A vacancy has arisen to represent Athol Ward in the Borough of Douglas after Councillor Alan Quirk submitted his resignation, which takes place with immediate effect.

Leader of Douglas Borough Council Councillor David Christian MBE JP said: ‘While we accept that Members’ circumstances can change at short notice it is, however, disappointing - for the Council and for Athol Ward constituents - that Councillor Quirk has submitted his resignation, a move that also has a cost implication for Douglas ratepayers in that a bye-election will have to be called should more than one nomination be received.

‘This will be the third time in some 15 months that a bye-election may have to be held; the first, in Athol Ward, followed the sad death of Councillor Doreen Kinrade and the second, in St George’s Ward, when Councillor Christopher Thomas was elected to the House of Keys.

‘It will be the Council’s intention to call for nominations as soon as practicable and, should more than one candidate come forward, to arrange for a bye-election to be held at the earliest possible occasion.

‘With the Council’s new Constitution still only in its infancy it is imperative that every effort be made to secure long-term consistency and continuity, to the benefit of not only Athol Ward but also the wider Borough of Douglas community. To this end I would hope that should a bye-election be called turnout would be appreciably higher than has been the case of late, if we are to work in partnership with the electorate to respond to local needs and accelerate Douglas’s economic and social growth.’ 

The successful candidate will join Councillor Karen Angela and Councillor Stan Cain in representing the ward.

Details of the deadline for nominations will be issued in due course.