Douglas Borough Council has appointed Oliver Cheshire town centre manager.

Mr Cheshire joins the council’s environment and regeneration department where his role will be primarily to engage and form productive partnerships with the business community, notably town centre retailers, along with other stakeholders to create a vibrant and thriving town centre that can attract shoppers and visitors and generate new investment opportunities.

Born and educated in the Isle of Man Mr Cheshire worked in the local finance sector for 13 years then spent four years in retail management before joining the Douglas town centre management team. Of his new post he said: ‘I’ve lived in Douglas all my life and have watched how the town centre is being revitalised through regeneration and a whole range of events, from craft fairs to the Tower of Refuge walk. Douglas is a great town, I’m therefore delighted to have this opportunity to play my part as town centre manager to help to strengthen links with local businesses and the wider community so that, together, we can create an even greater town.’

Council leader Councillor David Christian said: ‘The way people use high streets and town centres is changing; they’re no longer somewhere merely to shop but a leisure destination in their own right. The role of town centre manager is central to creating this new “look and feel” for Douglas as part of the regeneration process. Oliver’s experience and insight gained particularly from working in a customer-facing retail environment will prove valuable in helping the council to deliver on creating a capital with a buoyant day and night-time economy and a town of which we can all be proud.’

Photo - Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire. Picture Andrew Barton.