Manx Radio reports:
Moving an 18th century schooner back to the Nautical Museum in Castletown is expected to cost more than £5 million.
The Peggy was removed for conservation work in 2015 after being housed in what were described as ‘appalling conditions’.
Peggy return to cost ‘north of £5 million’
What could the Isle of Man Government do with £5 million?
Reverse pay cuts and pay a pandemic bonus to key workers
£3.7 million would reverse the Isle of Man Government’s cut to the pay of frontline Government workers. The remaining £1.3 million pounds could provide a pandemic-bonus to essential workers such as nurses, doctors, paramedics and other key workers. (Source: Isle of Man Government Budget, p.25)
One year of education capital investments
£5 million would pay for ALL of the forecast payments in the current year to redevelop and construct of Castle Rushen High School (Fields); Covered Play and Teaching Areas; Disability Accessibility works to DESC Sites; National Sports Centre – Pool Hall; QE2 Science and Technology Room and Sixth Form; Improved School Security)
(Source: Isle of Man Government Budget, p.33)
Two years of education meals
£2.3 million is the total cost of all education meals – roughly , the cost of giving all students free school meals on the Isle of Man. £5 million would pay for more than two years of free school meals to all students.
(Source: Isle of Man Government Budget, p.55)
12 years of new minibuses
The Isle of Man Government reportedly spent an average of £390,000 per annum on brand new minibuses from 2015-16 to 2019-20. £5 million would pay for more than 12 years of new minibuses.
(Source: Isle of Man Today: Just how many more minibuses do we need?)
17 months of Manx Care Managers
Isle of Man Today reported “The new management structure planned as part of a reform of the island’s health system will create 13 new roles and cost an extra £3.5m.” £5 million would pay for their salaries for approximately seventeen months.
(Source: Isle of Man Today: Manx Care to cost an extra £3m)
14 months of Liverpool Landing Stage cost blowouts
The Liverpool Landing Stage was originally forecast to cost £18 million, and now, six years later, is forecast to cost over £43 million. This is a cost blowout of £25 million, over the course of six years – for an average cost increase of approximately £347,000 per month. £5 million would pay for 14 months of these cost blow-outs.
(Source: Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance: The Liverpool Ferry Terminal Cost Blowouts)
99 Bee Gees
Douglas Borough Council is forecast to spend £150,000 on a sculpture of the three Bee Gees on Douglas Promenade, according to the BBC. £5 million would pay for 33 such statues at a rate of £150,000 per trio, each of 3 Bee Gees, for a total of ninety-nine individual Bee Gees.
(Source: BBC: Isle of Man Bees Gees statue to grace seafront after lockdown
