The former Farmers’ Combine building on West Quay, Ramsey, was back on the agenda at the town’s latest commissioners’ meeting.

This was as a result of complaints by members of the public about the length of the planning process for de-registration of the premises.

Town clerk Peter Whiteway recalled that the building was added to the Protected Buildings Register in February 2019. This was followed by an application by the owners to de-register the building.

In September 2019 the Environment Minister decreed that the building did not reach a sufficiently high bar to be of special architectural interest in the national context. Manx National Heritage appealed against this decision. After several delays, the appeal hearing was eventually heard by an independent inspector on September 3, 2020. To date, no decision has been issued.

Commissioner Juan McGuinness expressed frustration with the whole procedure. ’It is very disappointing. We had someone interested in redeveloping the site, but that moment has gone, an opportunity has been missed and we are left with a blight on the landscape’.

Julia Wedgwood commented: ’This delay has lost us the possibility of new jobs in the town’.

Luke Parker added: ’We still want it developed to better use’.

It was agreed that the commissioners should write to the planning department, stating their disappointment at the delay.

The former Farmers’ Combine building on West Quay, Ramsey, was back on the agenda at the monthly commissioners’ meeting as a result of complaints by members of the public about the length of the planning process for de-registration of the premises.

Town clerk Peter Whiteway recalled that the building was added to the Protected Buildings Register in February 2019.

This was followed by an application by the owners to de-register the building.

In September 2019 the Environment Minister decreed that the building did not reach a sufficiently high bar to be of special architectural interest in the national context.

Manx National Heritage appealed against this decision. After several delays, the appeal hearing was eventually heard by an independent inspector on September 3, 2020. To date, no decision has been issued.

Commissioner Juan McGuinness expressed frustration with the whole procedure.

’It is very disappointing’, he said. ’We had someone interested in redeveloping the site, but that moment has gone, an opportunity has been missed and we are left with a blight on the landscape’.

Julia Wedgwood commented: ’This delay has lost us the possibility of new jobs in the town’.

Luke Parker added: ’We still want it developed to better use’.

It was agreed that the commissioners should write to the planning department, stating their disappointment at the delay.