Potential students interested in studying with the Open University can learn all about it at an event on Saturday.

It’s taking place at St John’s Mill, Tynwald Mills, St John’s from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

Education advisers and representatives from the student registration service will be on hand to give information and guidance.

They will be able to answer questions on the courses on offer, how learning through the Open University works, and different finance options.

The OU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications - degrees, foundation degrees, diplomas and certificates - or standalone modules which can be studied individually and which could earn you credits towards a degree.

It offers about 600 courses which can count towards more than 250 qualifications.

The flexible approach to learning enables students to study from home, work or even on the move, at a time that suits you

Those interested in studying with the Open University who can’t attend the information event can call 0845 300 6090.

The Isle of Man has won praise from a welcome but unlikely corner - Brussels.

Angel Gurria, secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, hailed the island for its action to combat tax evasion during a debate at the European Competition Forum in Brussels.

Mr Gurria spoke up on behalf of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey in response to a question by Belgian MEP Phillipe Lamberts and highlighted the commitment on tax reform made by the UK and Crown Dependencies at the G8 Summit in Loch Erne last year.

He said: ‘This is a good development although there is still more to do. Some of the problems are not in the islands, but in the “big islands”, in the UK itself and in the US.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell said moves on tax transparency had enhanced our reputation.

He said: ‘This level of recognition reflects the island’s positive leadership on tax transparency and information exchange.’

Ramsey Commissioners have decided not to object to a scheme to build a housing estate of 30 properties on the former gas works site, North Shore Road.

Instead, they will forward their concerns as observations. Those concerns relate to the proposed access onto North Shore Road, inadequate open space, and the environmental implications of the previous use of the area.

The application by Haven Homes Ltd is for demolition of the redundant gas works structures to make space for 30 homes, eight of which would be for first-time buyers.

Following last month’s meeting when it was decided to object to the scheme, lead member for works and development, Graham Jones and the commissioners’ technical officer, Steve Harrison, have met Ashton Lewis and Hugh Logan, from Haven Homes.

Messrs Lewis and Logan assured them that detailed consideration had been given to the layout of the estate prior to the plans being submitted and both the proposed access splays and the proposed amenity space met statutory requirements. In addition, a land contamination report had been submitted. They said it was a very significant investment for the company, which hoped to build up to 100 houses in Ramsey over the next five years.

On this basis, Mr Jones asked his colleagues on the board to reconsider their objection.

Commissioner Richard Radcliffe refused to be swayed. He said: ‘Nothing has changed. In my opinion, the roadway access is woefully inadequate and my concerns about amenity land remain the same.’

Commissioner Sylvia Beattie said she still had strong objections on grounds of access and over-intensive use: ‘There’s already enough properties there,’ she said.

Fellow board member Steven Bevan said he welcomed any development in Ramsey, but this was a busy road at the best of times: ‘The fact it is close to Mooragh Park, which is busy with families, does worry me somewhat,’ he said.

With the exception of Mr Radcliffe, Mrs Beattie, Mr Bevan and board chairman, Nigel Malpass, members agreed to withdraw their objection and make observations instead.

A new darts academy which is affiliated to the Isle of Man Darts Organisation and will be part of the British Darts Organisation youth set-up is starting in Ramsey next week.

The RAOB club hosts the first meeting of the academy aimed at eight to 17 year olds next Wednesday, March 5, between 6 and 8pm.

The sessions cost just £1 and darts will be supplied. Any primary school children who attend will have to be accompanied by a parent of guardian for the entire session.

Other sessions will hopefully be starting in Douglas and in the south of the island, while regular competitions will also take place.

All monies raised through these will go towards travel costs as the IoM Darts Academy aims to send competitors to prestigious competitions such as the Winmau World Youth Masters.

Thanks go to John, Nana Quayle and the committee of the RAOB club as well John Denny and the commitee of the IoMDO for its support. Thanks must also go to Alan Soutar (Angus Darts Academy), Emma Plank, Ted Fick Plumbing and Heating, John Bowness from Nulook Plumbing and Heating, Cu-Plas Callow and Eddie Booth who has donated 40 sets of darts. If anyone would like to help with sponsorship or donations contact Paul Arthur on 216082 or email aggie206@gmail.com

Laurent Hoffmann and Franck Petricola will make their TT debut as part of the experienced Ice Valley by Motorsave team this year.

Double International Road Race Supersport Champion Hoffmann will step up to the 1000cc class and ride a BMW S1000R in the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races and he will also contest the two Supersport races on a Honda CBR600RR.

Having taken his first title in 2012, the 30-year-old Belgian rider dominated the 2013 IRRC Supersport 600cc Championship on his ZX-6R Kawasaki, never finishing lower than second, indeed only a retirement in the final race of the season at Frohburg spoilt his 100 per cent podium record.

He and team-mates Nico Hautekiet and Jan van Steelandt also finished second in the 600cc class of the Spa-Francorchamps Six-Hour Endurance Race. Petricola, also 30, will be similarly BMW-mounted for the 1000cc races but will also compete in the Lightweight/Supertwin race on an ER6 650cc Kawasaki.

He is another regular in the IRRC Championship and enjoyed his best season last year with 11th overall in the Superbike category. His best result, sixth, came at Chimay and he ended the year strongly with six successive top-10 finishes and took a brace of thirds in the Lightweight races at Horice and Terlicko.

Paul Shoesmith commented: ‘I’ve seen how good Laurent and Franck are up close having raced alongside them in the International Road Race Championship across Europe so I am delighted to be welcoming them to our team for this year’s TT.

‘I’m sure they will both give a good account of themselves. They are both working hard on their circuit knowledge using onboard footage and they gained a lot from a recent visit to the island.’

Laxey FC’s Tom Cowley has been offered a professional two-year scholarship with League Two club Morecambe FC.

The 16-year-old junior island international will make the move in June following in the foot-steps of Peel’s Rowan Richardson, Corinthians’ Alice Ashe and Castletown’s Danny Hattersley who are currently on the books at Blackpool, Chelsea and Southport respectively.

Cowley has worked tirelessly over the past three seasons to progress into the professional game having had trial periods at Rangers FC, Leeds United, Norwich City and Tranmere Rovers.

Tom would like to extend a special thanks to his coaches at Laxey FC, the Isle of Man FA’s Centre of Excellence, the IoM Institute of Sport and St Ninian’s High School.

Sixty people attended a Positive Action Group meeting where a working party looking to set up a Manx credit union outlined its case.

The Manx Credit Union Working Party is working with MHKs, the Financial Supervision Commission and government departments to establish the necessary legislative framework.

It is assessing the level of support for setting up a Manx credit union by asking the community to fill in an expression of interest form. And it’s looking for companies and individuals to provide money to get it started.

Working party chairman David Talbot said he was pleased with the level of interest shown, adding presentations will be made to any groups and organisations who want to hear its plans.

A credit union is a financial co-operative owned and controlled by its individual members and provides an alternative to banks. It provides members with accessible savings, low cost loans and other financial services and advice.

Mr Talbot said: ‘Money that comes in stays on the Isle of Man, circulating round the island when it is loaned out. From that point of view it does contribute to the national economy. Money that goes into a bank – who knows where that goes and what it funds?’

Mr Talbot said if 200 people gave £500 ( a total of £100,000), it would provide the money needed for equipment to set it up and working capital.

The working party also outlined its plans at Douglas Town Hall following an invitation from Mayor Carol Malarkey.

They were joined at both meetings by UK Credit Unions Limited operations manager Dawn Vear. In the UK there are about 500 credit unions.

Copies of a leaflet launched by the working party are available from Nadine House, in North Quay, or call 619459.

www.mcu.im

Today (Thursday) will be the 56th anniversary of the Winter Hill air crash in which 35 Manx residents lost their lives on the slopes of Winter Hill, near Horwich in Lancashire.

Douglas Rotary Club has arranged for a short service of remembrance to be held at the Winter Hill Memorial in St John’s Church at 10.30am.

As well as remembering those who lost their lives, their families and friends, thanks will also be given to the residents of Horwich and, in particular, members of the Rotary Club of Horwich who did so much to help in the rescue of survivors and provide comfort and support.

Crash survivor Fred Kennish, a former Douglas mayor who died in 2011 aged 86, spoke to iomtoday on the 50th anniversary of the crash and recalled the events which led to the tragedy: {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/memories-of-winter-hill-crash-survivor-fred-1-2980897|Memories of Winter Hill crash survivor Fred Kennish}

Find out more about the Winter Hill disaster here: {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/winter-hill-air-crash-50th-anniversary-1-1770399|Winter Hill air crash 50th anniversary}

This was the scene at Laurel Bank, near St John’s, on Tuesday lunchtime.

Police and ambulance attended a road traffic accident at approximately 11.15am and the road was blocked south bound but the north bound carriageway remained open.

A police spokesman said only one vehicle was involved and a male was taken to Noble’s Hospital to be checked over, but was released with no serious injuries.

The vehicle had been travelling towards Glen Helen when the driver lost control.

Today, THURSDAY

KEMPTON FLAT PICKS : 5.30 Armelle 6.0 Wyndham Wave 6.30 Abigails Angel 7.0 Walk With An Angel 7.30 Seek The Fair Land (NAP) 8.0 Bramshill Lass 8.30 Whiskey N Stout 9.0 Bubby Bailey

SOUTHWELL SELECTIONS: 2.20 Frankthetank 2.50 Argent Touch 3.20 Staff Sergeant 3.50 Returntobrecongill 4.20 Eva Clare 4.50 Grace Hull 5.20 Queen Of Skies

LUDLOW JUMPERS: 2.0 Ronnie Rockcake 2.30 Highway Code 3.0 Still Believing 3.30 Firebird Flyer 4.0 Ballygrooby Bertie 4.30 Island Life 5.0 The Pier

TAUNTON TIPS: 2.10 Sir Dylan 2.40 Vicente 3.10 Sound Investment 3.40 Smiles For Miles 4.10 Caesar Milan 4.40 Martys Mission 5.10 Dalrymple (NB)

My status as a media celebrity (Isle of Man only, conditions apply) has led me into many interesting situations. But not, so far, what amounts to serious crime. Art fraud to be exact . . .

In the past I have been asked to take part in recipe books to raise money for a charity. This is easy. If you don’t have a recipe of your own you can borrow one, as a professional compliment, celebrity to celebrity, from a well-known chef.

But it was different when the Isle of Man branch of Victim Support asked me to take part in a fundraising art show by contributing a piece of artwork of my choice. I felt compelled to agree, even though I have no visual art ability whatever. I can barely draw breath.

What I sent in is one of the works now on show in the Palm Court of Tower House in Douglas. It is described as an original framed ink sketch on paper measuring 29.5cmx18.5cm and it is a ‘self portrait’ of my car. It is a side view of my red Mini One convertible speeding along with the hood down and a couple of seagulls above trying to pay tribute to me in the best way they know how.

The show itself opened a week ago and I was at the launch, where I was surprised to be told that all the pictures, including mine, were to be put up for auction on eBay to raise money for the cause. A cold hand fastened around my heart.

It wasn’t my picture at all. I had had it ‘ghosted’ for me by a professional artist.

The auction ended on Sunday and at time of writing I didn’t know if the drawing had been bought. But it seems to me that, if so, the buyer has been the victim of art fraud.

The drawing was done by my friend Peter Hearsey, an artist well-known in the Isle of Man and even more so elsewhere in the world, as official artist to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and especially in America where he is seen as one of the world’s leading automotive artists.

He does paintings of the fine, highly valuable cars owned by wealthy patrons along with many other iconic vehicles.

But Pete has not been given credit for ‘my’ drawing on eBay, and not even in the Palm Court of Tower House in Douglas.

That’s my case, Your Honour. I didn’t really mean to do it. But if I have to go down do you think I could get help from Victim Support? It was all their fault really.

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Back to my statement that in the film ‘Trapeze’ Burt Lancaster got Gina Lollobrigida in the end instead of Tony Curtis.

My Manx Radio broadcasting colleague Ian Cottier asks: ‘Why should any apparently normal male wish to get Tony Curtis (Rock Hudson perhaps) rather than the formidably endowed Gina and which end did he get her in anyway? What were the options open to him, as you might say?’

All right, all right. I admit it. We all do it.

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Two Manx crossword clues. Richard Hetherington sends in, from the Daily Telegraph cryptic: Personal assistant to Isle’s new tavern (3-7) – man-servant. Clive Alford offers, from the Radio Times: Distant sea as well as an island (7) – Andaman.

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The last wacky website. Design firm Speed of Art has www.speedofart.com.

Cat Turner comments on news that the UK Government has granted permits to a fracking firm to start testing on our doorstep

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It was gravely concerning to read, this week, of plans for a UK company to start shale fracking in the Irish Sea.

And these concerns were all the greater because it’s a firm related to accident-prone Cuadrilla that’s been granted the exclusive two-year licences over sections of the seabed.

These licences are provisional, in that Nebula Resources has to prove it has the necessary finance before it can start test-drilling; and that’s a proviso well-worth imposing, since the fracking industry is rife with over-estimates and guesstimates, and has been described by several alanlysts as a ‘massive Ponzi Scheme’.

Nebula is a new company, and it’s been set up by one Dr Chris Cornelius, the founder of the aforementioned Cuadrilla. Dr Cornelius sounded optimistic as he spoke to the BBC about his plans: ‘We’re very comfortable that the resource is there and the numbers are absolutely ginormous. Is any of that exploitable? That’s the billion dollar question and we won’t know that for many years.’

Well, that IS the billion-dollar question; and so far, experience in other countries has shown that the fracking industry has a solid track record of completely over-stating potential gas flows.

You might recall our column last year (‘Sub-Prime Energy’, http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/columnists/sub-prime-energy-situation-1-5796335), in which we showed that if you get behind the figures – and they’re very uncertain figures – a rather unpalatable picture emerges.

And that’s even before we get to the environmental damage (under a ‘good’ fracking scenario, if such a thing exists), and thence to the potentially shocking outcomes if something goes wrong. Cuadrilla and its associates know all about that – it was their drilling activity that almost certainly caused a number of earthquakes in Lancashire, in 2011, as they themselves have admitted.

Cuadrilla’s still gamely trying to start fracking operations under way in the county, of course, much to the alarm of many of its residents.

Dr Cornelius is well aware that this is a new technology for the UK’s coastal waters, and that it may or may not be profitable; but again, talking to the BBC, he seemed sanguine. He told the BBC: ‘Certainly offshore shale gas is a new concept, and there’s no reason with the UK’s history of offshore development that we can’t develop these resources offshore.’

Others from the scientific community, interviewed for the same piece, were less confident. Professor Richard Davies, director of the Durham Energy Institute and leader of the European fracking research consortium ReFINE, told industry magazine The Engineer: ‘The cost of an offshore well is dramatically higher than an onshore well and shale gas wells produce quite small volumes of gas. The economics of drilling offshore when you’re likely to get less gas don’t stack up.’

Onshore, where there’s at least some experience of the impact of fracking, the process has been linked to water contamination, air pollution, earth tremors, health problems and climate change.

This is why communities across the UK are protesting in the strongest terms about the threat to their lives and livelihoods.

But, and here’s the rub, the pound signs that so often persuade politicians to ignore these issues are largely illusory. Fracking isn’t likely to bring down energy prices, nor can it create sustainable jobs. UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey has said ‘we can’t expect UK shale production alone to have any effect [on gas prices]’.

And leading climate change economist Lord Stern has described claims of fracking cutting gas prices as ‘baseless economics’.

The timelines involved – a decade or more – also mean that fracking operations won’t help keep the lights on in the imminent UK energy crisis. And in any event there’s no guarantee that any gas extracted won’t be exported to the highest bidder – so no energy security there.

If you want to look for experience in the offshore fracking industry, you need to look to the US – it’s an unedifying story.

There’s evidence that the extraction industry has engaged in more than 200 unlicensed fracking activities off the coast of the US (mainly the West Coast), and this with almost no safety or regulatory oversight.

Wastewater, replete with contaminants, is freely released into the sea – there affecting both marine species, and people enjoying leisure pursuits, including fishing.

We’re told that the UK’s offshore fracking industry would be much more responsible, and better regulated.

But that seems hard to believe.

The latest property sales recorded at the General Registry.

J U Limited, whose registered office is at Cronk Mayn Beg, Jurby Road, Ramsey, bought 33 Majestic Drive, Onchan, for £500,000.

It was bought from Reginald Arthur Young.

Edward Alan Crowe and Dorothy May Crowe, of 22 First Avenue, Onchan, sold a parcel of land abutting First Avenue, for £385,000, to Georgios Provatakis and Aikaterini Psoma, of 16 Craven’s Close, Douglas.

Paul Hugh McCullough, of Canada, and Susan Whitton, of Cheshire, sold Ballacastle, Thornhill, Ramsey, for £325,000, to Claudio Emanuele Bishop Mazzone and Sally Francesca Louise Roddy, of Flat 4, Lheighnee House, Brookfield Avenue, Ramsey.

Ashley Anne Keenan and James Eric De Carteret Robertson, of Moreno House, 5 Osborne Terrace, Douglas, sold 21 Woodburn Square, Douglas, for £320,000, to Anthony Ferrier and Jennifer Joan Ferrier, care of 3 King Orry Place, Glen Vine.

David Robert Elmes by executors, and Jodie Ellen Bolton, as executor, and Walter Hugh Wannenburgh, as executor, sold Bryn Teg, 2 Viking Close, Ballakillowey, Colby, for £263,000, to Paul Donald Sinclair and Alison Jane Bunn, of 9 Ballastrooan, Colby.

Richard Hall and Jeanette Elizabeth Hall, sold 36 Castle Street, for £255,000, to Dawn Heath, of 1 Ballaquaye Road, Peel.

Leo John Despard Fosdal and Lyndsay Fosdal, sold 3 Berkeley Street, Douglas, for £252,000, to Richard Alan Corke and Jonathan Michael Corke, of Carrickview, Ballagawne Road, Colby.

Denize Juliette Lace and Peter Charles Lace, sold 43 Murray’s Road, for £234,000, to Samantha Louise Moolman, of 35 Ballanawin, Strang Road, Union Mills.

Selwyn Norman Callister, of 20 Glenfaba Road, Peel, sold 37 Oakhill Close, Douglas, for £152,500, to Katie May Errock, of 79 Spectrum Apartments, Central Promenade, Douglas.

Stefano Bianchi and Rebecca Marie Bianchi, sold 23 Linden Gardens, for £147,115, to the Department of Social Care, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas.

Carol Mary Christian, of Frowdes Croft, Clenagh Road, Sulby, and Aileen Norma Gelling, of Croit ny Gurrin, Curraghs, Ballaugh, sold a parcel of land abutting West Kella Road, Sulby, for £35,000 to David James Phillips and Caroline Philips, Dilkush, Kella Close, Sulby.

Hilda Anne Cubbon, of 3 Red Gap Cottages, Arbory Road, Castletown, by executors, and Elizabeth Elaine Dalrymple, of Slieu Keirn, Ballavagher Road, St John’s, and Neil Dalrymple, of Slieu Keirn, Ballavagher Road, St John’s, as executor, sold a parcel of land situated at Red Gap, Castletown, for £27,000, to Graham Chantry Todd, of Queen Street, Castletown.

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We publish details of all house sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation services.

The capital’s high street has ‘a better story to tell’ than its counterparts in most towns in the north of England, according to a doyen of the island’s real estate market.

‘We complain about the retailers that we have but Douglas still has a pretty good offering in terms of multiple traders,’ says Mark Grace, commercial director at Black Grace Cowley.

He also believes Strand Street is suffering fewer 
vacancies than equivalent size towns in the UK. He 
contends that the perception that Douglas is losing an 
inordinate number of 
retailers was seeded when 
the Woolworths outlet shutdown along with hundreds of others in the UK after 
the group went into administration in 2008. The hole left by Woolworths was later in effect filled by the arrival of Dealz.

‘The reality is that those multiple traders [who look 
beyond the island’s demographics to open branches here] do very well,’ Mr Grace told Business News.

‘We are doing deals. In the last quarter of 2013 we let three shops in Strand Street, including to a multiple tenant, Cotton Traders.

‘I don’t think we are ever going to attract the super high-quality, luxury goods retailers but I don’t think the retail story is nearly as bad as some make it out to be.’

He says the facelift Douglas is continuing to undergo is paying dividends.

‘With continuing effort, I think the occupation level in Strand Street will remain pretty good. It is harder to attract [multiple traders] to Castletown, Ramsey and Peel. So we mainly look to 
local traders when shops come up in those areas, but 
. . . there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.’

Mr Grace says that retail rentals across the board in the island have remained reasonably stable since the global financial crisis struck in 2008/09.

‘The top rate is just over £100sq ft for zone-A, which it has been throughout the last five to six-year period. In most high streets in the UK you’d have seen some quite significant fall off.’

In fact, the entire commercial property market in the island has remained fairly stable in the past few years, according to Mr Grace.

‘Commercial property was on a year-on-year improving trajectory right up to 2007-08. We weren’t hit immediately when the UK property market started to suffer.’

The island’s residential property market has borne the brunt of the decline in sales. ‘We talk about the commercial market as a whole but it has a number of dynamics. And even within the different sectors you have submarkets.

‘Even in the last two to three years, when people’s perception was probably that things are pretty slow, we’ve had two speculative office buildings coming out of the ground - St George’s Tower and Quay House. Probably nowhere in the UK, outside of London, have you seen speculative office development, people willing to take the risk to develop. Quay House is full and there are tenants in St George’s Tower.’

Mr Grace says that rental rates and freehold prices have remained fairly constant.

‘What has improved are the sort of incentives that tenants can get in the office market - a tenant might now be able to get double the rent-free period than he would have been able to get in 2007-08.’

Landlords of prime office space in Douglas can charge around £22.50 per square foot.

‘We’ve kept pretty well on a par with northern cities. Where we have fallen away is in terms of the Channel 
Islands [where] rents are well up in the £30s. But hopefully that makes the island more attractive as a location.’

Mr Grace says the Isle of Man was fortunate in that there were no large-scale 
developments under construction when the effects of the global crisis hit the island.

He calculates that around 10 per cent of the island’s one million square feet of office space is now standing empty. ‘It will probably take 12 months for the bit of slack that we do have to be taken up. The incentives that tenants are getting at the moment will probably disappear and we may well then see some new schemes coming on to the market. There is the very real possibility that we will see some growth in rents over the next few years to around the mid-£20s.’

He had closed a rental deal for 3,000 sq ft the day before we met for the interview. However, anyone seeking in excess of 10,000 square feet at the moment would be hard pressed to find it. While banks are contracting, companies in some other sectors are expanding, feeding the need for additional floor space.

‘One of the mainstays of our business for the past two to three years has been the investment market,’ notes Mr Grace.

‘We completed £20 million of investment sales in the last quarter of 2013. We’ve had consistent [investment] sales over the last five years.’

He describes the investors’ appetite for commercial property as a ‘flight to income returns’, in the face of poor interest rates on offer by the banks. Commercial property is achieving returns of 7-9 per cent.

Within the warehouse market there is not much vacant space to be found. Rentals - around £7.50 sq ft is being achieved at the top end - have remained constant.

‘We’ve just done a major pre-let down in Tromode, - probably the largest pre-let industrial premises, 18,000 sq feet, that there’s been in the island in the past 20 years.’

There is keen demand for 1,000sq ft unit.

Mr Grace is hopeful that the government’s ambitions to establish a cluster of biomed manufacturers in the island will be realised.

‘It’s still early days but it certainly seems promising - a niche market like that would be wonderful for the island.

‘It doesn’t take a lot in the commercial market in the 
island to make a big difference. Whether it’s the office, the industrial or the retail market, it only takes half a dozen deals to completely change the outlook.’

Some 54 payments totalling £226,562 were made to Manx Electricity Authority engineers and managers in 2012/13 in performance related pay.

In a written reply to a question from Zac Hall (Onchan), Chief Minister Allan Bell said that MEA had never paid bonuses but did have a performance related pay scheme until 2013 when it was removed by the board.

Mr Bell has previously revealed that £234,762 was paid out in bonuses to government staff last year – nearly £100,000 down on the £330,708 paid out in bonuses in 2010. The Chief Minister said performance related pay had been awarded to personal contract holders at the MEA peaking at £291,288 in 2009-10. No personal contracts have been issued since 2010. Of the £225,562 paid out in 2012-13, £144,337 went to engineers/managers and £82,225 to senior managers.

l What do you think?

newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

Today’s Manx Independent’s front page story is about the sentencing of a knifeman.

The paper also catches up with how the victim is faring.

The Manx Independent also features:

A story about more anger over the toilet tax

A report from the Keys after two government ministers were accused of an attempt to sabotage boundary reform

A feature about a young man who was inspired to volunteer for stem cell donation.

A look at Noble’s Hospital’s waiting times

A call from a British Airways boss to use the London City flight or face losing it

Concern about Cregneash’s church

The Manx Independent also includes your Island Life section, which includes on its front page a preview of the next Christine Wild Theatre School show, a look forward to Shrove Tuesday and the Easter Festival of Plays.

The centre pages include photos taken from a book about Manx architecture.

The paper includes the Isle of Man’s two-page What’s On guide, your seven-day television guide and the 12 pages of sport.

The bigger and brighter Manx Independent is on sale now.

The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society will be continuing its winter series of monthly lectures this weekend.

Current vice president and 2012-13 president Fiona Gell will give the presidential lecture at the Manx Museum lecture theatre in Douglas at 2.30pm on Saturday (March 1).

The senior marine biodiversity officer of the Fisheries Directorate of the island’s Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture will take as her topic ‘A Glimpse into the History of the Manx Marine Environment’.

This is something that Fiona has had family knowledge of since her earliest days, long before appointment to her DEFA role in 2004. She grew up in the island into a family with a long history of fishing in the south of the island, and through this she developed her love of life in the island’s seas which makes her such an enthusiastic and engaging speaker on the subject.

At one time she worked at the now sadly defunct Port Erin Marine Laboratory as a lecturer and undertook research into herring – a fish once so important to Manx life that it is mentioned in the ancient ceremonial traditions of Tynwald Day and, in the 18th century, spud and herring was traditionally the Manx national dish.

In charting changes and studying life in the Manx seas, Fiona is following a long tradition.

As early as the 1830s the Manx marine biologist Edward Forbes used his own design of scientific dredge to explore the seabed and discovered many new species in Manx waters, as well as describing the type of seabed. He was particularly interested in the today all-important scallop banks off the island’s shores, which he studies from fishing vessels.

In later times the scientists of Port Erin Marine Laboratory studies the seabed in the south of the island for more than 100 years, discovering vast reefs of horse mussels, rich sandbanks and forests of the seaweed kelp.

Fiona said: ‘Despite over a century of marine biological research in Manx waters, we are still learning about the marine species and habitats of the present day. Significant areas of fish habitat are still being discovered and the abundance and behaviour of many species remain little understood.

‘Historical research and other sources provide us with a tantalising glimpse of the marine environment of the past and help us to understand the heavily modified marine environment we have today.

‘My presentation will highlight some of the major changes we have seen in our marine environment and will consider the implications for marine conservation. I’m going to look at what we know about the Manx marine environment today and then some examples of changes that have taken place through history, and the kind of evidence we can find from scientific and social sources.’

The Irish Sea and the vessels upon it will also be central to the final lecture of the society’s winter series, when on Saturday, April 12, Professor John Walton, editor of the Journal of Tourism History and an expert on the social and cultural history of tourism, will speak on ‘Tourism, the Isle of Man and the Irish Sea Economy in the 19th and 20th centuries’.

For further details of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, visit www.manxantiquarians.com and facebook.com/Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society

A trio of MHKs in three-seat constituencies were accused of trying to sabotage proposals for parliamentary boundary change – their antics branded a ‘farce’ by one backbencher.

Plans to replace the current mix of one, two and three-seat constituencies with 12 two-seat constituencies moved a step closer after the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill passed its clauses stage after a three hour debate in the House of Keys.

A raft of amendments had been tabled by Rushen MHKs Juan Watterson and Phil Gawne and Onchan Lib Van MHK Peter Karran.

In 20 pages of tabled amendments Mr Watterson suggested every different type of alternative including four six-seat constituencies, six four-seat, eight three-seat, three eight-seat and even two 12-seat constituencies or 24 members elected on an all-island basis amendments.

Middle MHK Howard Quayle said: ‘I really feel these amendments are all long-grass, wrecking motions. This is a total farce – I’m ashamed by the antics of these members. I blame the Chief Minister for allowing two Ministers too much time to come up with waste and wrecking motions.’

Home Affairs Minister Mr Watterson’s amendments also included provision for the registration of political parties and donations.

He told MHKs: ‘I would like to dispel the myth that I’m seeking to delay the Bill. I want to bring openness and transparency in political parties and donations.’

Mr Watterson said he had set out all the options for members to reflect on and did not intend to dwell on the pros and cons of each alternative. He said three-seat constituencies like Rushen ‘worked well’, while the six four-seat option had been used as a springboard for LegCo reform.

Four six-seat constituencies would give a more regional approach to politics, three eight-seats would essentially mean Douglas, North and South while two 12-seats was something of a ‘wild card which doesn’t ever seem to have been a consideration’.

Mover of the Bill, Health Minister David Anderson said this was attempt to ‘muddy the waters’ and undermine the Bill. He pointed out that a second Bill would shortly go out for consultation on the issue of political party registration.

Chief Minister Allan Bell urged the Keys not be sidetracked by this ‘smokescreen’. He branded it as a ‘red herring’ which was designed to ‘undermine and destroy the 12 two-seat constituency concept’.

He said that one of Mr Gawne’s amendments to consult everybody affected by the boundary changes was in effect a call for a referendum. ‘There’s no other way of looking at it,’ he insisted.

Mr Gawne said he believed six four-seat constituencies was the most sensible way forward but this should be introduced in time for the 2021 general election alongside a single transferable voting system. ‘Please stop questioning my motivation,’ he told MHKs.

Thursday, February 27

• Karaoke, Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Ramsey Folk Club, Mitre Hotel, Ramsey, 8pm-11pm

• Karaoke with Ray Sloane at The Saddle Inn, Douglas.

• Guitar lessons at the meeting room, Archibald Knox, Onchan, 5.45pm-6.45pm.

• Alternative Havana, Fiesta Havana, Douglas. Also, Friday - Full On Fridays.

• Nigel Williams and son at The Tynwald Inn, St John’s, 8pm.

Friday, February 28

• Dickie at The Whitehouse, Peel.

• Brown Sugar at O’Donnells, Douglas.

• Karaoke at The Cat With No Tail, Douglas.

• Ian Thompson at Jaks, Douglas.

• DJ Tim, Second Venue, 21 Victoria Street, Douglas, 8pm. Also Saturday.

• Karaoke at The Albert, Douglas, 9pm.

• Irish traditional music session at The Mitre, Ramsey, 9pm.

• Kiaull as Gaelg at The Albert, Port St Mary, 9pm.

Saturday, March 1

• Ian Thompson at The Haven, Port Erin.

• Dickie at The Manor, Willaston.

• Caution Runners at Jaks, Douglas.

• Brown Sugar at The Manx Arms, Onchan.

• Spring Concert 2014 at St Ninian’s Lower School, Onchan. Tickets £12.

• Retro nite, DJs playing soul, motown, ska and mod sounds at The Cat With No Tail.

• Manx music session, The Whitehouse, Peel, 10pm.

• Karaoke with Dobbo at the Decks, Liverpool Arms, Baldrine.

• Karaoke at the Central Hotel, Ramsey.

Sunday, March 2

• One Wo/Man One Guitar at The Mitre, Kirk Michael, featuring Geoff Kerrison and Simon Sayle with guests Brendan McLaughlin and Ann-marie Murphy. 8pm.

• DJ Karoake and Disco at Jaks, Douglas

• Choral Evensong, St German’s Cathedral, 3.30pm.

• Music Box with David Castro at Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

• Karaoke at The Crescent, Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, 8pm.

• Disco Fever at Macbeth’s, Second Venue, Douglas, 10pm-2am.

Tuesday, March 4

• Manx Youth Orchestra, St German’s Cathedral, 7.45pm–8.45pm

• Acoustic sing-around, The Manor, Willaston, 8.30pm.

• Rock Choir, Youth Arts Centre, Kensington Road, Douglas, 6pm.

Wednesday, March 5

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

• Irish Music session at O’Donnell’s in Douglas at 8.30.

Thursday, February 27

• Age Concern - free computer training sessions, Douglas iMuseum, Kingswood Grove, 10am–12.30pm.

• Manx Footpaths Conservation Group Walk, Onchan Park car park, 10.30am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, 11am-3pm.

• Manx Gaelic class with Cathy Clucas, Arbory Commissioners’ hall, 7.30pm. Call 838527.

• Manx Wildlife Trust illustrated presentation by Seasearch dive coordinator Tony Glen on the underwater scenery of the Ramsey Bay Nature Reserve at the town hall Ramsey. Entrance and parking at rear of town hall. 7.30pm.

• Roy Moore Quiz at St John’s Methodist Church Hall. 7.30pm, £5 including supper.

• Manx Gaelic class, intermediate-advanced with James Harrison 7.30pm at Arbory Commissioners’ hall. Friday, intermediate-advanced with Adrian Cain, noon at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Saturday, intermediate 10.30am at House of Manannan in Peel; intermediate-advanced with James Harrison 10.30am at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Tuesday, intermediate with Adrian Cain, noon at St Matthew’s Church in Douglas, advanced 1pm at the Rovers pub in Douglas; beginners 7.30pm at Patchwork Cafe in Port St Mary. Call 451098.

• Bingo Quiz, Manor Hotel, Willaston, 9pm.

• Quiz Night at The Railway, Douglas, 8.30pm. Call 670773.

Friday, February 28

• Willaston Weekly drop-in Centre, Willaston Methodist Church, Barrule Road, 10am-noon.

• Drop-in for coffee and a chat, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am-noon.

• Garage Sale at the back of Crossroads Charity Shop, Victoria Street, Douglas, 10am-4pm.

• The Manx Aviation and Military Museum, 10am-4.30pm. Also Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4.30pm. Free admission. Donations welcome.

• Coffee and chat, Onchan Methodist Church lounge, opposite commissioners’ office, 10.30am-noon.

• Relax Fridays noon-2pm, Trinity Church hall. Bring your sandwiches and enjoy free tea, coffee and company. Call 628374. Also Revive Fridays 5.30pm-6.30pm. Enjoy the company and a faith tea. Call 621004.

• Friday Lunchtime Choir, Salvation Army Citadel, Lord Street, Douglas, 1.15pm. All welcome.

• Meditation at The Refinery, Duke Street, Douglas, 7pm. Call 467818.

• The Annual Phil Hogg Rescue Unit Charity Auction at the Palace Hotel, Douglas from, 7.30pm. Admission £2.50.

• Quiz night at The Tynwald Inn, St John’s, at 8pm.

Saturday, March 1

• Theatre Tours, Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, 10am. Tickets for adults £7.50, children £4, family £20. Call 600555.

• Laxey Woollen Mills, Glen Road, 10am-5pm. Also open weekdays.

• Green Centre, opposite Iceland, Chester Street complex, Douglas. Information about recycling, energy, insulation and environmental matters. Zero Waste Mann, Isle of Man Friends of the Earth and Manx Energy Advice Centre. Open from 10am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market at Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, 10am-1pm.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market at Villa Marina, Douglas, 10am-2pm.

• IoM Torch Fellowship Group (meeting for the visually impaired). Call 622830 for venue details.

• Coffee and chat, St Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown, 11am.

• Manx Craft Guild craft fair with lost of homemade crafts, 1.30-2.30pm, at Ramsey Methodist Church hall, in Waterloo Road. For more about the guild visit www.manxcraftguild.im or call 469654.

• Milntown House Tours every Saturday at 2pm. Call 812321.

Sunday, March 2

• Collectors Fair 2pm, Morton Hall, Castletown (opp. railway station). Wide variety of Antique to Modern items. Entry 50p for IoM Anti-Cancer Association.

• Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band rehearsals, Queen Street Mission Hall, 7pm.

• Meditation and chat at Pure Inspiration, Ramsey, 7.15pm. Call Gary on 817735.

Monday, March 3

• Age Isle of Man - free computer sessions for people aged over 50 at House of Manannan, Peel. Lift available and coffee shop, 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4.30pm.

• Lent Lunches at the Methodist Church, Waterloo Road, Ramsey, from noon to 1.30pm. Soup followed by fruit pudding. £5. Organised by the Northern Churches in support of Griah – home for the homeless charity.

• Afternoon Tea Dance, 2pm-4pm, Manx Legion Club, Douglas.

• Beating Fatigue, talk by Jasmine Carter, The Community Room, (above restaurant), Noble’s Park, Douglas. 7.30pm to 9pm. Call 626940.

• Shorties, pirate adventure. Children’s Soft play centre, Alexandra Road, Castletown, also Tuesday.

Tuesday, March 4

• Computers for Beginners, Onchan Library, 10am-noon. Call 621228.

• Manx Cancer Help drop-in day, Lisa Lowe Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Cronkbourne, 11am-4pm.

• Lunch Club, Salvation Army Citadel, Lord Street, Douglas, 11.30am. Call 627742.

• Whist for Hospice, Michael Methodist Church, 7.30pm, £2.

• Trinity Church, Douglas, slide show presentation (in the upper hall) by Peter Kelly entitled ‘Wish you were here’. A postcard tour of the Isle of Man. 7.30pm. Admission £5. 621921.

Wednesday, M\arch 5

• One World Centre Shop, Duke Street, Douglas, open for Fairtrade tasting and bicycle smoothie maker, 10am-4pm. Also Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

• MS Society coffee morning, Harbour Lights, St Paul’s Square, Ramsey, 10.30am-noon.

• Independent Living Centre, Open Day, Ballakermeen Road, 9.30am-3.30pm. Call 642511.

• Computer Training Sessions for everyone. Leonard Cheshire Disability, Main Road, Onchan, 11am-3pm. Call 679030.

• Call in for coffee at St Peter’s Church, Onchan, 11am and 1pm.

• Bereavement support group, friendly get together for anyone feeling isolated or lonely after a bereavement, however or whenever it occurred, tea, coffee and a chat, Scholl Centre, Hospice Isle of Man, 5pm-7pm. Call 647443.

• Meditation for Busy People (One session). 6.30pm-9pm, Brahma Kumaris Isle of Man, 20 Appledene Court, Woodlands View, Douglas.

• Samba percussion workshop, no experience necessary, Onchan Silver Bandroom, off Onchan Commissioners’ car park, 7pm. Cost £3, email sambamann@manx.net

• Manx Gaelic class with James O’Meara, St John’s House, 7.30pm. Call 843436.

• Bingo Quiz, Archibald Knox Onchan.