Petition calls for 20mph speed limit review

Chris Pay presented his petition during the ceremony for potential consideration by politicians

A pause in the rollout of lower speed limits in some residential areas to allow for a review of the scheme is among the petitions handed over at this year's Tynwald Day ceremony.

The 20mph (32km/h) zones have already been put in place in Port St Mary, with Douglas and Onchan next in line for the changes.

Presenting his petition during the proceedings in St John's, Chris Pay said he believed the project's £400,000 budget "could be better spent on many other island projects".

Other petitions included calls for a dementia village, a law change to allow Manx language films to be put forward for an Oscar, and greater education on breathing techniques for children.

As part of the the annual open-air sitting of the parliament, members of the community can hand over of petitions for redress of grievance.

It is an opportunity for residents to highlight an issue that members of Tynwald could "pick up" and put forward for debate.

Petitioners have the chance to hand over the documents during the open-air ceremony each year

Mr Pay said he felt the "blanket implementation" of 20mph limits in his home town of Port St Mary had been "completely inappropriate" and he had been "horrified" at the plans for Onchan and Douglas.

He said while he could not stop the rollout, which was again backed by Tynwald in May, his petition asked for an "independent assessment" to consider the "significant impacts on business, commuters and essential services".

In June, the House of Keys voted down a bid to suspend the rollout of the scheme altogether.

Millie Blenkinsop-French submitted one of the petitions during proceedings

There was also a call for the government to build a dementia village by Millie Blenkinsop-French, an idea that was previously thrown out by the government.

Following a feasibility study in 2018, the then Health and Social Care minister David Ashford said it would not be "affordable or sustainable".

Calling for the move to be reconsidered, Ms Blenkinsop-French said villages opened in the UK meant residents could live in a "safe community continuing many of their normal daily activities prior to moving in, like walking to the shops".

"In 2025 there is a definite need for something like this. I have three friends living with dementia and most people you talk to now know someone who is living with the condition."

According to the Alzheimer's Society, there are around 900,000 people in the UK with dementia.

George Hargreaves has called for Manx films to be considered for an Academy Award

George Hargreaves from the Isle of Man International Film Festival presented a petition for the body to become the "requisite organisation" to submit movies featuring the Manx language for consideration for an Academy Award.

He said: "We've got the talent, got the language, we just need Tynwald's support to get that glory for the Isle of Man and give filmmakers a shot at the biggest prize in movies."

He said he had the support of backers who were keen to consider "Manx versions" of English movies, if the petition were to lead to the change.

Michael Quine presented his petition alongside his partner Julie Kirby

Michael Quine from Castletown called for politicians to consider introducing education on breathing techniques into nurseries and schools.

He said he was living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and had realised that "quite a lot of people at a young age are falling into unhealthy breathing habits".

"I've noticed an improvement in my health by making changes and I think the earlier people can learn the better," he added.

Other petitions included calls for mandatory training for educational staff working with neurodivergent children, and the introduction of an independent police complaints body.

A bid for greater transparency surrounding the accounts of the Manx Development Company, which was formed to develop government-owned brownfield sites, was also handed over.

The documents will now be assessed by the Clerk of Tynwald and if deemed to be in order will be available for politicians take up and progress.