A diligent special constable was in for a shock when he stopped a possible burglary suspect – and came face to face with the Chief Constable!

Police inquiries continue into last month’s spate of domestic burglaries.

There have been no further break-ins or attempted break-ins for more than a week but a report of an offence that since came to light has now taken the tally to 40.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Chief Constable Gary Roberts had his own brush with the law while walking through Castletown late at night on January 17. He was wearing dark clothing with his collar up when he was stopped by a special constable.

Mr Roberts said: ‘I’d have been disappointed had he not spoken to me but I was also really pleased he had done what was expected of him.

‘I know many members of the public were stopped in similar fashion.

‘My officers carried out their duties with great dedication and in such a way that the public saw for themselves just how caring and professional a police service they have.’

Mr Roberts said some ‘clever and brilliant’ work was going on in respect of the burglary inquiry and ‘progress was being made’.

All Callow’s Yard properties should be given a ‘rates holiday’ to be used to compensate Tesco for not being granted an alcohol licence.

That’s the suggestion of the shopping centre developer Roy Tilleard, who raised the idea at a meeting with some town residents.

Tesco has applied – and failed – to secure an alcohol licence for an Express store in Castletown on several occasions in the past saying a licence would be necessary to make a store viable.

Each time the court has ruled the town is already over supplied with licensed premises and turned the application down.

If the ‘rates holiday’ were permitted, which Mr Tilleard suggested should apply to all the properties in Callow’s Yard, the rates lost to the town would amount to £50,000 a year, which he would use to finance giving Tesco a 20-year lease.

One of the residents at the meeting, who does not want to be named, has decided to make the suggestion public because he is deeply concerned about the impact of such a ‘rates holiday’ on the finances of the town, the people who have to pay the rates and what he believes woul d be an unfair competitive position that it would impose on other businesses in town.

He said: ‘To be clear, Roy Tilleard’s reported idea of a £50,000 per year Callow’s Yard rates holiday for 20 years equals £1 million.

‘With a Castletown population of 3,000, of whom about 1,000 pay rates, it means that each would effectively be having to contribute £1,000 of his rates to the rates holiday plus they would have to pay an increase in the town’s rates, which would be needed to compensate for the loss of the Callow’s Yard rates. These situations are so totally unacceptable to everybody.’

He added last week’s news about the closure of 43 Tesco stores did not improve matters because the same principle of granting a ‘rates holiday’ could set an unfair competitive advantage precedent.

holiday

Department of Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly MHK said he did not know about the idea of giving Callow’s Yard properties a rates holiday.

However, he was familiar with the idea of giving an ‘anchor tenant’ preferential terms.

‘I know elsewhere people offer preferred terms,’ he said.

‘Anchor tenants are often given preferential rates for a complex, on the Isle of Man I’m not aware of it so this would be quite revolutionary.’

He added: ‘It’s down to the commissioners to determine that. They need to consider the impact, others might ask for the same as the anchor tenant on other premises and say why are you giving it to one and not another?

‘We at Economic Development have offered help and support with regards to a retail expert (who has done a survey for the whole town), we want to achieve what everyone wants to achieve, a successful and viable retail community for Castletown as a whole.’

Mr Tilleard was not available for comment.

As a result of the ICM Group’s finance director relocating to the UK at the end of 2014, the Board of directors has appointed financial management specialist Adam Greenwood to step in as chief financial officer.

Adam started his professional life in the Royal Air Force, leaving after six years to follow a new career path in accountancy.

He undertook both graduate and postgraduate studies and was awarded a BA (Hons) in Finance and Accounting, and an MA in the same subject the following year.

Adam qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2000 at which point he returned to the Isle of Man.

Since then he has worked in a number of different areas within the finance industry, before taking up his new post with the ICM Group.

Mark Byrne, ICM Group director, said: ‘We are very pleased to welcome Adam to the company and look forward to working with him to develop and further improve our financial reporting systems and budget management.

‘Adam has settled in very quickly and has already made a considerable impact in the short time he has been with us.’

The ICM Group moved to new premises in 2014, and is now located on the North Quay in Douglas, in the old Clarendon and Douglas Hotels.

Adam joined soon after the move.

He said: ‘It is an interesting time for the Group as it continues to grow and expand in to new business areas and jurisdictions.

‘My job is to support this growth by providing the right financial environment in which to work.

‘The new offices are in a great location and I am looking forward to the summer when I can eat my sandwiches outside in the sunshine.’

For further information about the ICM Group, visit www.i.im

Chronic staff shortages have forced a popular scenic restaurant to close.

The Swiss House cafe, bar and grill at Glen Helen has stopped taking bookings or offering lunchtime or evening service following the departure of their head chef.

The Tartan Group, which runs the Swiss House, Tanrogan in Douglas and the Boatyard in Peel, made the announcement last week.

Managing director Robin Mowat told iomtoday that attracting talented kitchen staff to the relatively remote venue has been a long term problem for the company.

He said: ‘We struggle continuously, and more so recently than before, to attract and recruit chefs and staff.

‘We simply haven’t got a team in the kitchen which we’re confident will give customers the service they expect. Rather than keep trying to find replacements or temporary staff, we’ve decided to put a stop to it for now.

He continued: ‘We’ve not really struggled to find head chefs, it’s more about finding a reliable team to go with it, like sous chefs, chefs and kitchen porters.’

The venue is still for hire for private functions, but Mr Mowat said the company wants to focus on their restaurants in Peel and Douglas.

‘That’s where the customer base is, and it seems to be where the pools of potential employees are,’ he said, ‘A lot of the applicants we get don’t have transport, or rely on public transport.

‘Some apply thinking their parents are going to drop them off in the evenings or at lunchtimes, and we have to remind them that they might not be so willing after a while.’

Mr Mowat said that the restaurant could return in time, but he hopes that the scenic venue with a fully licensed bar will be an attractive option for private events.

‘It’s a fantastic location, the glen is beautiful and the building is lovely,’ he said.

‘We can’t continue as a restaurant but we can offer it as a venue for weddings, business functions, private events, whatever it needs to be, which we can cater for with our existing staff and chefs.’

A fire investigation report into the Mount Murray blaze is due to be submitted to the Attorney General’s chambers for advice and review.

The news comes after it was announced that the hotel and leisure club at Mount Murray will close this Friday with the loss of 30 jobs.

Managing director David Lyons blamed the closure decision on negotiations with the insurers, which he said had forced the company to agree a settlement. A ‘further nail in the coffin’ had been increasing energy costs.

Fifty were evacuated when the fire broke out at the Santon hotel in November 2013. Roofers had been working on the building that morning.

Flames ripped along the roof of the bedroom block and firefighters were praised for their efforts in preventing the blaze from spreading to the reception block next door. One casualty was treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Most of the accommodation block was destroyed but the function rooms, restaurant, bistro, pool and gym all re-opened within a fortnight.

Bernard Warden, head of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate, confirmed that the final fire investigation report had now been completed. He said it was ready to be submitted to the AG’s chambers who would decide whether there are any grounds for prosecution – and whether the report would be made public.

He told the Examiner: ‘An interim report was submitted before Christmas and we now have the final report ready for submission to the Attorney General’s chambers. It is comprehensive, running to several hundred pages.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK described the closure of the hotel as a ‘bombshell’.

Mr Bell told the Examiner: ‘I have spoken to Albert Gubay and to his officers in the island to try to clarify exactly what is happening and I have a further meeting with them to see if there is any possible way of resurrecting part or all of the overall project.

‘I have also been putting out feelers to potential new investors who have shown an early interest in getting involved in rescuing the project.’

Asked if the government might consider a similar rescue package to the one offered to the Sefton, Mr Bell replied: ‘This is a different matter. Mount Murray has lost pretty well all its residential accommodation. It would mean starting from scratch.

‘The Sefton position was really short term loans to assist their cash flow to keep the business operating.

‘But of course any new hotel, I think, still qualifies for potential government grants of up to 40 per cent and we will again have to consider all options for the future.’

He added: ‘This hotel development, the overall complex with the leisure facilities is just so important to the Isle of Man. We can’t just let it close and deteriorate.

‘A big building like that, unless it is properly maintained and heated and looked after, will deteriorate very rapidly and it will be a very difficult project to protect and resurrect. But we will be looking at all options.

‘Tourism is vitally important to us. The Mount Murray complex is vitally important to the financial services industry in particular as well as to the wider community and therefore I think we have to do all we can to try and stimulate new investment.

‘I do hope to speak to the chief executive on Tuesday and at that point we will be able to explore what avenues we might be able to take – either rescue what is there or stimulate new development.

‘Don’t forget also that the Mount Murray already has planning approval for about another 100 bedrooms which were related to a potential casino licence in the future. So there are quite a number of specific concerns being involved in this and, rather than relying on the usual rumour machine in the Isle of Man it is vitally important I speak to the key players to have absolute clarity as to what their plans are and what the options might be for the future.’

The golf club at Mount Murray will remain open. Customers who have wedding or function bookings will be contacted to discuss alternative arrangements, including for some parties, transfer to the golf club. Gym memberships will be refunded.

Local authorities will take over control of street sweeping, gully emptying, weed control and hedge and grass cutting by April 1, if agreement is reached.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne told MHKs he was ‘calling the bluff’ on commissioners and councillors who had been calling for years to be given more services to operate.

He insisted the transfer of functions would be ‘cost neutral’ as the £800,000 cost of providing the services would be offset by freezing a planned increase in waste disposal charges, equivalent to £800,000 of lost income to his department.

And Mr Gawne told the House of Keys he was not concerned that local authorities had already set their rates - as they had known for two months that the transfer of functions could happen.

He said: ‘We have laid down a challenge to local authorities: “Do you think you could actually manage to do this by April 1?” - and so far they have all said yes.

‘They can set the rate because they know that the amount they are going to save in terms of waste disposal charges will equate to the amount they will need to spend on services.’

The Minister said the transfer of street sweeping, gully emptying, weed control and hedge and grass cutting onto local authorities would apply to all adopted roads except a few key strategic roads, which will continue to remain the responsibility of the DoI.

He added: ‘There is no expectation to save cost as a result of this. This is, effectively, a cost-neutral transfer of services from the department to local authorities.

‘The purpose for that is so that we can, I suppose, call the bluff of authorities. Local authorities have, for years, said, ‘Just give us more services; if you give us more services then we will work more collaboratively and we can make some big changes.’ So, in effect, this is a catalyst for further change.’

Mr Gawne said he would like to see parking functions transferred as well - but this had to be done with all appropriate agreements and legislation in place.

He said management of off-street car parking is something the DoI would be ‘very keen to transfer as soon as possible’ but control of on-street car parking would require a change in legislation.

Mr Gawne said: ‘I know the towns are very keen for that to be transferred over as well.’

Mark Cavendish recorded the 121st victory of his career in the opening stage of the Tour of Dubai on Wednesday afternoon.

The Manx Missile just about held off the challenge of Italian duo Andrea Guardini and Team Sky’s Elia Viviani, the latter following good work by Onchan resident Ben Swift.

Despite the late drama, Cavendish edged Astana rider Guardani to the line by a matter of centimetres - approximately two tyre widths - after 145 kilometres of racing to record his second win of the season following his success in the recent Tour de San Luis.

Full report in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

The police have uncovered a new scam currently being used to dupe bank customers.

Criminals are again targeting members of the public who bank in the Isle of Man, citing fictitious problems with the victim’s bank account.

In a new twist to the scam, the criminals are now using false Caller ID numbers to convince the victim that they are speaking to their bank on the island, as the victim’s telephone indicates the call has come from a number associated with their bank.

Victims unwittingly speak with these criminals believing they work for their bank, and then give away personal banking details, including passwords.

The criminals are then able to hack in to the victim’s account and steal money.

The police are urging victims to report such matters to their bank immediately, even if they have not lost money, as measures may then be applied to their account preventing future losses. If money is lost, banks may be able to initiate recovery procedures, providing they are alerted quickly enough by the victim, so time is of the essence.

In addition to this, victims are encouraged to contact Action Fraud, the UK’s reporting centre for fraud and internet crime (telephone 0300 123 2040, actionfraud.police.uk ).

A police spokesman said: ‘These criminals are very convincing and plausible. However, it should be noted that the banks would never ask for any information over the telephone that would lead to the ability to access a bank account.’

The Isle of Man’s relationship with China is set to keep growing.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has revealed he is set to lead a delegation to China later this year.

At the same time Business News has spoken to Cindy Cheng, the ILS Group’s Shanghai and Beijing manager as she also predicted greater links between the two countries.

Speaking to the annual Manx State of the Nation conference organised by the Alliance of Isle of Man Compliance Professionals, Mr Bell said: ‘We are continuing to work with our business sectors to open up new opportunities for the island around the world.

‘China is of particular interest to us and following what I believe to have been a very positive visit last year I will be leading a delegation there in April this year.’

Later Mr Bell told Business News: ‘We were in China last year and because of the arrangements in China, being a chief minister, it opens doors that any other ministers, frankly will not be able to get into.

‘I was able to meet a range of high level politicians in China to discuss the possibility of opening new trade links with various parts of China.

‘We brought a group of the private sector with us and collectively I think that trip was extremely successful and we have already had visitors from China as a result of that.

‘So the one message we get from China is that if business is to succeed we have to have regular trips to China to build these relationships.

‘So it is my intention to take a new trip back to China in April probably with the private sector again to rebuild on the initial contacts we made and to look for new opportunities.

‘China has already shown quite a bit of interest in the Isle of Man and we want to ensure that we don’t lose the momentum.’

The ILS Group, based in Douglas, has been a firm advocate of expanding links with China. The group’s Shanghai and Beijing manager Cindy Cheng, on a visit to the island last week, told Business News the Chinese are keen to find our more about the island.

Miss Cheng, 31, said the Department of Economic Development had put a lot of effort into promoting the Isle of Man in China and the message was getting through.

She told of how ILS Asia took part in a series of presentations on a road show with the DED and were also present when Mr Bell visited China last year.

She said: ‘These types of visits have a real and immediate impact in terms of the business opportunities they create for the island.’

ILS offers international fiduciary and other services.

The company says China is starting to consider overseas trusts and the island is recognised as being a world leader in this respect.

Miss Cheng, who is Shanghai based, said: ‘We have received quite a variety of inquiries and requests from China to find out what the Isle of Man can offer. ‘

She said Chinese investors were looking closely at the island and seeing what the Isle of Man can offer.

‘At the same time the Isle of Man government is promoting the island to China and the government is doing a lot of work. ‘We have received inquiries from different types of businesses including accounting firms, law firms and consulting companies.’

Miss Cheng said the island’s location in Europe was a big advantage. Although the island is not in the EU it is very much seen as a gateway to Europe.

Miss Cheng, who has worked for ILS for almost three years, said Chinese investment could spell great benefits worth possibly millions of pounds for the Isle of Man economy.

As a result of the ICM Group’s finance director relocating to the UK at the end of 2014, the Board of directors has appointed financial management specialist Adam Greenwood to step in as chief financial officer.

Adam started his professional life in the Royal Air Force, leaving after six years to follow a new career path in accountancy.

He undertook both graduate and postgraduate studies and was awarded a BA (Hons) in Finance and Accounting, and an MA in the same subject the following year.

Adam qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2000 at which point he returned to the Isle of Man.

Since then he has worked in a number of different areas within the finance industry, before taking up his new post with the ICM Group.

Mark Byrne, ICM Group director, said: ‘We are very pleased to welcome Adam to the company and look forward to working with him to develop and further improve our financial reporting systems and budget management.

‘Adam has settled in very quickly and has already made a considerable impact in the short time he has been with us.’

The ICM Group moved to new premises in 2014, and is now located on the North Quay in Douglas, in the old Clarendon and Douglas Hotels.

Adam joined soon after the move.

He said: ‘It is an interesting time for the Group as it continues to grow and expand in to new business areas and jurisdictions.

‘My job is to support this growth by providing the right financial environment in which to work.

‘The new offices are in a great location and I am looking forward to the summer when I can eat my sandwiches outside in the sunshine.’

For further information about the ICM Group, visit www.i.im

The British Medical Association, the union for doctors, has written to all Members of Tynwald with a number of concerns about future provision for pensions for medics in the Isle of Man.

The nine-page letter has been signed by Andy Blake, the London-based head of pensions at the BMA.

Among its concerns are:

>The suggestion that pension benefits could be retrospectively downgraded, which is not allowed under the Public Sector Pensions Act 2011,

>A proposed increase in member contributions, despite assurances from the Manx government that there would be no such increase until 2020 and the 2013 triennial actuarial valuation reporting a decrease of 3.4 per cent in the total cost of future service accrual

>The fact that the proposals will almost certainly worsen the cash-flow in the Isle of Man economy rather than improve it

>A serious impact on recruitment and retention – a situation that has already started to develop – with potentially serious implications for the delivery of healthcare on the island.

An Isle of Man Examiner investigation last month {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/health/medical-staff-quit-manx-nhs-over-pensions-1-7028617|revealed that medics were quitting the Manx health service} due in part to fears about future pension provision.

We shall report on this story as it develops.

Ranulf Lucas, business development manager for company and trust specialists ICM Wealth, and Mark Byrne, director of the ICM Group, will be attending the 2015 Mining Indaba Conference in Cape Town later this month .

Mining Indaba is described as, ‘the world’s largest gathering of the most influential stakeholders in African mining’

The conference attracts representatives from more than 110 countries, with 45 African and non-African Government delegations including national mining ministers, government leaders and regulators.

Tony Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is delivering the keynote speech.

Ranulf and Mark will be joining more than 2,000 international companies, investors, analysts, and financiers from across the globe for the four day conference. 

Ranulf explained why ICM Wealth is attending this year: ‘ICM Wealth’s extensive African contacts have thus far been concentrated around East Africa.

‘Mining Indaba provides an ideal opportunity to make new contacts and develop our business across the entire continent. 

‘We have a particular interest in meeting those involved in the mining industry and we have some interesting propositions for them with regards to a safe central hub for investment within a stable and favourable tax jurisdiction.’ 

Mining Indaba also provides ICM with access to industries affiliated with the mining business including lawyers, accountants, banks, financiers and other support services.

Ranulf added: ‘This is the first time we have attended the event so we are looking forward to meeting a wide variety of industry professionals in one place, all of whom could benefit in some way from the offshore services we offer’.

Following the conference in Cape Town between February 9 and 12, Ranulf and Mark will be visiting existing contacts in other parts of South Africa before travelling to Namibia and Zambia for further meetings.

Bathroom and kitchen installation business boss Antony Kermode often has difficulty convincing people about what he used to do before he returned to live in the island.

The 50-year-old father of two admits some folk find it hard to believe he has in effect worked on projects for both a King and a Queen.

And that he has stepped inside 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.

‘I do feel privileged to have done some of the jobs I have’ said Mr Kermode who now runs his own business called Antony Kermode Projects from Royal Terrace, Onchan.

During a colourful career Mr Kermode told Business News how he:

l played a leading role in the refurbishment of the golden dome covering of the historical Dome of the Rock in the old city of Jerusalem

l Later worked back in England for a company that had a Royal warrant for doing repair work at Buckingham Palace.

l Routinely worked in close proximity to members of the Royal family

l With the same company he worked behind the doors at 10 Downing Street and other UK Government offices.

‘I think I must be one of the few people around who can say they have been in the bedroom of both the Queen and the UK prime minister. When I tell people they usually look at me with disbelief,’ said Mr Kermode.

He was brought up in the island and schools included Ballakermeen.

He said he served an apprenticeship with an engineering business in the island.

Then in 1984 he decided to move to London and was involved in various jobs, including being a bar manager in the West End where he rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.

He later sold Porsches for a while before heading for Gibraltar.

He later began working for a company called Mivan and was sent over to work on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in the early 1990s.

He said: ‘It’s one of the most important sites in the world for Muslims. The King of Jordan paid the bills for the project which cost millions.

‘I was the engineering supervisor. We had 35 plus Palestinians working for us on the project which took two years to complete.’

‘It was a fascinating experience.’

wife

Mr Kermode met his furture wife Fiona while working there.

She was involved in supervising the chemical process for the gold plating work on the dome

Mivan, which was Northern Ireland based, won a Queens Award for Export for the prestigious project.

Mr Kermode returned to London where he scooped a job with Waltham Forest Engineering, firstly as a foreman and then a short time later as a general manager.

This job brought him to work on various high profile projects at important locations across the capital including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and other important buildings with government connections.

‘We did all sorts at the palace, the company had a royal warrant. I used to hide from the Queen. I did not know what to say to her so I would hide behind the trees when she was coming.

‘I used to do all the surveying and pricing work.

‘It was ongoing maintenance, plumbing and engineering, to keep the place shipshape.

‘We specialised in grade one listed high securtity work and I was security vetted before I could work there.

‘We had contracts with Parliament, the Home Office and Downing street.

‘It was all high security work.

‘I’m probably one of the few people to have been in the bedrooms of both the Queen and the Prime Minister.’

Mr Kermode said the Queen’s bedroom was ‘actually very plain and there was nothing too opulent in there.

‘What struck me were pencil drawings on the walls including one of Prince Charles when he was a teenager’.

Mr Kermode said he must have spent many hundreds of hours at Buckingham Palace and knew the place ‘like the back of my hand.’

Laughing, he said the Royal corgis were a bit of a menace snapping at the heels of colleagues but he escaped without injury. He often saw prime minister Tony Blair in Parliament where he said the restaurant facilities are excellent.

Mr Kermode said he worked for Waltham Forest Engineering between 1994 and 2004 after which he finally decided to return to the Isle of Man, where he has family, because he became fed up with living in London.

He set up the kitchens and bathrooms installation business and said business has been good although it was quiet over Christmas.

He has two sons Alex, 16, and Max aged 11.

As for the future Mr Kermode is happy remaining in the Isle of Man. He says pals often tell him he should consider writing a book about his experiences.

And he is keeping tightlipped about whether he might one day offer to do a bit of kitchen and bathroom work for the Lord of Mann, ie, the Queen.

The government is beginning to heed nationalists’ warnings about austerity cuts going too far.

That’s the view of Celtic League spokesman Bernard Moffatt following revelations that on average, one in four island households are not able to make ends meet.

Mr Moffatt told nationalists who gathered for the annual Illiam Dhone commemoration at Hango Hill, Castletown, last month: ‘You can go too far and I think people have just about reached breaking point.’

He warned the government if it continued its policy, it could ‘tip the island over the edge’, adding that: ‘Politicians need to be aware ordinary people will only take so much.’

Our sister newspaper, the Manx Independent, reported comments made in the House of Keys last week by Minister of Policy and Reform Chris Robertshaw that the island community has been left ‘bruised’ by extra charges and taxes and that the government recognised the island had to move back towards a ‘sense of recognisable fairness’.

He revealed figures showing that the bottom quarter of households in terms of income have an average weekly expenditure of £354 per week – but their disposable income, after income tax and National Insurance, is just £341 per week, a shortfall of £13 a week.

Mr Moffatt said this appeared as a conversion on the road to Damascas, coming as it did from ‘one of the primary architects of the policies of austerity that have bit too deep, too fast’.

He said: ‘The back-peddling has started – but talk is cheap particularly when uttered by a Minister. With rate rises still due to filter through and a property revaluation set to give the Isle of Man its own home-spun version of the poll tax the Manx public would be very foolish to believe the worst is over.

‘If “stealth” charges do continue to accrue, the message from the muddy grass around the base of Hango Hill on Jan 2 2016 maybe even more blunt!’

He said cuts to fuel prices had given the government breathing space. But he added that it needed to rethink its strategy for managing change.

‘Indeed given the week’s news that 25 per cent of the population are already living on the edge they will have to!’ he said.

The barn at Cregneash’s Church Farm can be demolished, said planners, but there are concerns that this is a ‘quite dangerous step’ and whatever replaces it must maintain the ‘historical integrity’ of the village.

Manx National Heritage applied (14/01377/B) for permission to demolish the barn’s steel frame and concrete slab and foundations because the structure – damaged by storms – is unsafe.

Once removed, the area will be grassed over and reinforcement mesh introduced giving increased durability for future public events.

Rushen Parish Commissioners (RPC) were told of the plans in a letter from MNH director Edmund Southworth, who wrote: ‘In the short term we can manage the situation by reducing our stock levels this winter, relocating or disposing of unwanted equipment, and using temporary structures for public events. In the longer term this will force us to look in detail at the way we approach both our agricultural practice and public activities.’

The local authority accepted the barn has to be demolished, but said it should be replaced as an agricultural barn for the continued operation of the farm. They pointed out MNH uses the site for some events and the barn offers the public shelter. They have concerns that the site would be used as a car park and that the plastic mesh surface would preclude farming activities in that area.

They were keen that a clear policy for the ‘Folk Museum’ at Cregneash should be considered before progressing with the demolition.

In a site report, planning officer Laura Davy wrote: ’The steel frame building is a modern addition to the stone outbuilding; it is also in a very poor condition ... and is unsafe for public to be inside … The building is not particularly attractive and does not make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the site or the proposed conservation area’. 
Reinstating the site with topsoil and reinforced mesh ‘would significantly enhance the character and appearance of the site and the proposed conservation area in general.’

Referring to a replacement agricultural building, she wrote: ‘If there is not a requirement for an agricultural building, the policies relating to agricultural buildings would not support such a proposal unless there was sufficient agricultural justification.’

If the area was to be used for car parking, MNH would have to apply for a change of use of the site (and a condition with approval could cover this). But MNH said they did not propose a change of use of the site.

She recommended the plan be passed.

Demolishing the barn and what follows is a ‘fairly fundamental and quite dangerous step’ said Rushen MHK Phil Gawne, who has requested a meeting with MNH.

Mr Gawne said there could be an argument for saving the barn. ‘Other heritage projects think barns like this should be preserved and were evidence of further advances in agricultural buildings.’
He added: ‘MNH has permission to demolish the barn and I am concerned as to what they want to do with the site, putting in a temporary grassed area is very concerning, because “temporary” lasts a very long time and the most important part of Cregneash is the historical integrity of the site, that’s where it scores over the other museums.

Cregneash is a wholly authentic and intact bit of rural heritage. This is a fairly fundamental and quite dangerous step that MNH is taking and at risk is the authenticity of the site, which makes it stand out across the British Isles.

‘I (as Infrastructure Minister) am taking no part in the planning process, but I am asking MNH if we could have some discussions because I have some concerns about these very fundamental steps they are taking, I have had positve feedback (from MNH) and want a clear plan about what comes next.

‘I do understand the difficult financial position MNH faces at the moment, but the historical integrity is what makes Cregneash unique and funders are more likely to come forward for unique projects than if it was a hotch-potch.’

How’s this for a room with a pew!

Yours for offers in the region of £175,000, it’s a divine property with a heavenly aspect.

The landmark Lezayre church, which closed in November 2013, has been put on the market by the Church Commissioners with estate agents Black Grace Cowley.

Kirk Christ Lezayre, also known as Holy Trinity church, was built in 1835 in the style of a spired English country church.

Registered as a listed building in 1991, it’s home to a number of cross slabs dating from the 8th to the 12th century and has an impressive stained glass window in memory of Deemster John Christian who died in 1852, and another erected by glass painter Daniel Cottier in 1884 in memory of his father.

The estate agents describe the building as ‘most imposing and spacious’ with a potential for a number of uses subject to planning consent.

But they say the Church Commissioners would consider the option of a ‘Festival Church’ - selling the building but permitting it to be used for four services of worship a year and funerals and marriages under a special licence.

A number of fixtures and fittings will be removed before any sale including the two altars, the font, communion vessels and candlesticks.

But all these will stay until a final service is held, probably in the summer of this year.

The pews will remain.

Manx National Heritage has guardianship of the Manx crosses and will remove, store and catalogue them. Old stone fonts, stoups and memorials will also be removed.

The Trustees of Milntown will be take the large brass plaque Christian memorial plus a number of other memorials.

Sunday School and Mother’s Union banners and stands, alongside other fittings will go to St Olave’s church while St George’s church will remove fabric hangings in the side chapel, wooden candle stands and also tubular bells that were in St George’s originally.

The fifth and final round of the Microgaming Cross-Country League takes place at QEII High School, Peel on Sunday afternoon, organised by Western AC.

There is plenty of car parking space at the front, side and rear of the school. Do not park on the main road running alongside the QEII High School grounds.

Competitors are urged to remove running spikes or muddy footwear if entering the school. Changing rooms and toilets are available in the sports area, accessible from behind the start line. Refreshments will be available.

Dogs are strictly prohibited, anyone bringing a dog will be asked to leave the event. Runners warming up on the course before racing starts must close gates to ensure livestock do not escape.

Registration will be at the side door near to the tennis courts from 12.45pm to 2pm. Entry fees are £4 for under-18s, £5 for runners aged 18 and over who are paid-up members of an athletics club, and £7 for unattached runners aged 18 and over. If competing for the first time this season, an entry form must be completed. Those who have competed in a previous round please use the same race number.

Schedule of events: 2pm – under-nine boys (one small lap); 2.05pm – under-nine girls (one small lap); 2.10pm – u11 boys (one lap); 2.15pm – u11 girls (one lap); 2.22pm – u13 boys and girls, Short Course (two laps); 2.30pm - u15 boys and girls, u17 women (three laps), junior/senior/veteran women (four laps); 2.50pm - u17 men (four laps), junior men (five laps), senior/veteran men (six laps).

The course is approximately one mile per lap (under-nines compete over a short lap of approximately 800 metres). Competitors are asked to be at the start line at least five minutes before the scheduled start of their race.

Further details, including entry forms and course maps, available on the cross-country page at www.iomaa.info

Thursday, February 5 - Ramsey Firemen’s Road Running League (round five of six), sign on at Ramsey Fire Station from 6.15 for a 7pm start, Hi-vis kit.

This week’s Manx Independent is on sale now.

It reveals that changes to the ‘tax cap’ have put off some ‘high net worths’ (very rich people) and some are leaving the island.

The paper also includes the latest from this week’s House of Keys and the courts and includes an interview with a TT rider who’s had an eye operation.

The driver of a vehicle who failed to stop after hitting a car yesterday (Wednesday) evening is being sought by police.

The incident happened in Crosby, outside the Church Hall, and resulted in substantial damage being caused to the rear bumper of a white Ford Kuga.

Police say the vehicle which caused the damage was travelling towards Douglas, and that they are eager to speak to the driver of the vehicle or anyone who may be able to help them with their enquires.

Call Constable Beirne at police headquarters on 631212.

On January 21, a coalition of investors filed a shareholder resolution with BP, demanding that it start doing something about combatting climate change. Cat Turner, IoM Friends of the Earth’s co-ordinator, looks at how – and why – they’re doing this

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An unexpected coalition of climate campaigners includes people representing pension funds, insurers, charities and a great group called ClientEarth.

They’re using the battle-cry ‘Aiming for A’. After all, once we’ve trashed our climate, there is no ‘Plan B’.

Together, the investors own just over 1 per cent of BP’s shares, which may not sound like much but it’s a big pile of cash, and significant in shareholder activism terms.

It looks set to grow, too, as other investors start to realise just how badly they could be hit in the pocket if BP doesn’t mend its ways.

The shareholder resolution they’ve filed requires BP to:

1, Stress-test its business models against internationally-accepted targets to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.

2, Reform its bonus systems so that it no longer rewards climate-harming activities. This is a great tool – after all, companies don’t do bad things on their own – they’re guided and run by people, who suffer from the normal human frailties of greed, fear and ego. So they need motivation to do the right thing, not just because it is the right thing, at least until they rediscover proper values and it becomes second nature.

3, Commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy. And actually, if BP fails to do this, it’s dooming itself to a gory death as its business model will remain resolutely ‘last century’ in a world where clean, green technology is increasingly powering economic growth, jobs and profit.

4, Include more information in its annual reports on climate change impacts and greehouse gas emissions, including its climate change policies, so that investors are fairly and properly informed as well as other stakeholders, such as communities.

They’re not alone. A similar group of investors (with overlapping members) filed a shareholder resolution in the same terms with Royal Dutch Shell in December 2014.

These resolutions will be voted on in April and May at BP’s and Shell’s annual general meetings respectively.

This isn’t a particularly new way of ‘campaigning’. Shareholder resolutions are sometimes used in the US by shareholders concerned about the environmental impact of their investments, to encourage companies to combat climate change.

However, they are – so far – pretty rare in the UK. But this is changing, and you can help make sure it happens.

You don’t have to be rich enough (or brave enough) to hold shares directly in your own name. If you’re part of a pension scheme (whether employer-run or a personal pension), for example, you can write to your pension trustees and ask them what their policies are on these things.

Pension trustees have duties towards their ‘beneficiaries’ – the pension holders – and if these beneficiaries put them on alert to specific risks and ask them what action they’re taking, they’re duty-bound to respond.

This is especially the case with what are increasingly being called ‘stranded assets’ – the shares in companies which are involved in, say, fossil fuel exploitation or dirty energy generation, where imminent legal restrictions may mean those assets become worthless because they can’t be used.

These are areas where there’s plenty of information out there, plenty of notice of legal change, so the trustees have no excuses for ignoring the rising risks. If they did so, especially after being put on notice by their own beneficiaries, they could potentially be sued for any losses that arise from the stranding of the investment – and their own protections (indemnities and insurances) would be unlikely to protect them, because they’d have been negligent in ignoring those risks.

Groups like Friends of the Earth are encouraging ordinary individuals to protect their own retirement, and help bring about more responsible corporate behaviour, through campaigns such as this – you can see some examples at https://www.foe.co.uk/page/how-ethical-your-pension

So, if you’d like to take a stand, follow the link and find out more – and ask your own employer scheme or pension operator what they’re doing to look after you, and your planet!

Sources: ClientEarth press release, Investors challenge BP and Shell to face climate change risk, January 21, 2015; and More than 150 investors demand climate action from BP, BusinessGreen.com, January 21, 2015.