Watchmaker applies for retrospective car park permission

A world-renowned watchmaker has applied for retrospective planning permission for a staff car park at his workshop in Sulby.

Roger Smith, who was awarded an OBE for his services to watchmaking in 2018, says the gravel car park caters for 14 staff at the site near Sulby Bridge.

In the application, he says having a separate staff parking facility means space around the complex buildings stays free for clients to arrive and park.

A previous application for a car park on the site was turned down after planners said it conflicted with a number of planning policies.