Emergency roadworks were required in Foxdale to prevent the total loss of a section of road after a retaining wall failed, according to the Department of Infrastructure.

A spokesman for the DoI told iomtoday that the partial failure in mid-July caused a ‘significant depression’ in the carriageway of the A3, in the area of the old railway bridge at the northern end of Upper Foxdale.

The spokesman said: ‘Remedial work was necessary to prevent the wall failing and subsequent loss of a section of the road.’

The rebuilding of the retaining wall began yesterday following the renewal of a stone culvert that runs under the main road and into the stream that runs along the old railway line.

Extensive excavation was required as the road surface lies almost three metres above the culvert.

The spokesman continued: ‘The road carries a large number of services, including a high pressure water main, which has been diverted by Manx Utilities to allow the works to be undertaken. Works have also been carried out to overhead lines and Manx Gas mains.

‘At this stage the majority of the culvert has been replaced and all the service diversions are complete.’

Once the new retaining wall is finished the carriageway will be reconstructed and the road resurfaced.

The road has been closed since July 19 and is currently scheduled to reopen on August 16.

Diversions are in place via the A24 Mines road, the Archallagan road and a one-way system is in place on the Lhoobs road to provide a separate route for northbound traffic.

Foxdale’s businesses are all open as normal.

The road will remain closed during next weekend’s Royal Manx Show, taking place at Knockaloe Farm in Patrick on August 8-9, and the department intends to re-route as much traffic away from Foxdale and the current diversions as possible.

They recommend that visitors to the show from the south of the island divert to the Braaid roundabout via the Mines road or St Marks roadand then travel west on the A1 Peel road.

The Steam Packet is supporting a Maughold woman’s charitable efforts to collect unwanted wheelchairs for distribution to developing countries.

Pam Kerruish’s involvement with UK charity Through the Roof and their ‘Wheels for the World’ programme started a few years ago after she spent time with Voluntary Service Overseas in Tajikistan, the poorest country in Central Asia.

Wheels for the World gathers old and unwanted wheelchairs from around Britain, after which they are renovated by prisoners at HMP Parkhurst before being sent overseas.

This is the second occasion Pam has organised a collection in the island for Through the Roof and once again she is being accompanied on the trip by Ali Gell, island-based founder of Your Girl Friday, who is assisting Pam with packing the collected wheelchairs and acting as co-driver for the trip to Aldershot.

During her time in Tajikistan Pam worked in an institution for disabled children and was shocked to discover that many had never left the building.

‘The treatment of the children left much to be desired,’ said Pam.

‘Most of them rarely or never went outside, even those who could walk. Whatever their disability, I felt that all children should be able to enjoy some fresh air. I looked at ways of addressing this, but found it very difficult to obtain wheelchairs in Tajikistan.

‘However, I heard that Wheels for the World was organising delivery of some wheelchairs to the country and asked if they could supply some to the institution, which they were happy to do. The reaction from the children was incredible, and it was wonderful to see them venturing outside after being stuck indoors for so long.’

Pam and Ali loaded up the van on July 16 before sailing to Liverpool the following day.

Last time Pam collected around 50 wheelchairs, with help from residential homes, amenity sites, the Department of Health and Social Care and other organisations, and this year she has gathered another 80 or so.

‘It’s been another brilliant effort from all involved,’ said Pam.

‘I’d like to thank everyone for their support - the delivery of these wheelchairs will have a marked impact on the quality of life for many who live in developing countries and I’m so grateful for kind assistance of the Steam Packet Company, 4 Hire, Manx Petroleums and Ali.’

Brian Convery, sales development manager for the Steam Packet, said: ‘Pam has yet again done a fantastic job of sourcing and collecting these wheelchairs, and for organising the delivery. Her passion for the charity and the work it does is obvious we are delighted to play our part in what she is trying to achieve.’

There was fun for all the family at Noble’s Park with an event to support Love Parks Week.

The free event, held on Wednesday by GoDoActive and Douglas Council, offered the chance to try out new activities, join in with sessions and enjoy the facilities at the Douglas park.

Activity sessions included walking football, begin to run, bowling, Zumba, Pilates, personal training, walk and talk, Out2Play, gardening workshops and burlesque dancing.

At the Out2Play session children could be seen testing their balance on ropes between trees, playing on rope swings and driving go karts.

It is hoped that the initiative will be extended to other parks around the island.

Love Parks Week is the biggest and best celebration of green spaces in the British Isles.

Teenage cyclist Anna Christian produced a gritty performance to finish 18th in the women’s 98km Commonwealth Games road race on Sunday morning.

It was a tough test, over seven laps of a 14km course around the streets of Glasgow, involving several short, sharp climbs, the slippery, paved area through the city’s main thoroughfare on Argyle Street and a scenic run through round Kelvingrove Park.

Both Anna and Isle of Man team-mate Laura Wasley featured strongly in the lead group on laps one and two when many of the weaker riders were being dropped on the hills.

Wasley, 30, ultimately dropped off the pace and was pulled from the race along with more than half of the 63-strong field.

But Christian held on in the main chase group when the race split mid-race and, in deteriorating conditions, contested the sprint where she managed to fend off England’s Lucy Garner and her star team-mate Laura Trott.

At the head of the race, Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Pooley scored a one-two for England, with Ashleigh Pasio of South Africa grabbing the bronze.

Christian said after the race: ‘It was Austrialia versus England in the mid-stage of the race.

‘England wanted Armistead up the road and the Aussies wanted a a sprint finish so both were counter-attacking all the time.

‘They went away for a bit, but me and one of the Welsh girls got across. The Kiwis then chased down from the peleton and it wasn’t long until we were all back together again.

‘When they went again I didn’t have the legs to stay with them.’

Full report in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Peter Kennaugh led the men’s 168-kilometre (120-mile) road race for eight of the 12 laps, but his brave bid for a solo victory failed in the closing third.

He later admitted that it hadn’t been the team plan to go off the front so early, but said: ‘I went on the outside, not much quicker than the peloton, but no-one else reacted. I expected a few guys to come with me, but it didn’t happen.

‘I’m not particularly disappointed to lose out at the end. I came to the Commonwealth Games to enjoy myself and I still would have been happy if I was 20th or 30th.’

Kennaugh had a half-minute lead by the end of the first lap. That grew to 1min 49sec by one-third distance, but then came the rain. It didn’t simply rain, it bucketed down.

By this time Joe Kelly, Andrew Roche and Elliot Baxter had all gone. Mark Christian and Jake Kelly were the last to remain of the Manx support team and the latter, the youngest member of the men’s cycling team at 19, was the last survivor.

The conditions and the distance ultimately began to tell and Kennaugh’s lead disappeared as the Australians and New Zealanders drilled the front of the bunch.

He was reeled in and caught on lap nine of the undulating 14km circuit.

He was caught and passed by Kiwi Jack Bauer, Welshman Geraint Thomas and Yorkshireman Scott Thwaites on lap nine and soon slipped to eighth place his ultimate finishing position.

Thomas survived a late puncture to win the race by a margin of 1m 21s from Bauer and Thwaites.

It was such a brutal event that only 12 of the original 139 starters completed the full distance.

The forthcoming production of Sunset Boulevard may be a British Isles amateur premiere, but it was still a shock when Isle of Man theatre group Taylorian Productions received a good luck note earlier this week from award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He sent the cast and crew best wishes ahead of the show’s opening night at the Gaiety Theatre tomorrow (Monday) – much to their surprise and delight.

‘As you can probably imagine, we’re all absolutely thrilled,’ said actress Sarah Buckley, who plays the lead role of Norma Desmond.

‘When it arrived I just couldn’t contain my excitement! To receive the personal backing of his company to stage the show is one thing. To receive a personal note wishing us good luck is another. It’s just fantastic.’

She added: ‘I know Andrew Lloyd Webber has said it’s probably his greatest score. The music in Sunset is really beautiful and we are hoping for really good audiences.’

Sunset Boulevard is showing at the Gaeity Theatre in Douglas from tomorrow until Saturday, August 16. To book tickets, call the box office on 600555.

St German’s Cathedral in Peel will hold a vigil service at 10pm tonight (Monday) to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War.

It will be a one-hour service and will be in four parts, drawing its inspiration from Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey’s famous remark that ‘the lights are going out all over Europe’.

The service will end at 11pm in darkness.

Other upcoming events at the Cathedral are as follows: Tuesday, August 19, at 7.30pm - Shoh Slaynt; Tuesday, August 26, at 7.30pm, Al Lawrence; Tuesday, September 2, at 7.30pm, Skeeal.

Admission is free to all events and refreshments are available.

---------------

Events to mark Great War centenary

Manx National Heritage has submitted plans to replace the Grove Museum of Victorian Life’s leaking roof.

It has applied (14/00864/B) to replace the existing felt roof with lead.

The work would also involve installing replacement gutters and rain water down pipes at the museum, in Andreas Road, Ramsey.

In June the Manx Independent reported that the Grove would be closing its doors early to visitors this season to enable the works to take place.

The attraction usually closes for the season at the end of October or beginning of November -but this year will close after a wedding in the grounds in early September.

Head of public services Gaynor Haxby has said that the roof had been leaking for some time.

The problem was exacerbated by the very wet winter.

Inside, damp can be seen in the walls on the stairwell, and some exhibits have had to be moved for their protection.

It is hoped the work will be completed by this winter, and that the museum will be open to the public for the 2015 season at the usual time.

The museum is the former family home of Liverpool shipping merchant Duncan Gibb, who developed the house as a summer retreat in the mid 19th century.

The Victorian villa later became the family’s permanent residence.

Work will begin to raise funds to improve the facilities in Castletown’s Poulsom Park to encourage the park’s use by all ages.

This follows a local authority meeting at which commissioner Kevin Weir proposed a notice of motion asking for the authority – which is trustee of the park – to approve that a committee, comprising town MHK Richard Ronan, police constable Jimmy Cubbon and himself, raise funds for amenities and other improvements.

Mr Weir said: ‘We would have to go out for private money, it will not be rate-borne, if somebody wants to purchase equipment we will go to the board and ask “Can we put this in?”. It’s working in conjunction with them (the commissioners).’

Anyone sponsoring equipment will get full acknowledgement, he added.

He said the first priority is to improve access. ‘We have to have disabled access, that is the first issue. The tarmac road needs repairs and we want to extend that. We could buy exercise equipment similar to that in Ramsey.’

They also want to introduce a single-lane cycle route around the current circuit, which is also used for walk and talk sessions.

To spread awareness of the location of the park, they want to investigate creating an archway approach at Alexandra Bridge and also introduce signage at the railway station.

‘We are hoping to make the park for all ages groups from zero to 99 years,’ he said. ‘It’s a long term plan, something we will start and other people will pick up.

‘It is between a fantastic railway station and the river, it’s a fantastic location.’

New lighting is also part of the proposed upgrade and he said this will not interfere with the park’s recently-granted ‘dark sky’ status for its use in observing the sky at night; when telescopes are in use, they will simply turn the lights off.

The park was recently the venue for a mass party for youths organised through Facebook, which attracted over 100 young people and got out of control, leading to police intervention.

Could improved facilities for young people encourage more similar gatherings and subsequent anti-social behaviour?

Mr Weir said they would do the opposite and that more people using the park would act as a discouragement. ‘When there are more people and equipment in the park, it becomes self-policing.

‘These parties have been organised using social media and they (young people) are travelling around and nobody can react. If we develop this there will be more people around and it is less likely that kind of thing will be happening.’

He added: ‘I have approached young people to be on the committee to get their feedback. If it is dark (in the park), you will not get people going there for a walk but if there is lighting, they will.’

‘They are big and long-term plans, but you have to start somewhere.’

Michael Horticulture and Produce Show will take place on Thursday at Michael School.

Entries are invited for sweets, pickles and jams, fruit and vegetables, flowers, cakes and confectionery, crafts, photography and wine, with many sections including separate categories for children.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three in each section with first place winning £3, second £2 and third £1.

The event will be held from 2pm until 6.30pm – £1 entry, under 14s free – with a prize presentation and auction of produce following at 7.30pm – 50p entry, under 14s free.

Former Michael MHK David Cannan will open proceedings and all funds raised will be split between Michael School and the new breast cancer unit at Noble’s Hospital.

If you are exhibiting, note that entries will be allowed to be brought to the hall on the evening before the show between 8pm and 9.30pm and on show day itself between 9am and 11am.

For further information, contact organisers Janet and David Foss on 878602.

Children are enjoying the new enchanted wood play area at the Curraghs Wildlife Park which opened recently.

The play area – which is for children from toddlers to 12 years and described by a park spokesman as ‘quirky and unique’ – was opened in time to coincide with the school holidays.

A host of special activities were laid on for the grand opening. These included wood carving and a fancy dress competition, as well as face painting, and children were invited to help to carve the last sculpture to be included in the park.

Youngsters were invited to attend the event in fancy dress, as a fairy, wizard or with some other costume which embraced the enchanted theme.

Winners of the fancy dress competition received a family membership of the Wildlife Park. The park near Ballaugh homes nearly 100 species.

An elderly householder was taken to hospital for a check-up after a kitchen fire broke out on Saturday.

He was treated for the effects of minor smoke inhalation.

His neighbours, in Laurel Avenue, Onchan, tried to help him extinguish the fire.

The power supply was isolated due to some damage to the wiring circuits.

A wing mirror was snapped off a car today in Douglas.

Police want witnesses to come forward after the incident, which happened on Broadway, Douglas, at 1.05pm.

It occurred where the road has been narrowed due to the work on rebuilding the Mannin Hotel.

A green Nissan Micra travelling downhill clipped wing mirrors with another vehicle causing the wing mirror to come off the car.

The other vehicle was travelling up Broadway but all other details are unknown.

If anyone has witnessed this or has any information, contact Constable Barklie at police headquarters on 631212.

Ramsey’s resident MotoGP ace Cal Crutchlow is to leave Ducati at the end of the season to join Honda.

Crutchlow only moved to Ducati a year ago from Yamaha Tech3 but has endured a frustrating season with the Italian outfit and is currently lying 14th in this year’s championship standings.

The 28-year-old signed a two-year deal with Ducati last summer but a statement by the team on Saturday confirmed that they are terminating the contract early.

Cal’s move to LCR Honda means it will be his third team in as many years.

LCR’s chief executive Lucio Cecchinello commented on the deal: ‘We want to thank Cal for his trust in our 2015 racing project and we are excited to line up with new Team colours thanks to the cooperation with CWM.

‘In the meantime we will keep working hard to end the current season in the best way. ‘

A meeting to discuss Castletown’s flood defences will take place on Thursday, in St Mary’s on the Harbour at 7pm.

The meeting has been called following the severe flooding that damaged people’s homes in January and has been called by the town’s MHK Richard Ronan.

He said: ‘We have had two major flooding events over the past 12 years and, together with Castletown Commissioners, I want to do all that I can to help protect the town from such events in future.

‘I have invited the Department of Infrastructure to update us on their progress since the storms. It is important that they and I hear your views and suggestions. The commissioners and I want to ensure that the needs of Castletown are understood and that action continues to be taken.’

Flood defence measures in the town were last discussed by the local authority in March, after the authority was asked to submit ideas by the Department of Infrastructure’s director of operations Jeffrey Robinson.

Suggestions they made were: A retractable barrier at the swing bridge, raise the harbour sea wall, and introduce a culvert in the Mill Race (where the harbour meets the Silverdale).

Police say Main Road in Kirk Michael will be closed for several hours following an accident outside the village shop.

According to witnesses, the accident involved a car and cyclist at around 6pm.

Motorists are advised to take an alternative route while investigations take place.

A statement from police said: ‘Efforts are being made for residents to be given access and egress and we would ask, unless a resident, that drivers avoid the area completely.

‘We would like to thank drivers in the area for their patience in this regard as officers have reported that all have been understanding in relation to the necessary diversions.’

Bus services have been disrupted.

A press release issued this evening said that services 5 and 6 departing Douglas will run as far as Douglas Road Corner, returning from Kirk Michael as per timetable. A shuttle service will run from Ramsey to Kirk Michael petrol station as per the timetable. This will be in place for the remainder of the evening.

Petition forms have flooded into the offices at Isle of Man Newspapers as almost 200 island residents have so far voiced their support for our campaign against the new toilet tax.

The campaign, launched in last week’s Isle of Man Examiner (July 29), calls for changes to be made to the tax to make it fairer and better reflect people’s ability to pay the charge.

Last week Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, who voted against the charge in Tynwald in February but as chairman of the new Manx Utilities Authority is charged with collecting it, said proposals to change the system to make it fairer were about to be considered by the Council of Ministers.

When the tax was approved in Tynwald, MHKs, including the Chief Minister Allan Bell acknowledged the tax - a flat £50 charge imposed on each property with a mains sewerage connection - was crude and would benefit from a degree of fine tuning before the second round of payments when rates bills fall due again in summer 2015.

The extra tax prompted widespread dismay and loud objections from members of the public and Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas presented a 6,000-name petition to Tynwald on behalf of the protesters, many of whom threatened not to pay the tax at all.

The hasty implementation of the charge also gave rise to anomalies such as at the Westlands sheltered housing complex in Peel, where residents in the bungalows had to pay the full amount while those in the flats were charged a fraction of that.

The campaign is continuing so there is still time to fill in a coupon indicating your support as the Examiner has printed the petition again in this week’s paper, which is on sale now.

The Examiner’s editorial comment last week explained more about the petition.

We reproduce it here:

The Examiner is today calling on its readers to put an end to the unfair toilet tax.

The tax, which was really a simple flat charge, was levied at the same level on everyone, from millionaires to pensioners in council flats.

It was clearly unfair.

Even the Chief Minister said it was.

Nevertheless, it was rushed in and foisted on the Manx people with no real consultation.

We’re not naive enough to imagine that we won’t have to pay more taxes and charges to make the books balance after the VAT debacle.

But we do believe the changes must be fair to be accepted.

Utilities chairman Alfred Cannan MHK says his team is working on a better system.

We believe pressure from our army of readers will ensure that ministers will have to sit up and take notice of public opinion.

If they don’t, we’ll soon be paying £100 a household under the current plan.

A paper petition is more credible than an online one, since it means people aren’t just clicking or disabling cookies and voting many times.

Politicians will ignore our readers at their peril.

Plans have been submitted to demolish the former Homefield bus depot in Salisbury Street, Douglas, and redevelop the site into a care home with nursing for the elderly.

David Wormald, of Salisbury Care Limited, has applied (14/00876/B) for the 68-bed development.

In the development statement by AP Architecture Limited it says: ‘The proposal is to create a homely, safe and comfortable environment with state of the art equipment and facilities, to exceed current regulatory standards and that which families have now come to expect from homes providing long term care for loved ones.

‘Another key aim is to provide access and enjoyment to a safe and secure garden area for those with both limited mobility, through the creation of raised sensory beds and a water feature, with wheelchair accessible gardens and raised flower beds, as appropriate.’

The bedrooms would have adequate space for wheelchair uses and wet room en-suites, as well as direct access to patio areas.

The site has a number of access points along Salisbury Street, which would be replaced with a single access for both parking and deliveries. The parking area would have 26 spaces.

The then Department of Transport and Leisure’s lease on Homefield expired in 2009. A number of vehicles, including five vintage buses, were then moved to the Jurby Transport Museum, which opened to visitors later that year.

The most-read story on iomtoday.co.im was about a vending machine for Bitcoins.

It was one of around 150 stories (including news, business and sport) uploaded to the site last week.

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2. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/former-police-officer-admits-offence-1-6756013|Former police officer admits offence} 4,015

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The loss of nine jobs at RBS International in the island should come as no surprise, says Chief Minister Allan Bell.

‘It’s simply a reflection of the times we are living rather than any downturn in the Isle of Man banking system,’ he insisted. ‘The loss of any jobs is disappointing but we have to keep it in context. We have to recognise that all banks, and particularly RBSI, have gone through a major period of restructuring. The Isle of Man is the least affected jurisdiction in terms of jobs losses.’

News that RBSI was shedding nine jobs in island came hot on the heels of the announcement that leading finance company Kleinwort Benson is pulling out with 12 staff affected.

But Mr Bell insisted there was ‘no indication at all’ this was going to lead to any diminution of the Manx finance industry: ‘This is exactly what we expected with the changing nature of international banking.’

He said he hoped the nine staff would be redeployed. And he understood that 30 new jobs were expected to be created elsewhere in the finance sector.

Meanwhile, Mr Bell has welcomed finding of a report comparing economic performance among island jurisdictions worldwide. Island Monitor, compiled by Island Analysis, ranks the Isle of Man in second place behind Bermuda for GDP per capital, while our unemployment level is the second lowest.