There is overwhelming support for free recreational facilities in the south yet local authorities are unwilling to jointly finance such projects.

These are the findings of Castletown commissioner Jimmy Cubbon, who is driving the skatepark project in the town’s Poulsom Park.

After battling for five years to advance the project, Mr Cubbon recently secured £50,000 of funding from the local authority and the same amount from the Manx Lottery Trust.

To raise a further £50,000 to complete the project, Castletown Commissioners wrote to southern authorities asking for a contribution.

Port Erin declined as there are plans for new facilities nearby at Ballakilley and in Port St Mary; Port St Mary asked for more information; Rushen has committed £50,000 to the Ballakilley recreational park; and Malew declined as they are actively looking at facilities for ’youngsters’ in the parish.

Research

With the progression of the Ballakilley skatepark, driven by Kristian Edwards, and discussions ongoing about a skatepark in Port St Mary things are moving in the right direction.

But research conducted online by Mr Cubbon showed overwhelming support (over 90% in all areas of the south and 100% in Rushen) for southern local authorities to jointly contribute towards shared community recreational facilities.

The research also illustrated disengagement with local authorities. About half don’t know what commissioners do, most (74% in Rushen) said commissioners don’t provide for ratepayers. Around a third are ’very dissatisfied’ with the free community recreational facilities in their area.

A third are dissatisfied with the current system of local government and half don’t understand it. Up to 78% (Rushen) support ’a great deal’ of rate money being spent on free recreational facilities in the south.

Southern authorities should provide jointly funded free recreational community facilities, agreed over 90% of ratepayers.

Mr Cubbon said the research shows local authorities are out of step with the ratepayers and the current silo mentality must change.

’Local authority is dominated by those in the community who are 50-plus, with time on their hands,’ he said.

In rate poor areas such as Castletown the expectation of ’civic duty’ means pensioner commissioners for example give up a huge amount of their time to run the town or parish.

’Young family people like myself generally do not have such time to give up and are not informed so are largely under represented.

’Local government is at present archaic and the lack of interest and contested elections results in commissioners standing unopposed with nobody knowing what they stand for, who they represent and what they vote for at the commissioners table.’

Joined up

Mr Cubbon was disappointed that Malew would not contribute financially towards a new Castletown skatepark.

’I firmly believe that for the south to flourish the boards have to take a joined up approach instead of constantly protecting their own riches,’ he said.

’I know people in Malew who wanted some of their rates to be contributed towards the Castletown facility as their children would travel the several hundred metres from Malew to use the facility. These people were clearly not being accurately represented by their commissioners.’

Mr Cubbon believes that the make up of the south is different to the rest of the island.

’The south has two service towns (Castletown and Port Erin), two service villages (Port St Mary and Ballasalla) and two villages (Colby and Ballabeg),’ he said.

’Except for the southern swimming pool, which is formed via a central government statute, the southern boards do not combine financially to provide quality facilities and as a result the people of the south have had sub-standard local government facilities for decades, except for bowling greens and tennis courts.’

Change

No capital loans have been taken by southern local authorities for facilities for particularly teenagers for the last 30 years.

’This needs to change. This survey has now provided a basis, first stage platform for southern residents to be listened to by their commissioners. I hope the southern boards and Minister Harmer give this survey and the issues it raises the attention it deserves.

’This is not just about Castletown skatepark, this is about a better south for the future, for everybody.

’I don’t necessarily believe in one southern board, but a more joined up, modern approach has to be considered.’