The regeneration of Douglas town centre is to begin in earnest after the TT festival. Trial work will commence on Nelson Street in the week commencing June 13, with full-scale work beginning soon after, making it the first of the town’s thoroughfares to be transformed as part of an overall scheme, branded Destination Douglas, to which Douglas Borough Council has committed ?2 million. Public Works Committee Chairman Councillor David Ashford said: ‘The project is scheduled to take approximately six weeks and will include the installation of new paving and bespoke wall-mounted LED lighting units, the latter devised in collaboration with the Borough Engineer’s department. Once completed Nelson Street will serve as a testing ground for materials and designs for the overall scheme and will provide the clearest interpretation to date of the Destination Douglas vision.’ Council Leader Councillor David Christian JP, who sits on the Douglas Local Regeneration Committee, said: ‘The regeneration of Douglas town centre is the number one priority for Douglas Borough Council, so far one of the only local authorities to have provided funding of its own - ?2 million - towards the project, and we would hope that our government partners, having approved the scheme, will be forthcoming with additional funds. Nelson Street represents the start of what will undoubtedly be a long but ultimately beneficial process that will ensure Douglas becomes a vital and economically viable capital fit for the 21st century.’ Ends