Carnival 'headache' can be solved says Douglas Councillor

A councillor says he’s hopeful the Douglas carnival will be held this year, despite difficulties in identifying a new site for the event.

The carnival is usually held on the capital’s promenade, with roads closed along the seafront for a parade of floats and other entertainment.

However, with work beginning on government’s regeneration of the prom, the Council has had to search for a new location, which is proving tough.

The chair of Douglas Council’s Regeneration and Community committee Stephen Pitts says various options are available but there’s no ‘easy route’.

At a recent meeting, a proposed new route following roads around the perimeter of Noble’s Park was discussed.

Council Leader David Christian questioned whether this would be viable, and whether the event should proceed at all.

He said the carnival aims to bring footfall for traders in the town, and moving it into a residential area would be ‘missing the point’ of the event.

Mr Pitts and his committee are still trying to agree on a suitable new location, though haven’t ruled out the possibility of cancelling the event.

Ideally he wants to see the Carnival take place in-conjunction with the Council’s Noble’s Park fun day,