Minister sorry DEFA has spent money before getting Tynwald approval

Wed, 02 May 2012

DEFA Minister Phil Gawne has said sorry for spending money on emergency cliff stabilisation work before the scheme was approved by Tynwald.

He'll ask for retrospective approval for the £400,000 project at this month's sitting.

There was a large landslip at Ballure last November.

It's left the Manx Electric Railway and a public footpath at risk, as well as the coast road and nearby properties.

Erosion has been a problem at Ballure for many years and plans to stabilise the land had already been in the pipeline.

Andrew Sidebottom from DEFA says a new drainage system should reduce the threat to property. [play media file below]