â?¢ Chairman of Douglas Council’s housing committee Councillor Claire Wells announced at last week’s meeting at the town hall that the council had brought the number of vacant properties down to nine awaiting attention.

This has seen a large improvement in that figure over the last 12 months.

At the June meeting last year, she advised that there were ’41 void properties as at the end of March, 2018’.

â?¢ Councillor Wells also revealed that Paul Carey and Sons, which had been awarded a contract for front garden boundary improvement work in Willaston, has withdrawn its tender submission.

This is due to the length of time the Department of Infrastructure took to approve the borrowing by the council (three months).

The work will now be undertaken by NK Construction.

â?¢ Kids will go free at Noble’s Park fun day, the chairman of the regeneration and community chairman Stephen Pitts has revealed.

Children will be able to use all inflatable and fair ground rides for free.

The council is seeking to make the day less expensive for families and increase footfall to the event, particularly with Douglas Carnival not taking place while the promenade works are carried out.

Mr Pitts said that the Steam Packet had been confirmed as the sponsor for the event and that the council will provide the extra £3,500 to cover other costs.

â?¢ Mr Pitts also confirmed in a written response to Councillor John Skinner that planting of flowers in the sunken gardens is due to begin.

Planting has already been completed around the North Quay, Victoria Street, the Sea Terminal and in parts of Noble’s Park.

â?¢ The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will be placing stickers on eight waterfront bins in an effort to combat marine pollution.

The department will be paying for the design and installation of the stickers, which may be designed by school children.