Comments made by a Castletown commissioner on Facebook have landed him in hot water.

Responding to the news Douglas Corporation will finance a £195,000 skatepark, commissioner Jimmy Cubbon wrote: ’Shame the inequality in the rates system means this can’t readily happen in the south unless built in the uber rich Malew. Five years to get a charity set up in the south to try and raise money whilst having legs taken by the old guard.’

The comments provoked a letter to Castletown from Malew parish commissioners.

Malew clerk Barry Powell wrote about the commissioners’ ’disappointment’ over the comments about Douglas Borough’s funding a skatepark ’suggesting that due to "inequality in the rates system means this can’t readily happen in the south unless built in the uber rich Malew".

’This, of course, is factually incorrect. It is in the power of any local authority to raise and spend the rates it receives as it deems fit.’

’It is comments like this that can create bad feeling between boards and with the proposed joint meeting between Arbory, Castletown and Malew due to take place soon, particularly ill timed ... whilst every member of board is entitled to make their views known in any forum they chose, they should consider the wider consequences of their actions.’

At the commissioners’ meeting last Monday, Mr Cubbon said he has made the same comments in public commissioner meetings.

He added legislation regarding local government reform needs updating, but MHKs are unwilling to do it afraid they will ’lose their jobs’.

Also Malew parish has a high rate income compared to other authorities in the south.

He added: ’Unless it’s on social media nobody in the younger generation will take notice.’

Of Malew’s board four are pensioners, he said the board is formed in an ’archaic’ system which ’needs reforming’.

Commissioners’ chairman Colin Leather said: ’You are a Castletown commissioner.

’Elected with this comes certain responsibility. This is the first time in my political career we have had a complaint (from another authority).’

Mr Cubbon said: ’I’m not political careerist. If it means change comes about, I will stand by it.’

Mr Cubbon said authorities are ’dominated by pensioners who go to civic Sundays and pack each other on the back; they do not represent young people.’

Mr Leather said: ’I have apologised (to Malew). Remember you are a commissioner that any comments go to another authority should go through the clerk.’

Mr Cubbon said: ’They are my personal comments.’

Mr Leather urged him to ’use common sense’.

Mr Cubbon said: ’I’m 37, I use common sense ... Now people know what’s going on.’