The Infrastructure Minister has defended his department withdrawing its plans for a new Ramsey flood wall, saying he would not impose the scheme on an area that did not want it.
Responding to a question in Tynwald Tim Crookall confirmed there were currently no alternative plans prepared for flood defences on the quayside but said a full review of options previously considered would now be undertaken.
“Because basically there was no support for the scheme that went forward, either from the Ramsey town commission or from the northern Chamber of trade and from other businesses and people who live in the area,” Mr Crookall said.
“I would not impose this and spend that money on an area that didn’t want it.”
Review
The review will assess each option in terms of cost, environmental impact, the number of properties protected, residual risk, and social factors such as the impact on parking.
Lib Vannin leader Lawrie Hooper questioned why alternatives were only now being considered after a decade of work, and noted only five comments had been submitted to the planning application from Ramsey’s 8,000 residents.
Mr Crookall said consultation with the town’s representatives had been sufficient, adding they had been told to object through the planning process if they did not support it, which they did.
Dr Michelle Haywood drew parallels with Peel’s sewage treatment delays, suggesting local representatives were not always best placed to make technical, engineering based judgments.
Mr Crookall rejected the comparison, noting Peel’s process had resulted in a better system.
“If you wait a bit longer, you might get a better system for Ramsey,” he said.
In the interim, the department will continue to maintain temporary flood defences regularly installed on lanes between West Quay and Parliament Street, and on East Quay, West Street and Christian Street.