Port Erin Commissioners have backed plans for a new Co-Op on Station Road.

The local authority also discussed changes to the Southern 100 schedule and relocating an old mosaic at its public meeting this week.

The item that sparked most debate among commissioners was an application for a new and bigger Co-Op on the site previously occupied by funeral business in the village.

Vice Chair Marc Morely said commissioners had received seven objections to the Co-Op plans – one from a commercial business, three from nearby residents and another three which from residents who are not in the ‘direct vicinity’ of the proposed site.

He said the three residents living nearby listed privacy as their main concerns about the development.

Mr Morely also said the Department of Infrastructure’s Highways Division initially had no objections ‘whatsoever’, but has since requested a traffic audits.

Commissioner Hayley Fox also raised issues with ‘bad’ parking around the area while Commissioner Barbara Guy said she had concerns about the ‘accessibility’ of the site.

Commissioner Ian Swindells proposed the local authority support the application, wait for the traffic reports and let planning deal with the areas of concern.

The motion was agreed unanimously.

Mosaic

Potential plans to reinstall an old mosaic in the village were also discussed at the meeting,

After seeing the RNLI mosaic in Port St Mary, Commissioner Barbara Guy said she remembered an old mosaic that used to be located in Reayrt Ny Chrink.

She said the Men in Sheds group has the piece in storage and recently completed some restoration work on it.

Mrs Guy said it would be ‘fantastic’ to see the artwork back up in the village which she said has images of Manannan and other Manx scenes.

The board agreed to look into finding a suitable location for the piece.

Port Erin Commissioners will next meet on Tuesday, 10 December.