Former Douglas councilor says ward may ‘challenge’ candidates

A former Douglas councillor says changes to the local authority’s electoral boundaries may create challenges for some future candidates.

This year Tynwald approved alterations to the council’s ward system, scrapping the six traditional boundaries in favour of the four areas of Douglas North, Central, East and South.

The new constituencies now align with those used for national elections, whilst the number of council seats will be reduced from 18 to 12, three for each new area.

Douglas Central MHK Ann Corlett has stood for office at both levels of government, and says it’s tougher to canvass greater swathes of the capital.

However, she believes the changes are mostly positive, with each new ward possessing a comparable population size and an understandable link to national boundaries.