Authorities in the north wait for decision on boundary move

It follows a three-day public inquiry in Ramsey

Over the last three days a public inquiry has been investigating whether Ramsey Commissioners should be allowed to expand its boundary into Lezayre and Garff. 

The latter two authorities have previously called the move 'territorial', but Ramsey believes the town is at 'capacity'. 

The inquiry has heard evidence from residents, 'expert' speakers and from planners. 

The local authority has been planning to extend into the neighbouring local authorities since 2018.

And the inquiry is one of the final pieces which makes up the process.

Both Lezayre and Ramsey Commissioners had legal representatives and Vice Chair Marinda Fargher was taking the lead for Garff.

All of the authorities and the speakers have been establishing what community means to them and which communities they feel part of.

Residents who have spoken said they don’t see themselves as part of the wider Ramsey community, but of the north more generally.

Whereas Ramsey Commissioners says these areas rely on the town for services and therefore should become part of its community.

Residents gave evidence on the first two days, those living in Glen Auldyn have been the most vocal in their defence to stay within Lezayre:

Only one MHK gave evidence to the inquiry, Ayre and Michael member Tim Johnston.

No representation was made from any of the Garff or Ramsey MHKs.

Mr Johnston said if Ramsey’s boundary did change, it would ‘hold community spirit back’:

Marinda Fargher, commissioner for the Maughold ward in Garff has been defending Maughold from the beginning.

She said the land Ramsey wants is mostly glen, hill and agricultural land which ‘not suitable’ for development.

Mrs Fargher said she still has no answers as to why Ramsey require this:

The authority with the most land and houses to lose is Lezayre Commissioners.

Ramsey is looking to absorb Glen Auldyn, as well as parts of Jurby Road, Lezayre Road and the Mountain View Innovation Centre.

It also wants the Northern Civic Amenity Site.

The location of Glen Auldyn came up in a previous boundary extension meeting, which determined it should remain as part of the rural parish of Lezayre.

Chair of the commissioners Julian Teare says the decision is now out of its hands:

Ramsey Commissioners has maintained its belief that the authority has simply outgrown its current boundary and there is no room left in the town to develop housing or facilities.

It says that the majority of the areas mentioned above are now on the fringes of the boundary and are therefore one community with the town.

It’s also looking to bring the Albert Tower into its boundary, despite the fact that it owns the tower.

Ramsey Town Clerk Tim Cowin said at the very beginning of the inquiry ‘this is not a land grab’:

Chairman of the Inquiry Peter Taylor, now has the job of collating all the evidence received and making a decision: