Liberal Vannin Party leader Peter Karran has hit out against Bus Vannin management, saying the way the bus drivers have been treated has been ‘appalling’.

As the 12-day bus strike enters its fourth day, the Onchan MHK suggested that the dispute was a smokescreen and that the government was really intent on privatising the service.

His comments came after the Chief Minister said that an intervention in the dispute by Mr Karran had jeopardised a resolution.

The industrial action during TT is the longest strike the Isle of Man has seen for decades.

Mr Karran said he had spoken to many bus drivers who were ‘up in arms about the way they have been treated’.

Mr Karran renewed his call for the dispute to go into binding arbitration, which is what the Unite union has called for since the dispute began.

The DCCL has maintained that it could not agree to binding arbitration because it has to save £300,000 a year on the service and it might not be able to meet any terms under binding arbitration.

Mr Karran said: ‘Management wanted the bus strike. The real truth is this whole sad affair could have been resolved months ago.

‘I think it is just a case of privatisation of the bus service and in the long term taxpayers will get ripped off. The members [of Tynwald] are not even informed about the drivers.’

The MHK added that the ‘whole situation is a disgrace’ and that the problem is that the bus drivers are frightened to speak out about management.

Mr Karran (pictured) said the drivers expected there would be some changes but the way they had been treated was something ‘you would have expected 30 years ago’.

He said: ‘I’ve known bus drivers all my life who are not interested in politics, but the real issue is privatisation of the service. I have to speak out because the way they have been treating the men is appalling.

‘It is a case of “my way or no way”. Government has forced bus drivers in to this action.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell stated at the weekend that the government was close to a resolution with Unite regarding the bus strike until Mr Karran intervened.

Mr Karran, who thinks Mr Bell’s comments were a case of slurring him, said: ‘Allan Bell needs a reality check, like with the Sefton bail-out, he needs to go out there and listen to the ordinary people and come to a positive agreement.

‘My concern regarding the bus strike is that we need to get to the real agenda. We need to find out what is fact and what is fiction. It might be a case that we need to change working practices.’

A driver, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It has nothing do with money. It is all to do with the health and safety of drivers, passengers and the public. We cannot be expected to drive for four and a half hours without being able to go to the toilet.’

The DCCL says that in the UK, drivers can work for five and a half hours without a break.

Contingency bus timetables are available online at www.iombusandrail.info and at the Welcome Centre in the Sea Terminal, Douglas.

Nick Black, chief executive officer of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure, which runs the bus service, said: ‘It is obviously very disappointing that drivers have rejected the latest offer but the department is well prepared with contingency measures and a comprehensive TT bus and rail service will be in place.

‘We will do whatever we can to make sure that commuters can reach their place of work and that our TT visitors enjoy their visit. I would like to reiterate that it is not possible to tailor or guarantee services to enable all students to reach exam centres during TT week and parents of these students are encouraged to think about alternative methods of transportation to ensure their arrival at their exams in good time.’

Due to the potential for increased congestion on strike days, the department would encourage commuters, where possible, to also consider some of the following options:

Car sharing – which can be arranged using www.journeymatch.im

Flexible working hours – it may be possible for some employers/employees to make flexible working arrangements

Walking

Loss of the island’s four-times daily airlink to Gatwick proves the government should act to protect existing carriers, according to the passenger watchdog TravelWatch.

Flybe confirmed in a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Thursday that it had sold off all its landing slots at Gatwick to easyJet for £20 million. It will stop all regional air services from the London terminal next spring.

The airline blamed the decision on a 102 per cent hike in five years in landing charges imposed by the airport operator.

But TravelWatch believe the introduction of competition by easyJet on the Ronaldsway to Gatwick route fatally damages the profitability of the service for Flybe.

In a statement it said it viewed Flybe’s decision to withdraw from Gatwick ‘with great concern, but with little surprise’.

It said: ‘We believe it is vital for the IOM Government to take immediate action to limit the possibility of any further move by off-island airlines, unable or unwilling to provide a reasonable frequency of service on this essential link, to move in and fatally damage our existing carriers.’

TravelWatch called on the government to enter into early talks with easyJet to obtain a commitment to at least a double daily service on weekdays from Gatwick.

It said there should also have been talks with BA City Flyer to persuade them to introduce one of its larger jet aircraft onto the London City service.

EasyJet said it would be looking at a range of options to provide more frequency on popular existing routes from Gatwick.

A spokesman said: ‘EasyJet is committed to providing the Isle of Man with easy and affordable links to London. EasyJet already provides daily flights to Gatwick airport.

‘The slots will transfer from summer 2014 and will allow easyJet to provide additional frequencies on popular existing routes from Gatwick as well as add new destinations across the UK and Europe.

‘EasyJet will look at a range of options including the routes currently served by Flybe. EasyJet’s summer 2014 timetable is announced in a few months’ time and further route information will be available at this time.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell described news that Flybe had sold its Gatwick slots as a ‘huge disappointment, although not unexpected.’

He said it had become clear for some time that the operators of Gatwick airport had been ‘determined to squeeze out the smaller regional airlines’.

Mr Bell said the Department of Infrastructure had moved quickly to contact easyJet to discuss the possibility of increasing frequency on the route but he said the key thing from the point of the view of the business community was to have an early morning flight to London and this would require the budget carrier to stable an aircraft at Ronaldsway overnight – which he admitted was unlikely.

Airport director Ann Reynolds said Flybe’s decision was ‘regrettable’.

But she added: ‘We mustn’t forget we have two other operators who fly to London. Firstly, BA CityFlyer who already has a very good frequent service to London City, and who may consider upping the frequency when load factors reach the levels needing more capacity.

‘Secondly, we are in the advantageous position of already having easyJet on our London Gatwick route.

‘It’s a much better position to be asking for additional rotations on the route rather than to ask to start a new route.

‘All that said, it is business as usual for Flybe and their passengers until the summer next year.’

Scheduled health services clinics will be running as usual over the next fortnight, in spite of the industrial action by bus drivers.

The Department of Health is urging any patients who is unable to attend a scheduled appointment to contact the service (using the number on their appointment letter) to enable their slot to be given to someone else.

Lesley Keenan, deputy chief executive said: ‘Missed appointment slots, often referred to as “Did Not Attends” or “DNAs”, results in lost and wasted capacity in the island’s health service.

‘If we’re not made aware that someone is unable to attend their appointment, then not only is the slot and staff time wasted; but also a replacement appointment has to be found for that patient, with the potential and needless knock on effect of increasing waiting times for other patients.

‘We’ll be running our scheduled clinics, both at Noble’s Hospital and in the community – such as podiatry – as usual, despite the industrial action, so if patients are able to attend their appointments, I’d ask that they do so. If they are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements and hopefully offer the slot to someone else who is waiting.’

A copy of the public transport timetable for the TT period / period of industrial action can be found {www.gov.im/lib/docs/publictransport/Timetables/tttimetable2.pdf|here}.

Full details of contact telephone numbers for the Department of Health can be found in the phone book or by visiting {www.gov.im/health/contacts.gov|here}

There’s ‘not one shred of truth’ in a conman’s claims of collusion between a developer and government ministers, the Chief Minister insists.

Allan Bell spoke out after convicted fraudster Charles ‘Buster’ Lewin was allowed out of jail to give evidence before a Tynwald inquiry into the Kirk Michael landswap saga.

Mr Lewin’s central allegation was that his former employer Heritage Homes carried out a bluff to clinch a landswap deal with the Department of Education and Children which it needed to secure its preferred access to a proposed major housing development.

He accused the then treasury minister, now Chief Minister, Allan Bell and the then education minister, now Treasury Minister Eddie Teare, of collusion in the bluffy – and spoke of regular two-hour telephone calls between ‘AB’ and Dandara chairman Dan Tynan.

The witness told the committee: ‘I have seen it first hand. I am sure the telephone logs will clearly record two-hour telephone calls going between the Treasury Minister’s phone and Dan Tynan’s personal number.’

The Chief Minister said he had been ‘astonished’ to hear of Mr Lewin’s allegations which he described as ‘nonsense presented as fact’.

He said: ‘I’ve never had these telephone calls with Dan Tynan. There is not one shred of truth in this.

‘There was absolutely no collusion between the developer, the department, ministers or myself. It was a very straightforward deal.’

He said he had no idea what had gone on behind the scenes in terms of the developer’s involvement in the site.

Under the land swap deal, the DEC was to have conveyed part of Michael School’s corner field to afford access to the new housing development and in return received a couple of acres of land to the rear of the school site.

Heritage Homes said it had secured alternative access via Lhergy Vreck, prompting the then Education Minister to tell Tynwald it was a done deal and his department might as well take advantage and agree the land exchange.

Mr Lewin claimed, however, the developer knew Lhergy Vreck was not an option as there were issues over traffic safety and access rights.

In the event, however, the landswap never happened as Heritage Homes’ planning application for 95 homes was thrown out by the Council of Ministers following an inspector’s recommendation.

Now a regular feature of the TT and Manx Grand Prix, Bill Snelling’s annual photograph exhibition will once again be held at the Laxey Woollen Mills.

Featuring a range of shots from historic to recent, both quirky and fascinating, the exhibition will run in the Hodgson Loom Gallery daily throughout TT fortnight from May 27 to June 8 including Mad Sunday.

Taking centre stage in the gallery as part of the display this year will be the Lonan Gentlemen’s Fellowship’s Manxman - the bike which took the team to two world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats last year.

‘It will be a bit of a challenge getting it up the steps into the gallery,’ Bill said.

‘But they have taken the swinging arm off it which should make things easier - it’s full of lead!’

The exhibition features around 150 photographs taken from Bill’s TT Fottofinders archive of TT, Manx Grand Prix and other two, three and four-wheel motorsport around the island.

In addition also on display will be a selection of artist Peter Haynes’ paintings of TT racing scenes.

There is plenty of parking at the back of the gallery which also boasts a tea room. Admission to the exhibition is free but a donation to the Manx Grand Prix helicopter fund would be appreciated.

For more information about the exhibition email Bill at amulree@mcb.net or call 862238.

Newly appointed Isle of Man chief financial officer Malcolm Couch was among the guest speakers at the high-level conference, held at the Claremont Hotel, Douglas, last Tuesday.

An audience representing a cross section of island businesses heard a series of presentations covering a range of topical issues, reflecting the rapid changes in the tax landscape and variety of new rules, draft agreements and policy discussions which have emerged in recent months.

Kevin Cowley, PwC tax partner in the Isle of Man, chaired the event, providing insight and commentary on all areas.

He was joined by George Sharpe, Phil Morris and Ben Holloway from the local PwC tax team, who offered their views on a wide range of important tax matters, including the latest guidance on inter-governmental agreements with the UK and USA and their impact on the island, changes to the VAT rules on electronic supplies and remote gaming duties and changes in direct taxation affecting private clients and trusts.

Mr Couch, former assessor of income tax, outlined what he feels are the key financial challenges facing the Isle of Man in the days and months ahead.

Fellow guest speaker Jon Preshaw, a member of PwC UK’s tax dispute resolution practice and former HMRC inspector of taxes, offered insights into how HMRC are viewing the Manx Disclosure Facility and his practical experience of dealing with disclosures under the MDF and the LDF.

Mr Cowley said: ‘Tax is big news at the moment and the pace at which international and local rules are changing is tremendous.

‘It’s difficult to remain up to date and, for our clients, understand the impact of changes on their own affairs or their businesses.

‘This conference is a chance for all those affected by the rapid changes in the tax landscape to be brought up to speed with the latest developments and how they will impact.

‘The contributions of George, Phil and Ben from the local PwC tax team brought a great deal of clarity to a number of areas.

‘Meanwhile, the knowledge and experience brought to the conference by Malcolm and Jon proved extremely enlightening and informative for the whole audience.

‘I would like to thank all those who gave presentations, as well as everyone who attended our 2013 Isle of Man annual tax conference.’

Police will use footage posted on Youtube in the courts as evidence if they can, a senior officer has warned.

During every Isle of Man TT, many road users record their trips round the course.

Inspector Derek Flint said: ‘People will be aware that we use unmarked cars and bikes to gather evidence of poor and antisocial driving and riding.

‘There is a growing trend for the offenders to actually do this for us. Just last evening I was reviewing some footage on Youtube which identified some really poor behaviour on our roads.

‘We want to send a very clear message to people that this just isn’t on. Where we can, we will capture this footage and use it as we would our own, to deal with the driver or rider.

‘During TT, I redeploy as a road death senior investigating officer. In that role, I can think of several occasions where footage recovered directly from vehicle-mounted cameras has been played in coroner’s court to demonstrate exactly what was going on. I don’t want to have to do that over the coming days.

‘The public side of TT is about respecting our roads, and if you record images of you doing otherwise, then be prepared to accept the consequences.’

A 91-year-old man died from respiratory failure due to exposure to asbestos at some point in his working life, an inquest found.

Leslie Lozelle Burt, of Cooyrt Balleigh, Ramsey, died in Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital on December 23, 2012. Mr Burt had shown no symptoms until January last year, when he went to his doctor with shortness of breath.

He had worked at Parkinson’s Builders, the RAF Officers’ Mess at Jurby, at Ramsey Commissioners’ amenity site, and as caretaker at Auldyn School.

Bernard Warden, head of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate, said he couldn’t carry out meaningful inquiries into the death due to the length of time since his retirement, and because it pre-dated asbestos related legislation.

Coroner of inquests Jayne Hughes said industrial disease was the cause of death. She passed her condolences to his family, including his wife of 68 years.

There are occasional moments when I chance to describe myself as a media celebrity, with the reservation that I am celebrated strictly within the confines of the Isle of Man.

Unfortunately this is something which causes members of my family and my close friends to laugh immoderately.

They make it plain that they see me more as something of a buffoon.

But they might now like to know that there are other people who see me as a person of consequence. I refer to the good people of the Ramsey-based northern committee of Hospice.

They have asked me, along with other individuals they regard as notable figures in Manx life, to contribute to a book which they are preparing for sale to fund their noble enterprise.

We have been asked, to send in for inclusion, our favourite kitchen recipes. If this is not island-wide celebrity, what is?

What I have sent in, for anybody who might be interested in my dietary preferences, is a recipe for what I believe to be real taramasalata, the Greek dip consisting largely of smoked cod roe: in other words not like the suspiciously pink version to be found in supermarkets.

I must admit that I have plundered it from Delia. But I am giving her a generous name check. We media celebrities often do this kind of thing for each other, you understand.

I have had the urge to make real taramasalata before. But I had difficulty finding a fishmonger in the Isle of Man able to supply me with the essential smoked cod roe. They put me off every time for reasons I cannot fathom. I have had to resort for supplies to a smoke-house business in Scotland. But I would like Manx fishmongers to know that I prefer to support home industry. I am prepared to pay handsomely.

Otherwise I have to confess that it’s not the first time I have been asked to contribute to a charity recipe book.

It happened some years ago and all I could think of was my idea of a classic chip butty. For this I prescribed the use of soft white bread spread thickly with well salted Manx butter and chips cooked, not in oil because this is not for discerning gastronomes like myself, but in good old-fashioned lard.

The twice-cooked chips would be packed between the slices of bread heavy with salt and drenched in malt vinegar, best to be eaten while wearing overalls.

Strangely I didn’t hear anything more from the people concerned. I thought my chip butty was a real killer.

l The name of the Ramsey pub with a sign saying: ‘The front door is round the back’ has been given; well, sort of.

Brian Skelton and Norman Cubbon say it is The Plough at 46 Parliament Street. But a lady living far way from Ramsey in Colby, Muriel Putnam, says she saw the sign on The Mitre.

Next?

l We have more Manx crosswords clues, six of them, from Karl Campbell.

The first is: Pull a vehicle the wrong way in race series (7) – ATTRACT. (Times Jumbo Cryptics).

Ayre United added the Paul Henry Gold Cup to the already won GH Corlett Woods Cup at the Bowl on Friday evening as the senior Manx football season came to a close.

Steve Jauncey’s Andreas outfit defeated final opponents Colby 4-2 to secure the club’s third Gold Cup crown.

The Tangerines had to come from behind to pick up their latest spoils, Sam Renshaw putting Nick Leece’s southerners ahead midway through the first half before the first of two Colby own goals levelled things up five minutes before the break.

Ayre surged into the lead with two goals in as many minutes at the start of the second period.

Again it was a Colby defender doing the honours for Ayre’s second goal before United’s ever-green striker James Teare made it 3-1.

Colby fought back and Adam Fretwell’s deflected shot raised the Station Ground faithful’s hopes of a comeback. The Moonlighters, however, couldn’t make their late pressure tell again and a second for poacher Teare secured the Tangerines the honours.

It was a Colby side that had agonisingly missed out on promotion to the Premier League on goal difference that made the brighter start to proceedings. However, as Ayre settled a tight match unfolded with both struggling to carve open clear-cut chances on the other side’s goal.

Colby keeper Robert Bibby, who was deputising for injured number one Jay Gandy, was quickly off his line to deny United striker Jason Craine before Tony Corlett’s shot stung the gloves of the veteran stopper.

The northerners continued to grow into the match and Mark Cain planted a header narrowly ashy after being found unmarked at a Ayre corner. Chris Duggan then hit the post direct from a corner as the Tangerines threatening spell continued.

The Colby defence, however, absorbed the pressure and a swift counter saw the Moonlighters ahead.

Chris McKenna unlocked the static Ayre back four with a lovely through ball that Renshaw gratefully scampered onto. The Colby striker homed in on goal before dispatching a neat finish past Andy Ball in the United goal.

Ayre tried to conjure up an immediate riposte, the ever-willing Teare providing a dangerous outlet down the left.

Another set-piece, however, provided the Andreas outfit with their next chance on goal, when George Rawlinson header over another dangerous Duggan corner.

United finally found themselves level in the 40th minute when Teare’s dangerous low cross from the left was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Alex Hullock.

Barely a minute later Colby’s Olly Swales had a good shout for a penalty turned down by referee Glen Weir after he was brought down in the box following a rampaging run from full-back.

After a close start to the second period, Ayre bagged two goals in three minutes to put them on their way to victory. Another Colby own goal saw United edge their noses in front for the first time. McKenna was the unlucky man this time diverting Duggan’s low cross from the left into his own net.

Teare then made it three with a cool finish from the edge of the area after Corlett’s initial effort had been repelled by Bibby.

Sensing the tie was slipping away Colby pressed forward in search of a way back into the game.

Christian Penswick was doing well to shield his back four, but he could do nothing as Colby struck back through talisman Fretwell after good work by man of the match Harry Best with just over quarter of an hour left to play.

Substitute Ciprian Morarv added fresh impetus and legs to the Colby attack and his acrobatic effort nearly brought Colby level as a frantic last 10 minutes began to develop.

Morarv went even closer minutes later when he lifted over but that was to be as close as it got for Colby as Ayre made a final telling sortie into the southerners’ half.

Craine drove forward only to be denied by Bibby. Teare again reacted quickest turning home the loose ball to seal the trophy for his side.

Team check

Ayre: Andy Ball, Kris Murdoch, Mark Cain (George Walmsley 77m), Ste Parish (c), George Rawlinson, Paul Kennish, Christian Penswick, Tony Corlett, Chris Duggan (Chris Higgins 77m), James Teare (Jamie Skillan 90m), Jason Craine. Subs not used: Phil Quayle and Gordon Heward.

Colby: Robert Bibby, Danny Kniveton, Kevin Kniveton, Alex Hullock, Olly Swales (Ari Ludford-Brookes 81m), Harry Best, Chris McKenna, Jim Collett (Ciprian Morarv 67m), Jack Snidal (Steven Leece 59m), Adam Fretwell (c), Sam Renshaw. Subs not used: Ashley Blake and Josh Gardner

Referee: Glen Weir. Assistants: Chris Taggart and Danny Cowin. Fourth official: Mark Todd

Booked: Ari Ludford-Brookes (Colby)

Man of the Match: Best (Colby) Precocious winger looked lively throughout

Match rating: HHHII

Cronkbourne remain top of the Standard Bank Premiership after beating Crosby in a close finish on Saturday.

The Marown side did well to make 198 for 8 from their 40 overs.

Opener Martyn Oates top scored with 42, while Jacob Hicklin made 35 and Danny Kniveton 26. Harry Rothwell cracked a lively 21 before being brilliantly stumped by Tromode keeper Adam Killey

Carl Wagstaffe led the Cronkbourne reply with an excellent 59. Jaco Jansen and Matt Ansell both made 24 while at the end James Salmon hit an invaluable 20 to see his side to victory with only two wickets left.

Peel and St John’s lost their first game of the season when they went down at home to a rampant Ramsey. The northern club dismissed their opponents for 129 in just 27 overs.

Alex Williamson stood firm with 36 and Neil Jacobs looked good for 32.

Best of the bowlers was Jamie Moffatt who took five wickets for 39 runs.

Captain Ollie Webster and Shaun Kelly each claimed two victims.

Kelly was again in action as Ramsey raced to their target in only 20 overs. He smashed 40 while opener Eddie Cleator stroked his way to 32 not out. The star batsman though was skipper Webster who made a brutal 47 not out which included four sixes and three fours.

Castletown notched their first Premiership win of the season when they beat Valkyres.

The southern club reached an imposing 235 for 6, thanks to an undefeated 89 from Wicus Wessels which contained 11 fours.

Town got away to a good start with openers John Short (38) and Gayan Dissanayake (29) putting on 74 for the first wicket.

Andy Coulson and Tom Burrows both took two wickets for 27.

In reply Valkyres reached 86 for 3 from their first 20 overs. However, they then fell away as captain Garreth Roome wrapped up the middle order.

He returned 4-18 as the Douglas team were dismissed for 130.

Ben Bennett scored a sturdy 48 and Zubair Siddiqi rushed to 33.

Laxey clinched their first Cowell Cup in more than half a century with victory over Colby in last Tuesday’s final at the Bowl.

The Glen Road outfit had not won the Kirby Estates-sponsored competition since 1961 but emphatically put that stat behind them with a 4-1 victory over the southerners.

Jackson Brown was the star of the show for the Miners as he grabbed two goals in a man-of-the-performance and was joined on the scoresheet by Matthew Kent-Lloyd and Jamie Devine.

The latter player was given a red card in the closing stages of the game but, despite Danny Gardner pulling a goal back for Colby, the Miners deservedly clinched the trophy.

Laxey went into the match as favourites and quickly attempted to stamp their authority on proceedings.

As early as the third minute they went close to scoring when Brown embarked on a marauding run past the Colby defence but his resulting shot nestled into the side netting.

Seconds later Peter Callow flicked the ball on to striker partner Kent-Lloyd who raced clean through but blasted over the bar.

Gradually Colby grew into the game and Jack Snidal began to cause the Laxey defence a few problems, but the southerners were unable to seriously test goalkeeper Shaun Kelly.

Midway through the half the Miners wasted a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Brown escaped down the flank and crossed to the unmarked Callow but the striker scuffed his effort from close range and Colby shot-stopper Fergus Veale saved.

At the other end of the pitch Snidal and Jordan Clarke combined well but the latter’s near-post header was saved by Kelly and, soon after, a poor clearance allowed Clarke to race clean through but Declan Cummins recovered superbly to prevent an almost certain goal.

As half-time neared Colby defended heroicly, with Kent-Lloyd being denied by an excellent save from Veale before Josh Gardner denied Callow following more good work from Brown.

The latter then fired over before, right on the stroke of half-time, he danced his way through the defence only to be denied by another fine save before Kent-Lloyd somehow missed the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Despite their profligacy in the first half, Laxey flew out of the traps after the interval and wasted no time in breaking the deadlock in somewhat controversial circumstances.

Half-time subsitute Tom Hall was brought down in the area and referee Chris Dycher pointed straight to the spot, only for Brown’s penalty to be superbly repelled by Veale.

However, the Colby keeper was adjudged to have encroached so a retake was ordered. Brown made no mistake with his second attempt.

The lively Hall nearly doubled the advantage soon after when he latched onto a ball by Brown but the substitute fired just wide. However, there was no such let off for Colby two minutes later when a long throw-in caught the southerners’ defence napping as Kent-Lloyd and Hall combined to tee up Devine who slotted the ball past Veale to make it 2-0.

With the Miners now in a rampant mood, Dave Corlett and Darryl Haslett’s charges wasted no time in netting a third to put the game seemingly beyond the reach of their opponents.

An excellent flowing move down the right flank tore past the southern defence and the ball was eventually playing into the path of Kent-Lloyd who coolly slotted the ball into the net.

To their great credit, Colby refused to give in and almost pulled a goal back three minutes later when Snidal whipped in a dangerous free-kick but Kelly was able to brilliantly tip the ball away.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Miners and they were reduced to 10 men with six minutes remaining when Devine reacted poorly to a challenge by shoving an opponent and was spotted by assistant referee Alan Cowin, so Dycher had no option but to give him his marching orders.

And from the resulting free-kick, Snidal’s set-piece was met by the head of substitute Danny Gardner and flew into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Kelly and Cummins on the line.

However, it was Laxey who had the last laugh as they netted the game’s final goal deep into injury time. With Colby piling forward, the Miners launched a classic counter attack and Brown used his pace to surge into the southerners’ territory past Harry Best, the last defender.

Despite Veale pulling off a superb one-handed save, there was to be no denying the man of the match as he held off Best and slid the rebound into the net to seal a 4-1 victory and kickstart Laxey’s celebrations.

Colby: Fergus Veale, Adam Young, Liam Dixon, Josh Gardner, Harry Best, Tom Crawley (Brandon Moore 45m), Jack Snidal, Fraser Veale, Alex Cain (Danny Gardner 66m), Jordan Clarke (Jo Callaghan 56m), Jordan Primrose-Smith. Subs not used: Jim Gale and Mason McLarney

Laxey: Shaun Kelly, Gareth Jones, Josh Evans (Tom Hall 40m), Declan Cummins, Rob McCowliff, Connor Birch, Jamie Devine, Jackson Brown, Peter Callow, Matthew Kent-Lloyd (Sam Williams 80m), Jacob Holden (Mikey Hutton 70m). Subs not used: Frank Luckman and Reece Carey

Referee: Chris Dyche. Assistants: Alan Cowin and Danny Cowin. Fourth official: Tommy Crowe

Booked: Clarke (Colby), Birch (Laxey)

Sent off: Devine (Laxey)

Man of the Match: Brown (Laxey) - the great grandson of former Aston Villa and Birmingham City footballer Ross Creer, Jackson Brown was superb through the game, creating numerous chances and netting twice to steer the Glen Road side to victory

Match rating: HHHHI

l The Cowell Cup victory caps a remarkable season for Laxey who have enjoyed success in nearly all age groups. The first team finished as runners-up in the Premier League while the second string won the Combination One title at a canter.

The club’s under-17s side completed a league and cup double, the u15s clinched both the A and B Leagues as well as winning the McKinley Cup, while the u13s were also crowned champions of the A, B and C Leagues as well as winning the Manx Gas Cup and the u11s won the D League.

The under -sevens were triumphant in the Investec Cup, whle Laxey’s girls u14s, u13s, u12s and u10s were all crowned league champions.

The ‘legal high’ Methoxetamine is now permanently illegal in the Isle of Man.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976, the island automatically follows the UK’s classifications on drugs.

The UK Department of Health has announced that, following recommendations from its Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (UKACMD), Methoxetamine (known as ‘Mexxy’) has been made an illegal Class B drug.

That ruling means that the island’s temporary ban on Mexxy will not now need to be renewed at Tynwald’s June sitting.

Various other substances including O-desmethyltramadol (known as Krypton when blended with another substance) and some new synthetic cannabinoids (such as those contained in Black Mamba and Annihilation) have also been re-classified as illegal Class B drugs in the UK and are also now banned in the Isle of Man.

In April 2012, Mexxy was made the subject of a Temporary Class Drug Order in the UK while further investigations were undertaken by the UKACMD. In the Isle of Man, a similar ban came into effect from July 1, 2012, introduced by the Manx Department of Health following advice from the Isle of Man Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (IOMACMD).

Following further investigations, the UKACMD indicated that the temporary ban had a real and immediate impact on tackling internet sales of Mexxy, with a significant proportion of UK websites ceasing to advertise its sale, and recommended a ban that the UK Government accepted.

The island’s Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said: ‘This legislation is in place to protect the public and we welcome the decision to re-classify these substances and compounds as illegal Class B drugs. By raising awareness of the increased health risks from drug misuse, we can work together with the Department of Home Affairs in tackling the issue head on at a legislative level.

‘People who use illegal drugs are making lifestyle choices that can pose serious risks to health and can sometimes cause loss of life; often because they do not know what they are taking and the drugs may contain other harmful blends of substances.’

Anyone who needs more information or advice about substance misuse and addiction can contact the DrugAware Service at Motiv8 on a confidential phone line, 627650, email drugaware@iom.com or they can visit the website www.motiv8.im.

Representative from the Isle of Man have led a discussion on criminal justice reform with others from the UK’s Overseas Territories.

Senior officers from the Isle of Man Government attended an event in London, organised jointly by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Justice.

Mark Kelly, chief executive of the Department of Home Affairs, and Dan Davies, programme director for ‘government transformation’ flew from the island to share their experiences of developing the island’s criminal justice modernisation strategy.

They highlighted proposals to achieve improvements in the Isle of Man by streamlining administration processes and cutting the number of low-level offences appearing before the Manx courts.

Governors from seven of the UK’s Overseas Territories were given an overview of the island’s criminal justice strategy, which was received by Tynwald in December 2012 after gaining broad support during a public consultation.

The strategy sets out objectives for the Isle of Man’s criminal justice system in line with government’s stated priorities of rebalancing public finances, expanding the economy and protecting vulnerable members of the community.

A government spokesman said: ‘Measures are aimed at improving key policy areas in respect of crime prevention, sentencing and rehabilitation of offenders, and exploring alternative approaches to custody, such as restorative justice and the extended use of fixed penalties.

‘A commitment to ensure the criminal justice system focuses more on assisting victims of crime is also an important part of the strategy.’

The workshop in London provided an opportunity for governors of the Overseas Territories to discuss with the Isle of Man officers the work and challenges involved in developing the strategy.

It formed part of a programme promoted by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in relation to strengthening good governance, public financial management and economic planning, as set out in the FCO’s white paper on the Overseas Territories.

The UK Ministry of Justice had previously highlighted the Isle of Man’s criminal justice modernisation strategy to the Overseas Territories as an example of best practice.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK, who is responsible for criminal justice modernisation, said: ‘The Isle of Man has a strong track record of international co-operation and we were pleased to take this opportunity to engage positively with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Justice and Overseas Territories. The invitation to attend the event in London recognises the quality of the work we are undertaking to make the island’s criminal justice system faster, simpler and more cost efficient.’

He added: ‘Many countries around the world are facing common challenges in terms of delivering more for less, and the Isle of Man’s experiences in driving forward its modernisation strategy really struck a chord with the Overseas Territories. Our low crime rate and innovative approach have made the Isle of Man the role model for others, as we have seen from the interest others outside the Island have shown, such as Baroness Newlove, the UK Victims and Witnesses Champion.’

Mark Kelly said: ‘It was extremely gratifying to see the level of interest from the Governors of the Overseas Territories, both during the presentation and in the margins of the workshop. Jurisdictions such as Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands have all approached the theme of criminal justice reform but recognise the Isle of Man is already well advanced in this area.

‘A number of Governors expressed their interest in visiting the Isle of Man to consider at first hand the progress achieved to date in our programme of change.’

Of the UK’s Overseas Territories, the London workshop was attended by the Governors from the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, St Helena, Anguilla, Montserrat and the Falkland Islands.

Tuesday evening’s practice session at the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races was cancelled after conditions slowly deteriorated during the late afternoon.

The meteorological office forecast that the daytime cloud would later give way to rain around 6pm and that’s exactly what happened with steady drizzle falling around various parts of the course.

Isle of Man Newspapers reporter and TT marshal John Turner captured the attached footage at around 6.45pm from his vantage point on the Verandah shortly after the session was called off.

The original 6.20pm start was put back as Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson allowed extra time to see if the rain would stop. However, after two course inspection laps with the rider liaison officers, the decision was made at 6.35pm due to the wet roads.

Competitors now have three sessions remaining before the six-lap Superbike race on Saturday but with sunny intervals forecast for the remainder of the week, it looks like riders should get some good, dry track time ahead of the opening race.

This evening’s (Wednesday) practice schedule is as follows:

6.20pm to 7.55pm: Superbike, Superstock, Supersport, Newcomers (except Lightweight newcomers)

8pm to 8.50pm: Sidecar

A flat in Douglas was badly damaged after a chip pan caught fire in Douglas early on Tuesday evening.

Fire crews to an address on Stanley View, Douglas, at 5.20pm.

The Emergency Services Joint Control Room was told that the occupants had got out of the flat where the fire had taken hold but it was not possible to confirm that everyone was out of the other flats in the building.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus and using thermal imaging equipment were able to quickly find and put out the fire.

While the flat involved in the fire was being checked and cleared another breathing apparatus team checked the remainder of the property and confirmed that no-one was left in the building.

Fire crews then cleared the smoke with a ventilation fan carried on the fire appliance and once a thorough check had been carried out, confirming that the fire was completely extinguished, responsibility for the property was handed back to the owner.

The flat’s occupant was advised by fire crews to find alternative accommodation.

Bus Vannin bosses say they are hopeful they will have sufficient drivers to implement a TT timetable on Friday.

Plans for the contingency strike timetable had to be cancelled and a Sunday service operated instead after fewer relief drivers than expected turned up for duty.

Meanwhile, formal complaints of bullying and intimidation have been referred to the police.

A Community, Culture and Leisure spokesman said: ‘The Minister has been contacted by drivers who have advised him of their children being accosted and threatened in public, of threats and bricks through windows. We have had formal complaints of bullying and have referred to the police incidents of striking drivers using their cars to obstruct and disrupt services being driven by casual staff.’

A total of 15 drivers remain on sick leave, the majority with stress.

The spokesman said the department ‘cannot comment at this time’ on claims that a Bus Vannin manager has ben told to clear their desk.

Meanwhile, passengers we spoke to a Lord Street bus station have had mixed experiences of the bus services operating during the strike.

William Rowley, who was catching the No.4 to Spring Valley industrial estate, said: ‘It’s very difficult for passengers to know where they stand. You have a contingency timetable but that’s never worked from the word go so people are missing buses. They are very frustrated.’

Unite regional officer Eric Holmes described the contingency service as a ‘shambles’ - and claimed drivers had the support of the Manx public. He insisted it was the department that had been intimidating the drivers and had seen no evidence of claims of bullying made against union members.

Manx brides to benefit from investment in training of Island hairdressers

Manx brides will reap the benefits of a two-day training course in the island to help local hairdressers develop their bridal styling and hair-up skills.

Stylists from across the island took part in the event, held at Salon 3 in Douglas and taught by its creative director, Janet Lancaster, to give them access to training they would only otherwise receive by travelling to the UK to study. In most cases this is not an option due to the fact it is incredibly costly and also means stylists need to find appropriate childcare.

During the first part of the course, students were given a theory lesson before being shown a number of ‘hair up’ styles that they can develop and create to suit the needs of their individual clients including fishtail plaits, deconstructed, textured buns, retro-modern styles worn by the singer, Adele, and loosely-curled and pinned looks.

Styles were demonstrated by Janet and her two senior bridal co-ordinators, Lauren O’Neill and Colleen Devereaux. The second part of the course saw students learning how to do a variety of bridal styles.

Janet Lancaster said: ‘Seeing how much the participants have taken from Salon 3’s course has really proved to me how much of a need there is for specialist hairdressing training here in the island, and how much Manx stylists require just a little bit of help and encouragement to really bring on their confidence to try new things with their clients. I am really proud of the hard work and enthusiasm that all of the participants displayed, as well as the huge amount of effort put in to teaching the course by Lauren and Colleen.

Jenna Grose, now at the Hairport in Douglas, took part and said: ‘This has been fantastic and just what I needed to really develop my skills and give me some more confidence in doing hair-ups.’

A 48 per cent rise in the cost of sending a postcard to outside Europe is ‘outright theft’.

That’s according to Kerry Kemp, a long-standing member of the local Isle of Man Stamp Clubs, which supplies postcards to tourist outlets.

The Post Office removed its 10g rate for airmail from April 2, with the charging schedule now starting at 20g. Post weighing up to 10g being sent to the rest of the world which previously cost 80p, now costs £1.19.

Mr Kemp said: ‘This hike is nothing short of scandalous when you consider that at the same time, they raised the European rate from 71p to 73p, a mere 2.8 per cent.

‘You can imagine how overseas tourists are going to feel that a postcard they bought for 30p to 50p will cost £1.19 to send home and giving the island bad press over this.

‘The aforesaid rates will apply to residents when they send their birthday/Christmas cards overseas. Personally, I feel that this increase is outright theft.’

The Post Office believes Mr Kemp has criticised the move now after it declined to re-order postcard supplies from him.

An Isle of Man Post Office spokesman said it had been a long term aim ‘to simplify its tariffs for customers, in addition to keeping our postal rates as low as possible’.

‘The increase in the cost to send a postcard internationally represents a very small proportion of our revenue and therefore very few customers were affected by this change.

‘The decision was made to abolish the 10g weight step and to standardise all our international letter prices which increase in increments of 20g.

All of our international prices were increased by 3 per cent. In the current economic climate and the challenges facing the postal industry, we were keen to keep our increases as low as possible and received very little adverse reaction to our postal increases which came into effect on April 2.

A former employee of a well-known island bike dealership has won a constructive dismissal claim against them.

Stephen Hodgson who worked for the Victoria Road branch of Padgetts in Douglas was awarded £26,000 in damages by the employment tribunal which ruled on his case recently.

Mr Hodgson, who is 56 and hails originally from Wigan, worked for the island shop for 12 years before leaving in May last year.

The tribunal upheld his claim which listed a number of instances of unfair treatment.

Mr Hodgson said he had traditionally taken holidays during TT and MGP because other staff were available for cover then. But he said time he had booked off for the TT period in 2012 was denied at the last minute. He claimed Don Padgett had made ‘hurtful and unwarranted’ comments about his personal life and he complained use of a company van had been withdrawn and his working hours and pay reduced without consultation or notice.

He said Don Padgett told him he was ‘too old to do his job, too old to have kids and too old to raise a family’.

The tribunal heard matters had culminated in a row over Mr Hodgson’s leave in May last year and he had walked out. The judgment said: ‘It is clear that this was the final straw only and for some considerable time the respondent’s (Padgett’s) directors and staff had treated the claimant extremely poorly.

‘There had been repeated nasty comments about the claimant’s home life, his partner and children.’

Mr Hodgson also told the tribunal he had been told by his employers he had to perform pre-delivery checks on new bikes they sold, but he had refused because he said he was not appropriately qualified to do it.

On one occasion sections of the asbestos roof at the garage premises in Victoria Road, Douglas had fallen in and Mr Hodgson had been ordered to clear this up.

The tribunal found there had been unlawful deductions to Mr Hodgson’s wages and there had been injury to his feelings but it said withdrawal of the van in exchange for a motorcycle and some extra money was reasonable.

Clive Padgett said: ‘It’s water under the bridge. We had been friends for 30 years and it’s a shame it came to that. There’s no bad feeling and we wish him well.’