Commissioner 'frustrated' with sewage plant delay

Delays to the submission of a formal application for a sewage treatment works in the east of the Isle of Man have caused "a bit of frustration", a local authority member has said.

Manx Utilities recently said plans for the Garff Sewage Treatment Plant to serve Laxey and Lonan would now be submitted next year instead of by the end of 2024.

Local commissioner Melanie Christian said the board was "slightly disappointed on the lack of information and the lack of progress" on the planned works.

The utilities provider said, while land agreements had taken "longer than envisaged", it was "committed" to the project.

The plant is due to be built in the northern part of the Axonfell Plantation.

Garff is one of two areas in the island awaiting the building of a treatment works as part of the government's regional regional programme of works.

Plans submitted for a plant in Peel were approved earlier this year, however an appeal has been lodged against them, with a hearing set take place later this month.

Ms Christian said it "feels like we have been waiting a long time for updates" with nothing coming forward.

"I think there's a real feel now we just want something done in Garff," she said.

"We know it's not been a good situation for a long time pumping the raw sewage into the sea, and I think there's a bit of frustration around the delays really."

It seemed that western plant was "moving forward" but the eastern one had become "stagnant", Ms Christian added.

A spokeswoman for Manx Utilities said it remained "committed to delivering modern sewage treatment for the remaining catchments of Garff and Peel".

"Activities will now commence in earnest to progress the scheme as rapidly as possible," she said.

The majority of people affected by pipeline routes had been contacted, and a public information event would take place later this year ahead of the formal submission of plans in 2025, she added.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]