Marown rates jump 22% amid island-wide increases

Braaid, Glen Vine and Crosby make up the central parish of Marown

There have been a raft of rate rises announced by local authorities across the Isle of Man, with Marown seeing a hike of 22%.

Other areas' increases range from 1% to 7%, with rates remaining the same in Malew.

Several authorities have blamed the rises on hiking costs for waste disposal or amenities, while others said the money would be used to invest in public services.

In Ramsey, where there has been a 3% rise, commissioner Ffinlo Williams said the authority "carefully considered" the projects to invest in "based on both necessity and affordability".

The northern town's rate will be set at 510 pence in the pound, about 38 pence per week for a three-bedroom property.

Mr Williams told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the authority was "budgeting for rises at the Energy from Waste Plant, a contribution to the Northern Swimming Pool and investing in infrastructure".

Rates in Douglas, the island's capital city, will increase by 5%.

In Marown, commissioners agreed to a 22% rise of 44 pence to 239 pence in the pound.

The local authority said it was down to charges levied by central government, the rising cost of disposing waste at the Energy from Waste Plant, as well as clearing rates deficits.

Commissioners said action would be taken against those who had "defaulted" in payment and this would begin "imminently".

The northern town of Ramsey saw a 3% rate increase

In the south, Port St Mary is facing a 5.9% hike at 419 pence in the pound, costing an average three-bed household a further £27 each year.

Reasons behind the rise were "rising operational costs, investing in its public services" and infrastructure maintenance, commissioners said.

Meanwhile in Arbory and Rushen, commissioners increased rates by 5.2%.

Set at 183 pence in the pound, the authority blamed rising waste disposal and civic amenity site costs and an ongoing LED street lighting project.

In Braddan, the local authority announced a 1.7% rise, six pence more than the previous year to 357 pence in the pound.

It is a modest jump for the parish after it faced criticism last year when it hiked rates by 36% to cover costs of a community centre.

Patrick Commissioners have set their upcoming rate to 248 pence in the pound, a rise of 2%.

They said it was "predominantly driven" by increased charges at the Energy From Waste Plant, inflation, and the upcoming local authority elections in April.

Peel residents will be paying a further 1.5% than the previous year, with the rates set at 272 pence in the pound.

Port Erin Commissioners have announced a 1.85% rise at 285 pence in the pound.

The local authority said the budget provided "further investment" for work including various streetlighting schemes, improvement within Athol Glen and addressing the landslips on the Raad ny Foillan coastal route.

Ratepayers in Garff will be paying a further 7%, which the authority has attributed to plans to replace old streetlights, provision for additional costs at the two civic amenity sites and the need to budget for the Local Authority Elections in April, set to cost about £21,000.

There were rises of 4% in Castletown and Onchan.

In the ancient capital, Castletown Commissioners increased rates to 398 pence in the pound, and Onchan has risen to 431 pence in the pound.

Despite widespread rises, some authorities have managed to keep rates at the same level.

Malew will be keeping its rates at 199 pence in the pound for the fourth consecutive year, after "careful consideration" of its budget.

Commissioners said they were able to offset any increase in costs due to collecting additional rates from new residential and commercial developments.