A former local authority election candidate and clerk to Braddan Commissioners has been criticised by the Isle of Man rates appeal body for being 'economical with the truth'.

Charles 'Buster' Lewin was acting as consultant to Tel's Skips in an appeal against the rates Braddan Commissioners charged for a unit in the Lower Snugborough Trading Estate.

Tel's argued that a buillding for which planning consent had not been granted could not have a rateable value attached to it.

The Rent and Rating Appeal Commission rejected that view, but agreed to reduce the rateable value by ?12 a year to ?540.

That's well below the ?128 proposed by Mr Lewin on behalf of Tel's Skips.

Marian Kenny reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

In its decision, the Island's Rent and Rating Appeal Commission, said: 'We were disappointed with Mr Lewin, he was economical with the truth on a number of occasions. He almost tried to mislead us'.

The commission went on to say: 'Mr Lewin stated there was no 3-phase electricity on the site but omitted to tell us, until questioned, that there was a 3-phase distribution box within 50 yards and thus supply was available.

'He attempted to suggest that the buildings had no comfort stations, nowhere to sit down, boil a kettle and eat lunch; strictly that is true, but again he had to admit, when questioned, that there are such facilities'. They were in portable cabins which form part of the site.

The Appeal Commission also stated that, what it called, the present 'Alice in Wonderland state of affairs' whereby all new buildings are valued at hypothetical 1971 prices, was 'untenable'.