Call for external investigation as row at Peel Town Commissioners continues

Minister disputes claim by local authority regarding beach stage vote

An ongoing row at Peel Town Commissioners is continuing to develop, with fresh claims and counter-claims about what did - and didn’t - happen at a recent meeting.

This week, commissioner Katryna Baptist has raised concerns about governance, transparency and how decisions are recorded.

Now, former Peel commissioner and MHK Hazel Hannan has spoken to Manx Radio - backing those concerns, and suggesting they reflect her own experience in local authority.

Here’s what she had to say:

There’s also been a specific point of contention around a vote on Peel’s beach stage.

Peel Town Commissioners has said no vote took place.

Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper attended the meeting in question on 19 February:

"The vote was definitely taken, in fact it was taken twice!" - Tim Crookall

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall, who was also at the meeting, has disputed the claim from Peel Town Commissioners:

In a previous statement, Peel Town Commissioners said: "Whilst much of Mrs. Baptist’s commentary is unattributed and anecdotal and therefore impossible to meaningfully engage with, the one example that she does give, i.e. the events stage on Peel beach later year, contrary to what she asserts on social media, was not subject to a vote at PTC’s Board Meeting 19 February 2026."

The local authority has also stated that it would be conducting an internal investigation into Katryna Baptist, and described her comments are 'inaccurate'.

Manx Radio has approached Peel Town Commissioners for a response to the claims that a vote was taken regarding the Peel beach stage, and to the calls for an external investigation.