The DoI Minister has ruled out surfacing a track to a nature centre, a scheme which would cost an estimated £58,000.
This follows a question from Arbory, Castletown, and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse about repairs to the pothole-ridden track leading to the Scarlett Nature Discovery Centre.
Due to the track’s poor condition, Dr Michelle Haywood said: “It would not be suitable to simply fill in the potholes.
“The track would need to be regulated with either road planings or Type four recycled aggregate at an estimated cost of £12,000.”
Resurfacing with asphalt would require hand-laying materials, as Dr Haywood explained: “The track is not wide enough for the available paving machines or the haulage vehicles.”
She cited safety risks, including a drop-off on the seaward side, and added that even with a smaller device, “there would be concerns over stability given the proximity to the sea wall”.
However, she concluded: “Surfacing the track with asphalt would not be in keeping with the rural nature of the track and its surrounding environment and would not be recommended by the Department.”
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