Garff Commissioners to hold drop in session ahead of offshore windfarm hearings

Local authority says it wants to give residents the chance to make submissions

Garff Commissioners has agreed to hold a drop-in session ahead of the second round of hearings into the Mooir Vannin offshore windfarm.

The local authority believes it's important residents have the opportunity to look at plans, read documents and make submissions ahead of the hearings.

The commissioners had a talk from two people involved in the ‘No Offshore Turbines 4 Isle of Man’ group.

Gina and Ian told the board they had started a campaign and were currently in the process of getting posters and flyers designed to be able to hand out to residents across the east of the Island.

The pair said they had had a number of exchanges with MHKs and ministers over the proposals and were disappointed that several of them are unable to share their views due to Tynwald orders.

Gina told the board that the group is hoping to arrange a pick-up point for posters and flyers to allow people to share them around their communities.

The board agreed that a drop-in session and mail drop would be needed to inform residents about the plans, the hearing and what next steps they can take.

A provisional date has been set for Saturday 9 May at the Laxey Working Men’s Institute from 4pm to 7pm.

Also on the agenda was an update on the situation with the Northern Civic Amenity Site.

Commissioner Jamie Smith said two options were presented by the Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall and Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper; either a formal board is created or the controversial clause five is introduced into legislation.

Currently the site is operated by a joint committee which is classed as informal and is not covered by a Tynwald resolution – a board would provide the amenity site with that protection.

Mr Smith also said that contributions are higher than budgeted for and Maughold’s has gone up from £36,000 to £44,000.

He added that the chief minister was in attendance who said the cost of operations could rise to £800,000 from a previous expected figure of £700,000.

It was also confirmed that Ramsey were operating the site on a ‘shoestring budget’ and the new contractor will have three members of staff on site and has plans to open the reuse shed.

Commissioner Smith told the board the contract is for three years and has a six-month rolling exit clause.

DoI political member Kirstie Morphet had asked for concerns to be raised to her and the board agreed to raise the increased cost and remove the voting power of the department, but keep its attendance at meetings.

Garff Commissioners will next meet on Wednesday 6 May.