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Copy of letter to Alfred Cannan MHK

Following up on my letter to the yourself of 11th inst. to which I am still awaiting a response, and taking into account the various answers given at last Tuesday’s Tynwald Question Time from yourself and the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the Attorney General, I write to yourself and the DHA Minister on behalf of the Branch as we want to know what actions will be taken by the Treasury and the DHA to ensure that following the sale of the Courthouse and the Land:

• the Ramsey War Memorial will remain in its present location;

and

• the extent of access currently enjoyed today by the public and organisations wishing to pay their respects and participating in Acts of Remembrance and Commemoration to the War Memorial and gardens, will continue to be enjoyed to the same extent in the future.

Th Branch Members look forward to your response on the above.

Colin Douglas, Royal British Legion

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I cannot believe that, after a huge public outcry supporting our fantastic patient transfer taxis, the powers that be have decided to sack them and employ another firm, to save a mere £30,000 a year.

Compared to what they are wasting on fancy regeneration schemes that is chicken feed! The regeneration that is causing havoc around the island is hugely expensive, mostly unsuitable for the surroundings, taking far too long and costing the poor long-suffering public long pounds in petrol or lost trade.

Bridgewater have given us exemplary service for more than twenty years, and this is how we repay them. Our MHKs were elected to represent our views. Why won’t they listen!! I can only hope they won’t end up with egg on their faces - AGAIN!

Rosie Scott, Friary Park, Ballabeg

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I have just spent some time in Castletown Square with a collecting bucket in aid of the famine in East Africa.

People were so generous and always rise to the occasion over here when needed.

Thank you to all those who contributed.

But, as I sat, rarely have I watched such a scene of chaos in the island.

What idiot designed the ‘regenerated’ square and why?

It is a nightmare for motorists who have to queue up to go in or out of the one entrance/exit and also have to manoeuvre into the far too few and far too narrow parking places.

Wheel hubs or tyres were scraped or the pavement run over.

There were several near misses as cars pulled out of the parking spaces.

What would happen if an emergency vehicle or vehicles were needed there I hate to think.

One or two people were brave enough to sit on the cold, backless metal benches and looked most uncomfortable.

A bus – far longer than is needed over here – managed to get round the corner and pull up outside the square but took up over half the length of the remaining space there before trying to negotiate the sharp bend that led to the fire station.

And picking their way through it all were hapless pedestrians, no doubt wondering what on earth had happened to the little town.

Overlooking it all was a wonderful medieval castle and an old monument (with no top!), both of which looked so totally out of place.

For years now, since someone was allowed to tear the heart out of Castletown, there has been a systematic assassination of the town.

While watching, with utter disbelief, the unfolding shambles in front of me, I realised why I, and so many others, rarely go into Castletown any more unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

My condolences go to its residents and businesses.

Unfortunately the same error of judgement has been played out in towns throughout the island.

We still have a functional castle.

We should use it and let heads roll over these acts of vandalism before the remaining Manxness of our beautiful island is destroyed for ever!

Rosie Scott, Friary Park, Ballabeg