Malew Commissioners wrong to commit to ‘wait and see’ policy for Golf Links Hotel

Tynwald Ombudsman found its processes amounted to 'maladministration'

A report has been carried out by the Tynwald Commissioner for Administration into the process used by Malew Commissioners’ which led it to not issuing a demolition notice on the Castletown Golf Links Hotel.

The complaint came from the directors of the Langness Golf Club, Philip and Peter Vermuleun over a perceived lack of will by Malew Commissioners to demolish the former hotel.

The LGC also alleged that the local authority had deliberately delayed legal advice and claimed the commissioners were secretly working with the former owners to keep the building in a state of disrepair to gain planning approval.

It added that the issue had been ongoing for 12 years.

Malew Commissioners refuted all those claims to the ombudsman and provided evidence that it had issued a notice of works to the former owners to make the building look less ‘neglected’.

This included painting and securing the building.

It added it had been waiting for legal advice and for the outcome of a planning application and subsequent appeal, before issuing a demolition notice.

A local group, The Derbyhaven Residents Society, was also included in the report, as they had similar complaints to the Langness Golf Club about the commissioners.

Two MHKs were also included in the report as they had held meetings with the commissioners, the resident’s group and the golf club.

The ombudsman, Paul Beckett, found a number of elements of maladministration on the part of the local authority.

Firstly, that the commissioners consistently declined to meet Peter and Philip Vermeulen a number of times without ‘adequate grounds’ for refusal.

Mr Beckett also established that there was ‘incompetency’ on the local authority’s application of legislation due to it’s focus on the outside of the building which it claimed didn’t ‘appear to be in a dangerous condition’.

This, the ombudsman said was based on its external appearance, rather than the hotel site as a whole.

Mr Beckett also established that Malew Commissioner’s ‘wait and see policy’ amounted to maladministration and remained ‘indifferent’ to any opposing view or plea at odds with this decision.

The decision to issue a demolition notice on the Castletown Golf Links Hotel still lies with Malew Commissioners.

The ombudsman hasn’t made recommendations to either party, he has pointed out what has been found as maladministration on the part of Malew Commissioners and it is down to them to take the report on board.

Malew Commissioners have been invited to comment.

The full report can be found here.