Garff Commissioners hits back at Laxey Beach Café

The authority claims the owner's comments were 'untrue' and 'misleading'

Garff Commissioners say claims they have already started building work on the kiosk where Laxey Beach Café is based are "untrue".

It's after the owner of the business, which has been based in the promenade kiosk for the past 15 years, received more than 5,000 signatures on a petition to keep the outdoor seating area there.

The Commissioners have thanked the current tenant of the kiosk, fellow Commissioner Julie Pinson, for undertaking the petition.

They say it demonstrates how popular the public spaces on Laxey's prom are, and the importance of making sure the facility is well-maintained and accessible to all.

However, they dispute the introduction to the petition, which implies there are no plans to install seating and tables in the Public Shelter, saying they are actually central to the planned "enhancements".

The local authority says, rather than removing them completely, they're asking the Café to remove its chairs and tables so they can install their own.

They're also undertaking work to provide full access to the facilities for those with disabilities, as well as investigating the potential of installing showers and lockers at the site for beach users.

The Commissioners say that accusations that contractors had been at the site earlier this week to begin work on the building were untrue, and say they're "puzzled" as to why the tenant would make such a claim.

They say the contractor that attended was there to prepare a quote for works to provide disabled access and only took a matter of minutes, adding there was never any intention to begin any building work that day.

They also say the tenant, as a serving Garff Comissioner herself, should have some understanding of the procurement procedures that a local authority has to undergo when planning and executing building works.

The Commissioners finished by saying they'll make a full announcement of the range of enhancements to the Public Shelter as soon as they have fully discussed and finalised the details.