictions, but has received a written warning once in the UK, told officers he had made a mistake and had misinterpreted the ‘rather complex’ licensing conditions.

The total catch was 202 bags but only four of those had been taken from the restricted area, the court was told.

At £117 per bag, the value of the unauthorised catch was £468, which Mr Swain said should be forfeited. Gross value of the total catch was around £20,000.

Defending McClelland, Peter Taylor said his client had simply made a mistake and misread the licensing regulations, but had readily admitted his error.

McClelland was fined £5,000 and the £468 value of the unauthorised catch was forfeited to the court. He must also pay costs of £50.

‘Environment Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot said: ‘Queen scallops are in decline and DEFA has a special recovery programme to rebuild stocks. Young queen scallops are sensitive during the winter, when they settle on the seabed. Dredging activity can destroy this vulnerable habitat.’

Douglas Council leader David Christian has disputed horse tram statistics provided recently in Tynwald.

Mr Christian said that in 2015, the last year the service was operated by the council, the service carried nearly 51,000 passengers and income totalled £117,279, including residents’ tickets, Explorer tickets, special hires, advertising income and the special December Santa tram service.

He said the figures were achieved despite a proposal to cancel the service that year to make way for promenade renovation work (which did not happen) and poor summer weather.

The statement came in response to figures quoted by Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer in Tynwald on November 15. Mr Harmer said 48,722 passengers were carried in the same period generating nearly £58,000 in income.

‘As the former owner and operator of the horse trams which benefited from the long-term financial support of Douglas ratepayers, the council wishes to place on public record the correct audited performance figures for the service while under council stewardship in 2015,’ Mr Christian said.

He added the figures were set out in the council’s public accounts and easily accessible for reference purposes.