Garff Commissioners under fire over plans to renew swimming raft

Concerns the move incentivises residents to swim in unsafe waters

A local environmentalist has poured cold water over Garff Commissioners' plan to replace the swimming raft on Laxey Beach.

The Manx Wildlife Trust is questioning the move saying people shouldn't be encouraged to swim in areas that don't meet the minimum standard for bathing.

Last year the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture published a report which identified Laxey and Garwick as having high levels of faecal organisms including E. coli.

David Bellamy is the charity's head of conservation and land and thinks the situation won't change until measures are put in place to end the discharge of raw sewage into the sea:

Garff Commissioners has been contacted for comment.

Its chair has previously welcomed the progress of plans to end the discharge of raw sewage at Peel and pledged to continue to provide updates to Garff residents on plans for Laxey.