Garff sewage treatment plans pushed back a month

Proposals for a sewage treatment plant in Garff have been pushed back a month to July for more discussions with landowners in the area, Manx Utilities has confirmed.

The plans include a number of intermediate pumping stations in Laxey along with the plant in Axonfell Plantation, which would also serve Lonan.

The authority said its planning application was "nearing completion" but residents and landowners directly affected by the proposals would be given the chance to "meet in person to talk through the plans".

The delay would "ensure local engagement has been completed" ahead of the works, which would stop raw sewage being pumped out to sea in Laxey, it said.

The government-owned utilities provider said talks with landowners would also "best chance of a successful and expedient outcome".

Manx Utilities (MU) had initially planned to submit the documents in 2024, but that was pushed back due to land negotiations.

Laxey is one of two remaining areas on the island where raw sewage is still pumped out to sea.

MU said progress on the other outstanding regional sewage treatment plant, due to be built outside Peel, had been "good" since work began last month.

The aim was now to have primary treatment operational in late summer 2026, with completion of the scheme set for early 2028, slightly later than the previous date of by the end of 2027.

Both schemes are part of a £40m regional sewage treatment scheme to prevent the pumping of raw sewage into Manx waters.

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