It’s time that Peel Town Commissioners plays its part in addressing the issues of climate change, a board member said.

Commissioner Hazel Hannan tabled a motion during the authority’s meeting on June 20 to set up a committee to identify and act on issues relating to the global problem.

This follows Tynwald recognising that the island is fighting a climate emergency. Its members reached a unanimous vote this month.

Commissioner Hannan recommended that a member from each committees should form the group with chairman Alan Jones also being a member.

’There’s a climate emergency, even the government has recognised it,’ she said.

’We should have a committee to look at how Peel can get involved in addressing the issues of climate change and give a strategy report back by December.

’I feel it’s so important. We’re a coastal community and we have to be aware of the fact we’ve had flooding and have environmental issues.’

Commissioner Christine Moughtin showed support adding that Peel Commissioners could be the first amongst other local authorities to set up a committee like this.

Chairman Alan Jones established that a meeting would be raised on this.

Following this, Commissioner Hannan gave her concerns about the path on Peel Hill and its maintenance saying that nothing had been done to look after it since the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture agreed to help. We’ve not got back to them,’ she said. ’These issues are important.’

She also suggested having more recycling bins throughout Peel. This brought doubts on the costs of shipping recyclables to the UK and the impact this would have on Peel’s carbon footprint. It was agreed to see whether bringing in this change would be achievable.