Government plans to increase waste charges almost threefold have been branded 'beyond contempt' by the chairman of Onchan Commissioners.

Brian Stowell says the move was expected, but no more acceptable for it, adding that government finances are 'in a mess'.

The Department of Local Government wants to increase charges for disposing of domestic waste at the Energy From Waste Plant and they will increase from ?10 per tonne to ?29 per tonne, subject to Tynwald approval next month.

A number of the Island's local authorities have cited the rise as the main reason for increasing their rates for the forthcoming year.

Mr Stowell says what makes it worse is the department's lack of co-operation when Onchan Commissioners asked for it.

Onchan's rates will be announced at a public meeting at the commissioners' office at 7pm this evening (Thursday).