The budget for the regeneration of Douglas needs to be reinstated immediately, according to businessman Ralph Peake, who is standing in the forthcoming House of Keys by-election in North Douglas.
Mr Peake says he is disappointed that the regeneration scheme for Douglas, which had been previously described as "an urgent priority”, has been placed on hold and is only half finished.
He said, “The question is: why finish half way through well before Douglas is anywhere near completion?"
He added, "As a candidate in the North Douglas by-election I wish to place on record my support for the regeneration work that has taken place in down town Douglas. I am sure the process has been very painful in the short term for the businesses and residents in the surrounding area but the end result that is emerging from behind the hoardings and dust is a significant improvement. Our town is beginning to take on the shape and style of one that we can call the capital of our Island, a capital more appropriate in this new world.
"In the first instance, The Town and Village Centre Regeneration Scheme 2009, as I understood the urgent priority was to regenerate Douglas; a new and invigorated Douglas is seen as an important platform for economic growth by business for the whole Island.
"But, I am disappointed that the regeneration fund is now exhausted, well before Douglas is anywhere near completion.
"I am also disappointed that the much-needed promenade scheme is outside of the scope of the regeneration process. The project considered purely a Department of Infrastructure project. The future of Douglas needs to be managed holistically. The regeneration committee structures, whilst not perfect, I believe have a more collaborative and consultative approach, certainly much better than the much-criticised approach to dealing with the promenade issues.
“The Department of infrastructure is one stakeholder with what seems to be too many priorities for its budget. I believe taking further regeneration projects back into the Department of Infrastructure will damage the progress of regeneration. Regeneration will be lost in the department’s day to day tasks.
"If Douglas was that regeneration priority, why has only half of the money spent on regeneration so far been spent so far been spent in Douglas?
"Recent figures released from the Cabinet Office for schemes committed up to 31st March 2014, show 50% has be spent in Douglas, with nearly 40% spent in Ramsey and the remaining 10% in other towns and villages around the Island. Do these figures reflect a priority for Douglas?
"I want to see the regeneration budget reinstated. The funds committed may need to be appropriate to our present financial position, but regular improvements in the infrastructure of Douglas, or the lack of them as in the past through the “business-as-usual” budgetary system, is part of our present problem.
"If elected as MHK for North Douglas, I would fight Douglas’s corner for a better future."
