Public inquiry into the Draft North and West Area Plan comes to a close

Sulby Riverside Development and Ramsey Marina were key topics on the final day

The public inquiry being held into the Draft North and West Area Plan concluded with some contentious topics.

Land next to the Poyll Dooey Nature Reserve as well as proposals for Ramsey Marina were included in the discussions.

This session was about zoning land which may be designated as something else or which is not designated at all.

Ramsey South Beach is currently unzoned – but representatives from a group trying to get permission for a marina spoke at the inquiry to request a mixed use development.

Marlene Maska from the group said during the inquiry that the plan for the marina has the Island’s ‘best interests’ in mind and there are positives to the marina.

She said it would be open 24/7 to allow ships passing through respite, could also have flats built and would ‘support’ local water activities like paddleboarding.

Ms Maska told the inquiry that the town needs to move forward and not look back.

However there was strong opposition from both the Manx Wildlife Trust and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

David Bellamy, Head of Conservation at the charity, set out the legal standing to the public inquiry and explained how nature reserves are protected under legislation.

He said if the marina development was to go ahead, it would undermine the concept of nature reserves and set a precedent:

The land next to Poyll Dooey – listed as Ballachrink on the agenda – has had a planning application refused and appealed.

Ramsey resident Patricia Newton advocated for its addition to be zoned, arguing it’s in a residential area, and flood mitigations can be put in place.

She also believed that the development wouldn’t have any effect on the nature reserve next to it.

The Cabinet Office said due to flooding risks it wouldn’t consider zoning the land for residential use in the plan at all – and makes the case worse for the land.

Now all the evidence has been heard, inquiry inspector Brian Sims will now compile the evidence – including the written submissions prior to the inquiry and form a report.

This report should inform the Cabinet Office of what changes, if any, should be made to the plan and will provide recommendations.

He concluded the inquiry by saying these will be as ‘definitive’ as possible and he aims to have the report completed by September.