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Langness footpaths row costs taxpayer £107,000

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

The Langness footpaths row has cost the Manx taxpayer more than double the amount we were originally told.

 

Former Transport Minister David Anderson admits he got it wrong last month when he told the House of Keys that the inquiry and court case have cost the government around £50,000.

 

It now turns out the correct figure is £107,000.

 

Mr Anderson says he didn't know about another £38,000 that the Department of Infrastructure had to pay in legal costs when it applied to the courts to have the Definitive Map changed.

 

The row over public access to land at Langness has been going on for a number of years.

 

An inquiry ruled that there are public footpaths on land owned by several people, including TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

 

However, this is being challenged in the courts.

 

Around £15,000 of the money the government has spent could be recovered.

 

It's because the DoI was awarded costs when the Clarksons unsuccessfully brought a Petition of Doleance to court.

 

 

 

 

 

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