Douglas Council has picked up some tidy recognition.

The local authority has been awarded eight green flags by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

The council not only retained its six green flags for the third successive year - for Noble’s Park, Douglas golf course, Douglas Head, Douglas borough cemetery, Hutchinson Square and the marine gardens - but it was also awarded two new flags, for Derby Square and Summerhill Glen.

Regeneration and community committee chairman Stephen Pitts congratulated the parks services team for their work.

’It is extremely rewarding to be recognised by such an authoritative independent body as Keep Britain Tidy, whose green flag judges were impressed not only by the visual qualities of the sites but also by the dedication and knowledge the team applies to creating and maintaining such high quality green spaces.’

Council leader David Christian said: ’Douglas is certainly punching above its weight as only local authorities in the north west of England serving much larger populations have won so many green flags this year.

’For Douglas to have achieved eight is testament to the hard work and vision of our head of parks David Hewes and his team.’

The green flag award scheme takes into account environmental, management and future planning policies along with community involvement. Green flag winners must re-apply each year and Mr Christian said that meant the council had to constantly review its strategy while being aware of budgetary constraints.

’Those constraints have not, however, stifled investment,’ he added.

’This year we installed a children’s splash zone in Noble’s Park, which is proving a runaway success, and where we are also investing £195,000 in a new skateboard park.

’In Summerhill Glen we have made improvements, including resurfacing the pathways, and during this financial year we have allocated £55,000 for installing new sound and lighting effects.’