Residents of Douglas have the chance to put their concerns to both their local authority and an MHK this weekend.

Members of Douglas Council and MHKs will be hosting the event at Henry Bloom Noble Library in Lord Street on Saturday, January 5. at 11am to 1pm.

Council leader David Christian will be attending the session with Douglas Central MHK and Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas.

Mr Christian said: ’These joint surgeries provide an opportunity for the public to meet with members of the council and of the House of Keys to discuss the issues that matter to them and to find out more about future local and central government proposals.

’As we enter a new year of challenge and change there will be a whole raft of issues and projects on which we would welcome the public’s views.

’By way of example, the proposed Lord Street bus station scheme is set to be one of the island’s largest and most ambitious mixed-use developments in recent years.

’The council supports the scheme in principle but has a number of concerns and is liaising with the planning committee and monitoring the application closely.

’The council is also closely involved with the Cabinet Office in its draft proposals for the Area Plan for the East, which aims to identify the type of development that might be supported on seven key sites in Douglas such as the Villiers and Middlemarch sites.

’Although the formal consultation has ended, we’d still be interested to hear people’s views for when we consider future planning applications, given that the way sites are developed can have a major impact on the town’s economy and quality of life. I would urge the public to have their say on the issues which will determine the future of Douglas.’

Another bid which has caused some debate in Douglas is the plan for KFC and Starbucks drive throughs on Peel Road, a plan the council supported but Mr Christian voted against.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the living conditions for residents of the Lord Street flats.

A further surgery is to be held on Saturday, January 26 at the library, 11am to 1pm.