Plans to trial traffic ban on capital's quayside

A proposal to permanently pedestrianise part of a quayside area in the Manx capital is being considered.

Douglas Council is planning a trail closure North Quay to vehicles to encourage more footfall and economic growth for firms along the harbourside.

The local authority said it would carry out consultations with residents, local businesses and customers, and the scheme would potentially offer additional disabled parking.

Council leader Clare Wells said while the plans were being considered nothing was "set in stone" at this stage.

Currently, North Quay is only closed to traffic on weekends and bank holidays during the spring and summer months

The proposed pedestrianisation would include a stretch from the entrance to North Quay at Banks Circus until Market Hill, and include an exception for loading and deliveries between 07:00 and 10:00 GMT.

Ms Wells said that past road closures in the area had "worked really well" and had allowed for "some amazing events down there".

"What we want to do is expand on that and see how we can do it better for the community, but also for the businesses that are down there so they can start investing in the area around them," she said.

Wells said businesses and the public would benefit from having the certainty of knowing that roads were closed permanently, rather than having closures that varied, which could leave firms "having to move whatever it is they're investing in".

Ms Wells pointed out that unlike Castletown's Market Square, where the winter pedestrianisation of has been met with opposition, there was no similar space in Douglas.

"We don't have a square that we can close off for people to go sit in, so we're trying to create an area which is useful for people who want to go out and socialise," she said.

"If it doesn't work, then we'll look at it again."

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