The official launch of Lezayre Landscapes' new headquarters at 28 Parliament Street last week (Wednesday 23rd September) was hailed by Treasury Minister Allan Bell MHK as a sign of Ramsey's regeneration.
Lezayre Landscapes is already a long-established name in the north of the Island but its new premises, which combine a working studio with a shop-cum-meeting space, look set to raise the company's profile to a new level.
Furthermore, it will, according to the Minister, help to reinforce the message that Ramsey is "coming back with a bang."
The launch was well-attended by representatives from leading businesses in Ramsey, including banks, estate agencies and retail outlets.
Mr Bell described to the assembled guests the way in which Lezayre Landscapes, under the guiding hand of Michael Skelly, has made a positive impact on public and private landscapes since the early 1970s, and said that he was "delighted to see their ongoing progress and success."
He went on to comment that the growth of the business signifies the revival of the town as a whole after "difficult times."
The Minister alluded to the creation of a communal green space on the corner of Parliament Street and East Street, whose backdrop is a vivid mural by local artist Michael Starkey, as another shining example of the way in which a marriage of creativity and enterprise had helped to restore a sense of pride to the town.
These developments have come on the eve of Ramsey's official regeneration project, the draft plans for which are set to be unveiled in the next few weeks.
In conclusion, Mr Bell said that the regeneration effort would be strongly community-based, driven by co-operation between the townspeople, the Commissioners and commercial interests, and that it would, he hoped, herald Ramsey's "positive journey back to rude good health."
Michael Skelly and his team reported that their new high street 'presence' had already resulted in a boost to their business and that, with more innovations in the pipeline, Lezayre Landscapes looks set to go from strength to strength.
Pictured: Michael Skelly of Lezayre Landscapes with Treasury Minister Allan Bell MHK.
