Next stage of town centre regeneration scheme to begin

The next stage of Douglas town centre regeneration is to begin after the Chief Minister’s steering committee gave approval for work to start on the lower section of Nelson Street to link the newly revitalised areas of upper Nelson Street and Wellington Street.

The project, which is to begin on Sunday April 29, will see the laying of new granite paving identical to that used for the earlier schemes, together with improvements to Nelson Street at its junctions with Market Street and Prospect Hill.  The project will take approximately 14 weeks to complete, including a two-week break for TT.

While works are being carried out the downhill carriageway on Prospect Hill between Athol Street and Victoria Street will be closed to traffic from April 29 to May 25 and a one-way uphill system introduced. Affected bus routes will be diverted via Athol Street and Ridgeway Street.

Easter Saturday sees town centre ‘choc-full’

Douglas town centre was ‘choc-full’ of children on Easter Saturday tracking down clues in a treasure hunt that would earn them a chocolate bunny and a face-painting session.

The event had been organised by Douglas Development Partnership in association with Davisons. An entry form led children to shops in the town centre displaying a clue in the window. Each clue was a letter and when all the letters were found they spelt ‘EASTER BUNNY’.  Children then took their completed form to Tower House to claim their chocolate prize, join an Easter craft workshop and have their face painted.

Walk out to Conister Rock proves towering success

More than 2000 people took part in a walk out to Conister Rock and the Tower of Refuge on Easter Saturday, April 7, organised by Douglas Development Partnership and sponsored by Tower Insurance.

Douglas town centre manager Gill Anderson explained: ‘The event was a great success with the Mayor and Mayoress of Douglas together with whole families – many bringing their dogs along as well – taking part. Clearly there’s a real fascination with this most recognisable of Douglas landmarks which has such strong links with the RNLI through Sir William Hillary who originally proposed the building of a sanctuary on Conister Rock for shipwrecked crews and passengers.’

Tower of Refuge walk April 7: update

Organisers of this Saturday’s walk out to the Tower of Refuge, sponsored by Tower Insurance, say they have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the enthusiastic response, which has prompted a call from the Isle of Man Coastguard for people to be aware that given the numbers expected and the cold weather forecast, in the interests of safety participants must follow the marshals’ instructions and that warm clothing and appropriate footwear must be worn.

In addition, owing to remedial work, access to the interior of the Tower of Refuge will not be possible.