Commissioners says acts of vandalism are costing ratepayers 

Authority publicising incidents to make community aware of issues

Castletown Commissioners say there aren't high levels of vandalism in the town despite a recent spate of anti-social behaviour.

But it says publicising incidents ensures the community is aware of the problem.

In recent weeks people have set fires in public toilets, and at Poulsom Park, and damaged children’s play equipment.

The local authority says each act costs ratepayers financially and can mean facilities have to close.

It says the harbourside toilets, where the majority of the incidents happen, are under the ownership of the Department of Infrastructure and were previously supposed to be moved into the hands of the commissioners.

However, this hasn’t happened, and Chair Beth Cannan says the department has been ‘slow to respond’ to requests to meet and discuss the issue.

She believes if the transfer happened fully, improvements could be made to prevent the problems.

Currently, a short-term licence is in place, and Mrs Cannan says its ‘disappointing’ that Minister Tim Crookall hasn’t been in contact with the board.

The board wants to take ownership of the toilets so they can make the block more ‘welcoming’, by opening 24/7 and including an accessible ‘changing place’ facility.

Mrs Cannan says there would be reservations about leaving the Town Hall toilets open whilst issues ‘continue’.

In January the commissioners announced it would be temporarily closing the Town Hall between 1pm and 2pm to align with the school’s lunch hour.

Mrs Cannan also says she understands resource ‘challenges’ faced by the police but a reduction in community policing in the south is ‘frustrating’.

The commissioners are ‘aware’ of the ‘behind the scenes’ work of the officers but she’s appealing to residents who witness anti-social behaviour to report it to the police or the town clerk.

The Department of Infrastructure and the Isle of Man Constabulary have been contacted for comment.