KEEPING the streets of Douglas clean is costing more than half a million pounds a year, according to figures from the government.

It costs a further £105,000 to empty the town’s gulleys and another £60,500 to keep the grass looking neat and tidy in the capital.

The figures were revealed in a written answer to a question in Tynwald yesterday from Onchan MHK David Quirk who wanted a breakdown in the fees which are being paid by the Island’s local authorities to the Highways Division each year.

Douglas Corporation is the biggest customer, paying £684,500 a year for street sweeping, gulley emptying and grass cutting. Peel, Ramsey and Onchan Commissioners also pay substantial amounts for street sweeping.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, Maughold Commissioners pay just £200 a year for grass cutting. However, a large number of other local authorities, including Kirk Michael, German, Ballaugh, Patrick, Bride, Jurby, Andreas, Lezayre, Lonan, Braddan, Malew, Santon, Marown and Rushen, cover all such costs themselves.

The breakdown supplied in yesterdays written answer, provided by Infrastructure Minister David Cretney, was as follows:-

Douglas Corporation:

Street Sweeping - £519,000; Gully Emptying - £105,000; Grass Cutting - £60,500.

Peel Town Commissioners:

Street Sweeping - £40,000; Grass Cutting - £11,000.

Castletown Commissioners:

Street Sweeping - £35,000; Grass Cutting - £2,250.

Onchan Commissioners:

Street Sweeping - £27,000.

Ramsey Commissioners:

Grass Cutting - £15,000.

Arbory Commissioners:

Grass Cutting - £500; Weed Spraying - £2,350.

Laxey Village Commissioners:

Grass Cutting - £3,000.

Maughold Commissioners:

Grass Cutting - £200.

The Department’s Highways Division is also presently negotiating with the local authorities in Ramsey, Port Erin and Port St Mary with a view to them possibly taking on street sweeping in their areas.