News

On Friday 26 September, Zero Waste Mann will be hosting a film screening, as part of Braddan Parish Commissioners’ “No Waste In Braddan” initiative. It’s at the Memorial Hall, on the main road, and it’s free to attend. The Zero Waste Mann team will also tell people about the year-long initiative, which aims to increase recycling rates in the Parish, and let them know how they can get involved.

The films being shown are The Story of Stuff, and The Story of Bottled Water, and they’re real eye-openers – fast paced, sharp and thought-provoking. Doors will open at 7pm, and the screening will start at 7.30pm. All are welcome to come (whether Braddan parishioners or not). There’s ample parking nearby and the number 5 and 6 buses will take you there from Douglas or Peel.

From Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th September, it’s “Waste Less, Live More” Week – a nation-wide challenge taking place across the UK – and Braddan parishioners are being invited to join in, as a part of the newly-launched “No Waste in Braddan” initiative.

You can find out more about the challenge here

Each day of the week, Braddan Commissioners will – via their website and Facebook page – be encouraging people to take actions that will cut down on needless waste, improve the environment we all live in, and – in most cases – deliver a dose of fun as well!

Why not check out the “Be Resourceful: Waste Less, Live More” website now and join up? You might be surprised what you can achieve!

If you wish to comment on the Equality Bill, the closing date is 14 November 2014.

For more information please click here

For the latest list of planning applications click here.

To see the Manx Telecom TV piece about the launch of our campaign please click here

The bin at Pigeon Stream car park has been torn from it’s foundation and thrown over the cliff.

The signage from the car park was found further up Marine Drive, well away from where it should be, near the gates.

As we have no way of retrieving the bins they will be washed out to sea to join all the rest of the plastic floating around the island.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident please contact us or the Police.

‘No waste In Braddan’….it sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? But that’s the ambitious title of a new initiative launched on 15th September 2014 by Braddan Parish Commissioners in conjunction with Zero Waste Mann. Read on to find out how they plan to make the Parish an example of good practice in upping recycling rates to improve both the environmental and the financial picture for residents.

Did you know that your recycling actually earns money for the Parish? Good quality recycling; i.e. plastic, metal and paper which has been collected, cleaned and sorted, is actually a saleable commodity these days. Where once these things would have gone to landfill, creating a slew of environmental headaches for future generations, they’re now a source of valuable income to local authorities in much of the developed world.

And the Isle of Man’s no exception; for years now, both commercial and domestic residents have been encouraged to engage their brains before binning things – and to identify those which could be recycled and live to be used another day.

The forward-thinking Commissioners in Braddan are very much alive to this issue, being one of the small number of parishes which offers kerbside collections. Fortnightly collections take place in both Braddan and Douglas, and allow householders to recycle their paper, glass bottles and jars, food and drinks cans, aerosols, aluminium foil and plastic bottles, from the convenience of their homes. Meanwhile, collections of paper, brown cardboard and green waste take place in Malew.

Not content with having set up their kerbside collections scheme, Braddan Commissioners have teamed up with the folks at waste reduction enthusiasts Zero Waste Mann, a local charity, to encourage their parishioners to up their efforts. The aim being to make Braddan into a shining example of what can be done to conserve and recycle our resources and keep our Island rubbish free.

The team has a packed year of events in mind and a number of announcements will be made in the coming months. The scheme itself launches on Monday 15th September with a launch event at 2pm at the Commissioners’ offices in Union Mills. Following this, Zero Waste Mann are working with the Commissioners’ staff to plan film evenings, school visits, discussion evenings and a family challenge – “Slim Your Bin”, where a small number of households will be invited to assess their recycling performance at the outset and then see how big a change they can make, just by putting some new habits into practice. It promises to be an interesting event!

It’s not just domestic waste that the Commissioners are targeting: they’re keen to engage with the business community, to find ways in which cost-effective waste recycling can be put into practice (and where it’s already happening, to share tips with other organisations).

Commissioners’ Chairman, Andrew Jessopp said; “We’re really optimistic we can help people bring about significant changes in the coming year. The pay-offs are multiple; less waste cluttering our landscape and bins, more money for the Parish through profitable recycling and reduced incineration charges, and increasing pride in our local environment. Plus there’s the added benefit of, we hope, some fun – the Zero Waste Mann team aim to get people talking to one another, and to start some friendly competition in a number of locations. We think Braddan’s the best Parish on the Island in a number of respects, and we aim to keep it that way!”

Keep an eye on this website and our Facebook Page for details of forthcoming events.

The first event we have planned is a film night at the Memorial Hall on Friday 26 September; doors open at 7pm for a 7.15 start. We’ll be showing a short film called “The Story of Stuff”. More details to follow. Keep an eye on our Events calendar for future events.

CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Moira Radcliffe (moira@braddan.im), Deputy Clerk and Finance Officer to the Commissioners at Braddan Commissioners’ offices, or

Muriel Garland (murielgarland@wm.im), Chair of Zero Waste Mann

Last weekend a car and a motorbike were driven into Cronk Grianagh Park. Please note that cars, motorbikes and motor scooters are not permitted in the park unless with the express permission of the Commissioners. This is not the first time vehicles have been seen in the park.

Anyone found with a vehicle within the park will be contacted by the Police.

Braddan Parish Day 2015

We’re looking for some volunteers to help with our next Parish Day on 4 May 2015.

We’d like to form a small committee to come up with ideas and to organise the next event. The last two Parish Days have been arranged by the Commissioners’ staff and whilst we’ve made a lot of useful contacts, it would be great if the event became more community led.

The aim would be to hold some monthly meetings over the winter so it wouldn’t be too onerous a task.

So if you think you can help please contact the Commissioners’ Office.

Photo L to R George Fincher, Joe Collister, Ken Callister, Andrew Jessopp, Don Ault.

The Commissioners’ Chairman, Andrew Jessopp said he was delighted at the amount of money that had been raised by the Parish Day. A total of £1421.75 had been donated either on the day in charity buckets and the raffle or via stall pitch fees. He thanked the Commissioners’ staff for their hard work in organising and overseeing a very well attended and enjoyable family day out and all of the stall holders and businesses that had made it possible. Mr Jessopp added that the Commissioners had selected three charities to support; The Manx Workshop for the Disabled, The Ardwhallan Jubilee Trust and the Manx Energy Advice Centre and was pleased to present them each with a cheque for £473.92.

Mr Ault from The Manx Workshop for the Disabled said the money would be swiftly put to use as the workshop had recently experienced some issues with its machinery. The money would be used to purchase new parts to repair and restore the equipment. Mr Ault explained to the Commissioners that the workshop was funded by grants and fundraising as well any funds raised from the sale of their products.  The workshop provides meaningful employment to disabled people and acts as a stepping stone to enable them to move on to gainful employment in the future.

Ken Callister from the Ardwhallan Jubilee Trust thanked the Commissioners for their ongoing support, not only the money received today but also the allowances they grant for the Rates, which helps young people from the whole island who use Ardwhallan Outdoor Centre.  Mr Callister explained that the Trust pays for the equipment and running costs of the centre and the Department of Education fund the staffing costs. He introduced Joe Collister who had worked his way through their young instructors training programme and was now working at the Centre as an instructor. He went onto explain that the centre is used by schools for many different courses. It allows children who aren’t academic who are often classed as difficult, to test themselves, learn team building and build strong characters by getting cold and wet and cooking over a camp stove. The Centre also enables schools to expand the offering to those studying GCSEs in Physical Education; it no longer has to be just team and field sports as they offer sailing, kayaking and climbing facilities.  Mr Callister said the centre needs this kind of support to continue providing the services to young people across the island.

George Fincher from the Manx Energy Advice Centre thanked the Commissioners for their support, he said the money would be used to help fund the work carried out by the Charity at the Green Centre, in Chester Street. They had recently sourced some LED light panels and the donation would enable them to purchase more of these to demonstrate from the centre. Mr Fincher explained that the centre provides advice to homeowners, businesses and government on how to save energy and cut costs.

The next Braddan Parish Day will be held on the first May Bank Holiday (4th) in 2015. The Commissioners would like to hear from individuals and/or businesses that could help plan and organise the day, or suggestions to make it bigger and even better than this year’s event.