THE Isle of Man has another new newspaper, published and printed on the Island and aimed at restoring two community newspapers which have disappeared over the last 50 years.

The NorthWestern Chronicle is a sister newspaper to the Southern Chronicle, which was launched in 2011 and will soon publish its 16th edition.

Both newspapers are published and printed in the Isle of Man, by Quine & Cubbon Limited of Port St Mary. They are jointly owned by journalist Bill Dale and publisher/printer Ricky Broadbent.

The first edition of the NorthWestern Chronicle is available from today (Friday), and for sale in newsagents and Shoprite stores across the Island.

It follows the same successful formula of the Southern Chronicle, and is based on bringing community news to the population outside Douglas and Onchan. The NorthWestern Chronicle also includes a number of familiar features and writers who previously contributed to the Peel City Guardian, which ceased publishing in 2010.

“We understand entirely why the Guardian ceased publication, as it was a lot of work for a group of volunteers,” said NorthWestern Chronicle editor Bill Dale. “Having been born in St John’s and living for many years in the west, I’m personally very pleased to be able to produce a community newspaper to replace the excellent service that was previously provided by the Peel City Guardian team.

With almost three years’ experience of producing the Southern Chronicle, the publishers are using the same formula to create the NorthWestern Chronicle, without a huge amount of additional cost.

“The contributions from former Peel City Guardian writers and photographers have also been invaluable, and we are very grateful to Peel Heritage Trust for their support and assistance in getting this project off the ground.”

The NorthWestern Chronicle covers news from regions outside the west of the Island, and also features Ramsey and the north and all areas in between, including Kirk Michael, Ballaugh, Sulby, Jurby, Andreas, Bride, across all the northern parishes and along the east coast to Glen Mona, Baldrine, Lonan and Laxey.

The newspaper also give Ramsey and northern residents its first community newspaper since the mid 1970s, when the former Ramsey Courier disappeared after it was acquired by the Halifax Courier Group, and became the Island-wide free publication which continues today.

Bill Dale added, “Together with the Southern Chronicle, the NorthWestern Chronicle offers Island-wide coverage of all districts in the Manx community.

The NorthWestern Chronicle will be published every two months, the same frequency as The Southern Chronicle.