Old mine access restricted after big wall collapse

Public access to the site of a former mine on the Isle of Man has been restricted after part of a huge wall collapsed.

A retaining wall at the former site of the Snaefell Mine, which dates back to 1856, collapsed last month. A subsequent inspection identified "significant risks" across several of the site's other historic structures.

That inspection, carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa), found collapsed masonry, unstable walls and eroded footpaths.

Minister Clare Barber said the collapse had "compromised the stability of key areas" and posed a "significant risk to public safety".

The site therefore "must be placed off limits", she said, with all access restricted.

Signage and diversions will be installed ahead of June's TT festival to prevent spectators from entering hazardous areas, added Barber.

The department said future access would depend on the availability of funding for remediation work.

But if funds cannot be secured, the site may remain "permanently closed off".

The mine, located on the slopes of Snaefell Mountain near Laxey, was established to extract lead and other minerals as part of the Great Laxey Mining Company's operations.

The mine workings reached depths of 1,100ft (350m) before closing in the early 20th Century.

The mine was briefly reactivated in the 1950s for spoil reprocessing, after which it was permanently shut.

Defa said it would publish a report to further explain the reasons for the closure and the risks posed by the site.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.