Petition of doleance served on DLGE

A firm of Island advocates has stepped into help a group of Douglas residents fight a planning case.

When Heritage Homes was granted permission at appeal to build 52 apartments on the site of the former Keig's building in Circular Road in Douglas, residents in the vicinity could not afford to challenge the decision.

However, Mann and Partners has agreed to meet their legal costs and residents have now served a petition of doleance on the Department of Local Government and the Environment.

Although the planning committee initially turned down the plans, the decision was overturned when the department accepted the recommendations of an inspector.

Residents’ anger centred on the fact the inspector had considered an earlier application for the site.

South Douglas MHK Bill Malarkey, who was enlisted to help the group, says it’s a breakthrough (audio file attached):