Northern commissioners vote to unite town wards

More than half of the town's population live in the north ward

Members of a local authority in the north of the Isle of Man have voted merge the town's wards into a single voting block.

Ramsey Commissioners were asked to support the move by board member Ffinlo Williams, who said it would address a population imbalance between the north and south wards.

If approved by the Department of Infrastructure, it would a see voters in the town become eligible to vote for all 12 members of the local authority in future elections.

Mr Williams said he was "pleased" that his fellow commissioners voted to support the move.

'Barrier'

Putting his motion forward, Mr Williams said there would be a "slight" increase in the cost of holding elections but rejected a suggestion they would double.

More than half of the town's population live in the north ward, which also has the greatest potential to see further growth.

Mr Williams said: "While north ward currently has brownfield sites and greenfield sites and the ability to expand and has already close to 1,000 people more than south ward, that disparity between the wards is only going to grow."

Fellow board member Wilfred Young, who seconded the motion, said he had been "trying to do this for 10 years".

Juan McGuinness, who currently represents the south ward, asked whether Mr Williams had any concern over whether being expected to canvas the entire town would put off potential candidates due to the time and costs associated with that.

Mr Williams admitted the cost of printing leaflets and manifestos "could be a barrier to entry".

However, he said that given the nature of the role, there was a "certain argument to say if you can't manage to go and canvas perhaps you won't have the time to become a commissioner in the first place".

The board overwhelmingly backed the decision to ask the department for permission, with only one member, Reverend Canon David Greenwood voting against.

Additional reporting by Emma Draper, Local Democracy Reporter.