Bus dispute costs revealed

More than £17,000 has been spent on the ongoing bus dispute.

Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Graham Cregeen revealed the figure in Tynwald this week.

He was quizzed by Onchan MHK Peter Karran who wanted to know about costs involved in erecting temporary platforms, training, crash damage and insurance.

Scaffolding for the railway platform in Castletown, which children used to get to and from school, cost over £12,000 and a marquee nearly £5,000.

£300 was also spent on training drivers to use ticketing machines.

Castletown MHK Richard Ronan asked the Minister if in hindsight it was a waste of money to erect the platform when there’s already one hundreds of yards away.

Mr Cregeen said the decision was taken for safety reasons.