Agenda - Manx Radio

Alex Wotton chairs the first of two Douglas South by-election special. With ten candidates in total, the second five (alphabetically) talk about their priorities for the vote on 27 August; Michael Jessop, Michael Josem, Kevin Oliphant Smith, Lon Pinkerton & Paul Quine.

Alex Wotton chairs the first of two Douglas South by-election special. With ten candidates in total, the first five (alphabetically) talk about their priorities for the vote on 27 August; Anthony Allen, Pamela Birnie-Malarkey, Claire Christian, Ian James Clanton, David Fowler.

Thousands of private sector homes aren’t up to standard, with the elderly and those on low incomes suffering the most from poor quality accommodation. They’re just some of the findings of a survey into the condition of private properties across the Island. DEFA minister Geoffrey Boot says more funding could be available to fix the £70 million problem, and MHK Chris Thomas thinks...

Landlords are up in arms about the government’s latest attempt to bring in minimum property standards, and claim they haven’t been directly asked for their views. A housing charity says it’s desperately needed to improve living standards.  And the chief officer of Guernsey airline Aurigny explains the benefits of secure travel links, following the opening of an air corridor...

How do you sell queenies across the world when prices have dropped by 40%  since last year because of a global pandemic? Shellfish supplier Island Seafare is faced with that problem. Police are asking young people to take part in a survey on cybercrime, and the environment minister wants to re-introduce grey partridges on the Island so they can be shot.

The shake up in membership at the Department of Infrastructure continues following the departure of Onchan MHK Julie Edge. And Manx fisheries are in a 'dire state', with fears the industry may not survive amid a severely depressed shellfish market. 

Why has it taken so long to have updated rules in place for landlords and tenants in the private sector? We speak to those involved in trying to make that happen, and take a look at a new bill aimed at regulating the private rental market. But what can be learned from previous efforts to manage this sector, and how can that be applied to what’s now being proposed?

July is the deadline for a new gas deal to be agreed by the government. Manx Gas says it welcomes a ‘concrete’ timeline. The Isle of Man Ship registry is hosting a talk on the more than 100,00 seafarers in merchant ships around the globe, trapped at sea for long periods during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Campaigners are still pushing for lower prices from Manx Gas, with negotiations between the energy company and government on a new regulatory agreement still yet to reach a conclusion. Tynwald will discuss the issue on Tuesday, with some hopeful government will force Manx Gas’s hand. And one of the largest protests in recent memory took place in Douglas last week – when more than 1,500 people turn...

The pathology manager at the Department of Health and Social Care explains how the roll out of antibody testing will take place, and a Garff MHK wants recommendations from the Laxey flood report to be implement as soon as possible.

On this programme we’re focusing on the ministerial sacking which seem to come of the blue last week. Chris Thomas was dismissed from the Council of Ministers for voting against the government on a controversial planning motion. The chief minister said he failed to follow the ministerial code, but Mr Thomas insists he had a pre-declared position.

Government has announced work on the horse tramway will stop at the War Memorial to minimize disruption to next year's tourist season. It's promised to finish the remainder of the single track to the Sea Terminal, as agreed by Tynwald, ‘in the future’, but with a new administration likely in place by then, critics say it's kicking the issue into long grass. We hear from all sides.

Road-maps, review dates and the opening of garden centres were all announced recently as government edges Manx society towards a ‘new normal’. The coronavirus response shows an ability to tackle the climate crises claims a Douglas MHK, Manx Utilities may have a new chair, and the Home Affairs Minister explains why the all-Island warning sirens are on the way out.

The education minister has offered an update on how the Island’s educational institutions are preparing for a world in which Covid-19 restrictions will remain firmly in place. But unions are unhappy over the possibility of more students coming back to school, and we find out how the Island’s civic amenity sites are coping after reopening.

The sustainability of Castletown has been a subject of debate after plans for a new estate at Knock Rushen were rejected at appeal. Castletown Commissioners want new homes to attract young buyers to the town, and are calling for the Southern Area Plan to be revised and updated to reflect housing need.

The planning committee is now meeting again digitally, but not in public. With a build up of home recycling, there’s a call to reopen some waste facilities. Braddan Commissioners face a question over a £7 million community centre, and Douglas Council says it’s taking steps to help people manage rent.

Throughout the pandemic there’s been a focus on mental health and how people can access support. Manx mental health charity Quing has launched a digital TV channel to make its online material more readily available. In the second half of the programme we speak to a BBC Isle of Man journalist about the challenges of covering Covid-19 whilst in self-isolation.

As Manx life continues to change day-by day, we reflect on a week of decisions designed to keep people safe and the economy afloat during the pandemic. An economic intervention of more than £100 million is approved by Tynwald, the food retail industry pleads for calm and respect for its workers, and despite what you may think, one of the Island's broadband providers insists its network hasn't reac...

The Island’s chief medical director explains why ‘flattening the curve’ is a must – we speak to a young person here with a mild case of COVID-19 who’s pleading with the fit and healthy to take the virus seriously. Graih outlines the challenges faced in helping the homeless self-isolated. And a Port Erin commissioner explains more about plans for the Cosy Nook.

Should Arbory, Rushen, Port Erin, Port St Mary, Malew and Castletown all join forces to create a new local authority? The idea’s been floated by a commissioner ahead of the local elections in April. On this episode of Agenda we speak to representatives of all five authorities to see what they think about the proposal.

Villagers in Laxey hear the pros and cons of plans to put a sewage treatment works in the heart of the community. The future of Port St Mary’s bowling green is up in the air. And, a cross-local authority forum is under threat.

The leader of the Manx Labour Party, who helped rebuild lower Pulrose in the mid 1990’s, is calling on government and local authorities to invest in creating more public homes. We speak to recently-retired politician David Cretney. And, changes to the bus timetable, which upset some in Jurby, will 'lead to more efficient use of resources' say infrastructure bosses.

'It’s not the right site' - that’s what some in Laxey have said about the proposed location of a new sewage plant for village, designed to end the discharge of raw waste. Progress of the draft Eastern Area Plan has reached a new juncture, we find out what comes next.

Homeless charity Graih has warned the quality of cheap private accommodation can be very poor, and landlords often seek to exploit vulnerable tenants. Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas says work is ongoing to improve the quality of accommodation in the private sector, including a landlord registration bill.

Local authorities are increasingly concerned about the closure of village post offices, with fears the situation in Ballasalla could soon spread. We hear from Malew Commisisoners, the Isle of Man Municipal Association, and from post office chair Julie Edge. A delayed social housing project in Braddan, which is expected to cost more than £4.5 million, is set to provide tenants with homes that 'exce...