‘Building a Douglas fit for the Future’ was the theme of the Mayor’s annual business lunch hosted by His Worship the Mayor Councillor Jonathan Joughin JP at Douglas Town Hall on Friday April 5.
Addressing more than 60 guests gathered in the Council Chamber His Worship said that recent proposals for ‘ambitious new developments’ represented a vote of confidence in Douglas, the Isle of Man and in the Manx economy.
David Mylchreest, His Worship the Mayor, Council Leader David Christian MBE JP and Councillor Karen Angela
Among developments he outlined were plans for a £25 million leisure and residential scheme on the site of the former Lord Street bus station and proposals for the Milestone site on Peel Road of which, despite concerns over traffic management, the Council was ‘largely supportive’.
Bill Mummery, Seamus Nugent and Keith Lord
The regeneration of Douglas promenade - a scheme in which the Council would be investing £864,000 in new bespoke lighting - and the prospect of a defined ‘cultural zone’ with the Villa/Gaiety complex at its centre, along with the sales of the Castle Mona and Villiers site and the soon-to-open Premier Inn in Market Street were also ‘causes for measured celebration’ and optimism he said.
Mark Rossiter and John Window
His Worship went on to say that if Douglas were to become a powerhouse of opportunity and enterprise, then its image must not be compromised by vacant lots being used as car parks. ‘The Douglas of the future must have more purpose-built secure car parks serving not only the business community but also shoppers and visitors,’ he said.
The Council's finance director Antony Boyd, extreme left and environment and regeneration director Dana Enyon, second right, with Tim Cowsill, Steve Moore and Jo Pretty
Expanding on the theme for the day His Worship said that building a Douglas fit for the future was not only about ‘bricks and mortar or shiny steel and glass developments’, it was also about building partnerships between central and local government, the business sector and the local community, safeguarding the capital’s heritage and protecting, promoting and enhancing the town’s green spaces.
His Worship and Alan Clague
Turning to environmental matters he said that to create a better Douglas it was important to encourage civic pride and implement measures to combat antisocial behaviour. ‘The Council alone cannot create a cleaner, greener, safer town. This is a community problem that demands a community response,’ he said.
Paul Marsden and Niall Carey
Turning to developing new and diverse skills that would serve as ‘the building blocks for economic prosperity’ His Worship went on to refer to University College Isle of Man’s new Services to Business (S2B) initiative. This was, he explained, ‘a series of training programmes designed to respond to businesses’ changing skill set requirements, support new models of working and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.’
David Hudson and Craig Drummond
In closing His Worship issued a call to action, saying: ‘We must work together towards unlocking the potential of our town. Towards building a Douglas fit for purpose and fit for the future.’
Juan Turner and Justin McMullin
