Castletown consulted on the way forward for Market Square

New proposals for vehicle restrictions presented to business owners and residents

A consultation has opened asking the people of Castletown what they think of plans to put life back into the town.

In particular, proposals for the restricting of vehicles into Market Square.

Business owners and residents affected by the proposals were invited along to a presentation this week.

Manx Radio's John Moss has been speaking to local commissioner and proprietor of Coffeecraft, Alan Leonard, and Chair of Castletown Commissioners, Tony Brown:

The main points of the proposals are as follows:

1) Defining the following: ‘a Visitor Season’ being from May until September, ‘a Winter Season’ being September until May, and an ‘Easter Period’ being the Thursday before Good Friday to the Tuesday following Easter Monday. [details on Page 1 of document]

2) Continuing with the ‘no permitted vehicle access’ into the pedestrianised streets all year, which is to be effectively managed and controlled by way of movable barriers located within the vehicle restricted pedestrianised streets of Arbory Street and Malew Street.

3) Within Barracks Square car park [back of the Civic Hall] - general disc parking, disc parking for disabled x 3 spaces, along with provision for delivery bays for deliveries to businesses and properties located within the pedestrianised streets.

4) The Market Square and the Pedestrianised Streets are defined by two areas – Area A and Area B. [detailed on the Map appended to the Document].

5) The placing of moveable barriers to effective close off all the area(s) to vehicles.

6) Seek from the Minister for Infrastructure by way of a formal delegation to enable the Commissioners to manage the area to provide for close off the whole area during the ‘Winter Season’ for special short-term events.

Last month the local authority confirmed it will be undertaking a 'comprehensive' review of Market Square to inform any future policies. 

Castletown Commissioners says: "[We] would encourage residents to consider the proposals set out in their public consultation document and would welcome any comments from the public.

"When the public consultation period closes the Board of the Commissioners will consider all comments and they will subsequently publish their final proposals.

"Thereafter, the Commissioners will consult with the Department of Infrastructure seeking to have their proposals implemented being effective from 2026."

The public consultation will run for six weeks from now until 5pm on Tuesday, 26 August.

People can obtain copies of the consultation document, which provides details of the proposals, from Castletown Town Hall. You can also find a link HERE.

Residents can write with their comments to the commissioners and deliver them via the town hall, or email their comments via ctms@castletown.gov.im