Garff Commissioners to delay commenting on MNH's plan for Laxey Wheel visitor hub

It will also be taking on a licence for a field in Dhoon

Garff Commissioners will be deferring its decision on a new visitor entrance to the Laxey Wheel until next month.

It’s the second application for a new building on the site after the first one was pulled due to public opposition.

Commissioner Stuart Clague said he was against the new proposal as it would ruin the heritage of the area.

He also proposed that the board wait until next month to make a decision to see what the residents think of the idea.

Commissioner Julie Pinson agreed with him, and suggested that the hut should be used somewhere else on site.

However, Commissioner Marinda Fargher told the meeting that she had been approached by a member of staff saying that they needed somewhere undercover to eat and take a break and the current building wasn’t appropriate.

The board initially agreed to support the planning application, with the casting vote from Chair Stan Ryzak swaying it in favour.

However, Mrs Fargher suggested everyone should look at the site first before making a decision.

Also on the agenda was whether the commissioners should take on a licence to take on the maintenance of a field and open it up for recreational use.

The clerk confirmed the local authority mow the field once a year and it would be leased to them for £1 a year for five years.

It also wouldn’t allow them to put any play equipment on it or build any structures.

However, the board agreed to take it on.

Another item that sparked debate was a request from a mobile food business to have a trading license to operate once a month.

Mr Clague told the meeting that granting the request would take away business and footfall from the other local restaurants.

But the chair said this business is a takeaway and is a different concept to the other establishments in Laxey.

The other members of the board agreed, and said there isn’t an Indian restaurant in the village and wouldn’t be taking away custom from those businesses that pay their rates.

Garff Commissioners will next meet on Wednesday 5 March.