A Union Mills specialist manufacturing company has been the first to respond to a new appeal for support from the charity Beach Buddies as it bids to expand its operations during 2016.

DLP Limited, based in the Snugborough Trading Estate, has offered to sponsor one of the special beach bins which are positioned at access points to beaches around the Island. Beach Buddies has launched an appeal at the beginning of its 10th anniversary year to hopefully double the number of bins which have proved a major success with the public.

As part of the project, Beach Buddies also intends to expand its operations, for the first time, to provide bins at access points and car parks close to glens, footpaths and public walkways.

The DLP Limited staff and their families have already taken part in a major beach cleaning team event, when they collected large amounts of debris from Ballaugh Beach last year. The beach cleaning was followed by the arrival of a fish & chips supper for everyone, delivered to the beach.

DLP is the market leader in the design and manufacture of specialist bathrooms and kitchen products which enable people with mobility issues to live independently in their own homes. It employs 80 people at its extensive base in Union Mills.

“The feedback we had from our team was very positive,” said DLP senior executive director Tim Baker. “They all enjoyed the beach cleaning, feeling they had contributed to caring for the Island’s environment and many said they would like to take part again.

“So, we felt that as a company we would like to get more involved, and we are very pleased to sponsor one of the Beach Buddies bins to help with their ongoing programme to keep the Island’s beaches free from rubbish.”

The announcement has been warmly welcomed by the Beach Buddies charity. “Our bins project has been a major success, and we want to expand this across the Island,” said spokesman Bill Dale. “DLP Limited is involved in an industry which is focused on the community, so it fits in perfectly with our own aims and objectives.”

The official hand-over of the sponsored bin will take place within the next few months.

Photo - DLP senior executive director Tim Baker with Beach Buddies chairman Bill Dale.