Manx Newscast

The Douglas North MHKs say they are still awaiting a response from Douglas Council with information about the Ballanard Road playing field six weeks after sending a letter. David Ashford and John Wannenburgh have asked the council for timelines and schedules regarding the replanting of trees and whether there are still plans to turn the site into a building compound to support the refurbishment of...

The Road Transport Licensing Committee (RTLC) is urging people to make a complaint if they think they've been overcharged for a taxi journey. It's after a post on social media claimed a 'small minority' of drivers aren't using meters when they should be. Amy Griffiths has been speaking to secretary Noel Capewell and chair Graham Curphey:

The health minister insists her department is 'taking charge' of capacity issues at Noble's Hospital. An independent rapid review has been commissioned by the DHSC after serious concerns were raised by the Medical Staff Committee. Last month the group of 75 senior doctors and consultants claimed there was a 'critical shortfall in inpatient bed capacity' at the site. Claire Christian has been speak...

The politician behind the Island's Assisted Dying Bill admits he's disappointed by the UK's decision not to recommend the legislation for Royal Assent. The UK's Ministry of Justice has raised concerns that the Bill may not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. Safeguards against coercion, monitoring of assisted deaths and ensuring capacity were among the points raised. Ramsey MHK Al...

A mum on the Isle of Man has been speaking out about the symptoms her five-year-old son displayed before he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumour. In 2024, five-year-old Hector started began waking in the night with headaches and, during the day, his food began to taste strange. Having been air-ambulanced from the Isle of Man to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, he later underwent a six-week...

A longstanding resident and volunteer of Arbory has been appointed as the new captain of the parish. Claire Whiteway was selected by the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer to replace Raymond Gawne who had been in the position for nearly thirty years. Traditionally, the captain was responsible for maintaining order within the parish but the role today is 'largely ceremonial'. Mrs Whiteway says sh...

The Grand National returns this weekend (11 April) and as part of this year's event the Isle of Man Post Office will be paying tribute to one of our former residents, Trevor Hemmings. The British billionaire businessman, who died in 2021, was a stalwart of the horse racing world. As the jockeys and the crowds return to Aintree, the Isle of Man Post Office is issuing a collection of stamps featurin...

The outgoing clerk of Arbory and Rushen Commissioners says there is lots of 'really good' and 'innovative' work being carried out across local authorities. Phil Gawne, who's leaving the post after 10 years of service, believes there's been an increase in the amount of bureaucracy attached to the position from when he first started. Mr Gawne has officially finished, however he will stay on for a co...

Some parents on the Isle of Man believe a recent ruling in the US regarding smartphone apps should be a wake up call to the government here. The recent trial in California found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, intentionally designed social media platforms to be addictive. In response to recent questions, Government said it had no plans to ban s...

The president of Tynwald has announced he'll retire from politics later this year. Laurence Skelly has confirmed he won't be seeking re-election when his term in office expires in July. He's been in the post since 2021, having previously served as a Member of the House of Keys for 10 years, including seven years as a minister. He says it's been a great privilege to serve the people of Rushen and t...

The directors of Mannin Music say there's a 'general feeling' in Peel that things don't happen in the town and why that is, is 'unclear'. Business owners Laura and David Rowles say concerns about the proposed beach stage hadn't been raised by Peel Commissioners until this Wednesday (25 March), when the clerk called to pass on comments from the board. The pair suggested the idea to Commissioner Kat...

The chief minister says there's 'no guarantee there'll be any support' from government amid the ongoing fuel crisis. The cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has shot up as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Alfred Cannan confirmed government is following a number of key principles, including weekly meetings, establishing an industry monitoring body and protecting the supp...

A new consultation is inviting residents, property owners, and stakeholders to share their views on how voluntary land registration can be encouraged and made more accessible. The Land Registry, within the Central Registry, is reviewing how residents can be further incentivised do so in an attempt to increase the uptake of registration. The consultation follows a Tynwald approved recommendation fr...

Hospice Isle of Man has confirmed a number of redundancies and service changes amidst what it describes as 'increasingly unsustainable' financial difficulties. In this edition of Newscast, we speak to Hospice CEO Fiona Hatton about the 'tough decision' the charity has faced.

A new form, which has been trialled successfully on the frailty unit at Noble's Hospital, will soon be getting rolled out further. It has been created by Sonia Blake - Manx Care's Day Centre Services Manager - for use across all clinical settings, particularly those that are 'time poor', like hospital wards. The document is the brainchild of her experience when her mum was in hospital with the lat...

Alongside their training, the latest recruits to join the Isle of Man Constabulary are organising a charity quiz night in the south of the Island this Friday (27 March) to raise money for Isle Stand Up To Suicide. To find out more about the event, Ben spoke to Student Police Constables Saul Law and Luke Sweetman.

The brand new Integrated Sight Support & Resource Hub was officially opened this morning (20 March) at Noble’s Hospital by Dr Janet Gray MBE. It’s in the former MacMillan Room in the foyer, and encompasses everything someone dealing with sight loss may need, and will also support their families. Siobhán sat down with Manx Care's Eye Care Liaison Officer, Lesley Hankinson, and Chief Executive o...

A mum on the Island has organised a gig with a difference this weekend as local bands will take to the stage to raise money for a cause close to her heart. Known to many here as a competitive skateboarder, and from her work with Gal Skate, Ali Mellor lost her daughter, Belle, nearly 14 years ago after she was stillborn at 36 weeks. Siobhán Fletcher sat down with Ali to find out more about the gig...

Tributes are being paid to a campaigner described as an 'integral part of' several of the Island's cancer charities following his death. Chris Barr was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, making him one of only a few hundred men given the diagnosis each year. A lawyer, he readily gave many free legal advice, and helped patients come to terms with their illness, even throughout his own batt...

The risk of a meningitis outbreak on the Isle of Man is 'very low indeed'. That's the message from the Island's Director of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, Matt Tyrer. It comes following the death of two young people in the UK following an outbreak largely centred around the University of Kent in Canterbury. But with questions around vaccinations prevalent in most news coverage - what is...

Parents on the Isle of Man are being encouraged to make sure their children have received all available meningitis vaccinations. It follows an outbreak in the UK in which two young people have died, and several others are in hospital. Beth Espey spoke to Brett Martin, whose 21-year-old son Lucas died from the disease in 2023. He says his heart goes out to the families affected and is urging parent...

Doctors on the Isle of Man have claimed a ‘critical shortfall’ in inpatient bed capacity at Noble’s Hospital is posing a direct risk to people’s lives. The Medical Staff Committee is calling for ‘immediate government intervention’ to support the simultaneous demands of emergency admissions and planned surgery. It claims that Manx Care has reduced the number of beds by 46 percent – something the he...

The Salvation Army says it's assisting clients with a combined total of £2.2m debt. It's an increase of a million pounds from last year; this week marks Debt Awareness Week and year-on-year the charity says it has seen more people seeking assistance on how to manage their money better.

A local mobile catering van says it's 'disappointed' not to be visiting Castletown due to a dispute with the local authority. Filbey's says it offered the commissioners 42 dates for the year, and after a number of emails the local authority returned with six that they could operate on. The board says it was 'happy' for Filbey’s to have their mobile unit in Market Square, but the decision was 'made...

A teenage 'mental health champion' is set to give a talk later this month about how his snakes and other 'unusual pets' have had a positive effect on his wellbeing. Seventeen-year-old Jessie Quirk has ADHD, autism and severe social anxiety, alongside other mental health issues. On 24 March he will give a talk at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin explaining how his four snakes have been a force for...