Addressing more than 60 guests gathered in the council chamber Councillor Joughin said that recent proposals for ’ambitious new developments’ represented a vote of confidence in Douglas, the Isle of Man and in the Manx economy.
Among developments he outlined were plans for a £25 million leisure and residential scheme on the site of the former Lord Street bus station.
The regeneration of Douglas promenade, a scheme in which the council would be investing £864,000 in new bespoke lighting, and the prospect of a defined ’cultural zone’ with the Villa/Gaiety complex at its centre, along with the sales of the Castle Mona and Villiers site and the soon-to-open Premier Inn in Market Street were also ’causes for measured celebration’ and optimism he said.
He went on to say that if Douglas were to become a powerhouse of opportunity and enterprise, then its image must not be compromised by vacant lots being used as car parks.
’The Douglas of the future must have more purpose-built secure car parks serving not only the business community but also shoppers and visitors,’ he said.
Councillor Joughin said building a Douglas fit for the future was not only about ’bricks and mortar or shiny steel and glass developments’, it was also about building partnerships between central and local government, the business sector and the local community, safeguarding the capital’s heritage and protecting, promoting and enhancing the town’s green spaces.
Turning to environmental matters, he said that to create a better Douglas it was important to encourage civic pride and implement measures to combat antisocial behaviour.
He said: ’The council alone cannot create a cleaner, greener, safer town. This is a community problem that demands a community response.’
Turning to developing new and diverse skills that would serve as ’the building blocks for economic prosperity’ he referred to University College Isle of Man’s new Services to Business (S2B) initiative, which was featured in last week’s Business News .
This was, he explained, ’a series of training programmes designed to respond to businesses’ changing skill set requirements, support new models of working and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.’
In closing the event he issued a call to action, saying: ’We must work together towards unlocking the potential of our town.
’Towards building a Douglas fit for purpose and fit for the future.’
Last week’s Business News put the spotlight on a new boost for Athol Street with the development of offices by the Tevir Group.
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