Clerk of Ramsey Commissioners: “This is not a land grab”

A public inquiry into whether Ramsey Commissioners should be allowed to extend its boundary into Lezayre and Garff started yesterday.

The local authority believes it’s at ‘capacity’ and is looking to increase its size – something RTC Clerk Tim Cowin insists ‘isn’t a land grab’.

But the plans are being challenged by the two other authorities who have called it ‘territorial’.

The three local authorities attended the inquiry, accompanied by their legal representation, which is now on its second day. 

It’s taking place at Ramsey Park Hotel.

‘Community of Interest’

Chair Peter Taylor started proceedings by explaining the things he will be taking into consideration.

This included a ‘community of interest’ clause which decides whether Ramsey has enough public services to cover the north of the Island. 

This was something disputed by Garff and Lezayre – the authorities said residents in the north are free to choose which services they use either in Laxey or in Ramsey.

Mr Taylor explained that if the ‘matters are finely balanced, then the matter is always in favour that the expansion is recommended’.

The golf course, which is located on Brookfield Avenue, will also be another topic of debate – this currently sits within all three local authorities geographically.

Garff

Garff Commissioners are defending the north of their area, which includes the Crossags’ Farm and some of Maughold, to prevent it from being absorbed into the south of Ramsey.

Vice Chairman Melinda Fargher told the inquiry: “We need to consider what was there first. 

“The town needs to have been there first before other growth and overspill can be considered. 

“The Crossags and associated farm was established long before the town was.”

Mrs Fargher was the Chair of Maughold Commissioners in 1992 when Ramsey last started the extension process and stated it was found then there was ‘no justification’ for the move.

Ramsey

Mr Cowin said the authority was looking to give its residents more ‘green space’ and a ‘natural’ area as part of the proposed development.

He added if the area was to be taken over Ramsey Commissioners would have the financial and staff resource to look after these areas.

Mr Cowin told the inquiry: “Albert Tower is in an important part of the north but it is outside Ramsey.”

He also explained the monument features on the town crest.

Mrs Fargher responded to this saying: “Does it matter where it has its foundations? Do people care about the matter? It seems petty to me.

“For those interested, do they really think about Corrin’s Folly?  Do people care whether Corrin’s Folly is in Patrick? And Milner’s Tower sits in Rushen although it’s on the Port Erin Commissioners crest.”

Residents

Attention, this afternoon, was centered around the Glen Auldyn housing estate and Ramsey Commissioners’ claim that the land is ‘overspill’ and ‘outgrowth’. 

In his statement Mr Cowin said the estate is now within ‘reasonable walking distance’ to the town.

He added that when houses go up for sale there it says Ramsey on the address rather than Lezayre due to the proximity to the centre. 

Three residents had been given permission to provide oral evidence as part of the inquiry – all of them were against the proposal by Ramsey to expand its boundary. 

The common theme through all submissions was their belief the estate is ‘separate’ from Ramsey. 

This, they said, was agreed previously with the chair in 1992 saying it wasn’t in his ‘wildest imagination’ that Glen Auldyn should be part of the town. 

Two of the residents also brought up that, historically, the Glen Auldyn estate is older than the town of Ramsey and therefore shouldn’t be seen as ‘overspill’ or ‘outgrowth’.

The public inquiry is continuing at Ramsey Park Hotel today at 10am.