No progress on public rights of way

A legal row over footpaths at Langness is set to continue later in the year.

This week in Tynwald, Onchan MHK Peter Karran asked the minister with responsibility for the issue, David Anderson, about the legal process to make the paths public rights of way.

In particular, he wanted to know when a court hearing would take place to put them on the Department of Infrastructure's maps.

Mr Anderson said that was on hold because of a new legal challenge by TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who was applying to the court to bring a petition of doleance out of time.

He said that hearing would take place on September 15 and, if successful, the Clarksons would ask for a review of decisions made by the Department of Infrastructure and public inquiry inspector Roy Hickey.

Mr Anderson said because that case was still pending, the legal process to make the routes into public footpaths had been put on hold.