Rushen MHK Dr Michelle Haywood has criticised the Planning Committee’s decision to refuse temporary parking at the former Summerland site.
The proposal, brought forward by the DoI, aimed to ease pressure at the northern end of Douglas Promenade.
Dr Haywood, a former DoI Minister, said the idea was originally hers.
“This was something that I instigated as Minister at the DoI,” she said. There is a clear lack of parking at the northern end of the Prom. The site has been used for parking before.”
Redevelopment
Dr Haywood acknowledged the land requires substantial investment before redevelopment.
“The site is actively being marketed for development but it will need approx £3m of remedial work to deal with the underground plants rooms still on site and stabilise the cliff. Govt doesn’t have that sort of money.”
The Rushen MHK argued the temporary use would help nearby residents without blocking future plans.
“So why not just make the lives of people who live near this land just a little easier by providing temporary parking. It’s a total nonsense to say this blocks the land from being redeveloped….as the application was clearly for a temporary parking area. The clue was in the name.”
She added: “Instead we can carry on watching the site do nothing… Well done planning committee… well done.”