Southern Amenity site tour running outstanding services

Sometimes the oddest things happen when you least expect them. Today I found myself giving an impromptu tour of the Southern Amenity Site.

I’ve been very vocal about the failings of the Western Civic Amenity Site. In my view, it hasn’t been run productively for quite some time. It seems to have operated with one overriding goal: not to spend any money. On that front, they succeeded. But if the aim was efficiency, they failed 10 times over.

Can a waste site make money? Can waste save you money? Can a subsidy be super-efficient? The short answer to all of these questions is yes.

That’s exactly what I saw at the Southern Amenity Site today. From recycling schemes to composting, from breaking down WEE to sending just a single skip to landfill, everything was geared toward value creation. Inert rubble is transformed into concrete bollards. Every item that can be recycled is put to use in generating revenue from old phones to reusing walking sticks. (Nobles can repurpose them)

We’ve long known that phones contain many metals, some of which are now skyrocketing in value across the world. The Southern site is tapping into that reality. Meanwhile, the West has a lot of work to do.

We should be excited. It is sheer nonsense to suggest that we cannot have outstanding services at a reasonable cost.

As I was shown around, I cobbled together some video clips to give a taste of how this is done in practice. The Southern Amenity Site demonstrates that excellence and efficiency are not mutually exclusive, they can go hand in hand.

What a day in Manx politics

What a day in Manx politics. I don’t really get it. I know small things matter and how one can change a stance. It is going to be expensive, perhaps even leading to cancelled orders or unused stock, misuse of time, lack of progress across the board It is no way to run a government

However, we still have to ask three basic questions that are of far greater importance:

  • Are health services working? That is, do they get people better quickly and inexpensively? → No
  • Is transport working? Can we get on and off the island cheaply and efficiently? → No
  • Is education working? Well, I think it could be a lot better.

As AI explains

🏥 Health Services

  • Core question: Are our health services working — getting people better quickly and affordably?
  • Reality: Demand is rising, costs are high, and waiting times remain a concern. The Isle of Man spends over a quarter of its government budget (≈26%) on health and social care, yet many residents feel outcomes don’t match the investment.

🚢 Transport

  • Core question: Is transport working — can we get on and off the island cheaply and efficiently?
  • Reality: Sea and air links remain expensive compared to other regions. Reliability and affordability are recurring frustrations for residents and businesses, limiting connectivity and growth.

📚 Education

  • Core question: Is education working — preparing young people for the future?
  • Reality: Standards are steady but many believe they could be much stronger. Calls for modernisation, better resources, and alignment with UK benchmarks are frequent.

What did I do

Caught in the Vortex: Balancing Business, Investment, and Life

Sometimes the answer is simple: not a lot. Yet I found myself stuck in a vortex, trying to understand the intricacies of a new lease and whether it’s fairly priced.

I also got caught out on some investments. When P/E ratios climb above 100, you have to be very careful with what you’re doing. Even though I believe the AI revolution is only just beginning, I still lost when two small bets went the other way.

But here’s the realization: it’s more important than ever to adhere to the “thirds rule.”

  • A third for the mind — learning, thinking, and growing.
  • A third for the body — something physical to keep grounded.
  • A third for the spirit — spirituality, purpose, and connection.

Perhaps this balance matters more now than ever before.

WCAS – Patrick Commissoners vote

A quick update:

We must expect and demand much better services. This situation is simply not acceptable, as the site continues to be shut on Mondays and Tuesdays and at lunchtime for the rest of the week.

We still do not receive monthly running accounts. Despite submitting two Freedom of Information requests, the information has not been provided. The recycling bays also remain closed.

Given this repeated failure to provide reasonable information and adequate service, I will be requesting a vote at the December meeting on whether we should continue paying our contributions to the WCAS site until the situation is rectified