The Education Minister says a barrier at Laxey Primary School was changed after a request from the Fire Service.
The issue was raised in Tynwald after the original barrier, installed at a cost of over £14,000, was altered.
Daphne Caine told members that the barrier was altered “following concerns raised during a fire evacuation practice at the school in relation to emergency vehicle access”.
She explained the work involved shortening the boom and removing a post to improve fire engine access, at a further cost of £1,680.57.
In November 2022, the school said the full barrier was installed as part of “continuing efforts to improve the on-site safety for our pupils”.
Constituency Pressure
Former minister Julie Edge questioned the change, noting the original barrier was installed for safety reasons and asking if constituent pressure for public access was the real motive.
She asked the minister to release the policy paper from the Department of Education, to change it into a half barrier.
Mrs Caine responded that while she had represented constituents wishing to maintain a decades-old public pathway, the alteration was an DoI decision based on emergency access.
She said: “There isn’t a big conspiracy. This is a happy compromise of a school security preventing unauthorised vehicles while facilitating and still enabling and permitting the community access.”