Merger of three eastern authorities

Laxey, Lonan and Maughold boards to merge

Laxey, Lonan and Maughold Commissioners will merge from next May.

That's after Tynwald unanimously approved a proposal to merge the three boards into a single local authority.

It follows a public consultation which received majority backing from ratepayers in all three areas.

The authorities already share a number of services and it's hoped combining functions would save cash.

MHK for the areas, Garff member Steve Rodan, said he was heartened by the approach to provide local services at a local level and that the community was being carried along in the process.

The move could ultimately see public services contracted to providers and ratepayers paying the same bills.