Information is being collated with regard to next month's local authority elections, but so far it seems there will be some interesting contests.

Nominations closed at 5pm today, although the line-ups could be subject to change until 2pm on Monday, because of objections or withdrawals.

Provisionally there will be at least six elections, including one in Castletown where there are ten candidates for nine seats. There will be two contests in Ramsey where there are 19 candidates for 12 seats in the two wards, and voters in Onchan will have some difficult decisions, with membership of the local authority reducing from ten to seven.

Current Onchan Commissioner Maurice Kennaugh will not be seeking re-election, and on Mandate PM this evening he told James Davis he disagreed with the decision to reduce the membership (audio file attached):

(Picture: The offices of Onchan Commissioners). :