Castletown Commissioners’ new chairman is Colin Leather, although he is hardly new, as he’s been on the board since 1981 and this is his seventh stint in the chair.

The role is same but the town itself is emerging from years of disruption - first from the development of Callow’s Yard followed by regeneration work in the square - and reinventing itself in response to the demands of contemporary life.

Mr Leather said: ’These are exciting times. Costa and Coffee Republic have opened, another business is coming.

’We will not have the same town as in the past, it’s because the way we shop and spend our leisure time is changing, it’s going to be a leisure, historic town.

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’We are going in the right direction.

’Internet shopping is the biggest change but we want people to come to the town and spend time. In some ways we are going back to the 1970s in having more events.’

On June 2 the commissioners will hold their first ever TT event, a motorcycle display in the square.

A group of high end cars, including an Aston Martin, Audi RS6 Avant, Porsche 911 and BMW i8 plus 12 BAC Monos, which visited the town recently are to return.

’They are coming back in July so they must have been impressed,’ he said.

There are also plans for a scarecrow festival.

In addition, the town’s School Hill redevelopment, worth around £7m, is on the cards in 2018 or 2019.

The Bowling Green cafe - threatened with closure (after structural problems were identified) until the authority reconsidered its stance - requires investment.

Balcony House is being discussed. Also there are ’big things planned for Lorne House, which will be of huge benefit to the town,’ he said.

In addition sites for more housing are under consideration.

’We do need more housing for the community,’ he said.

The authority is also looking at making the town more welcoming for visitors, ’we want to cater for cruise ships and coach parties. We are trying to show the ancient capital of Mann as it should be,’ he said.

He added: ’We are still negotiating for the fire station and the police are moving into the Civic Centre by August.’

He warned a rate hike was inevitable.

’The government are putting more and more on to us, which is something I support,’ he said. ’We can handle more and are likely to be more efficient. We have held the rate for eight years it will be impossible to keep it down. We will look at it very closely.’

He said : ’I’m very positive about Castletown.’