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Bus stop dispute in Castletown

Wed, 05 Dec 2018

Plans by the Department of Infrastructure to alter bus stops on the Parade in Castletown have clashed with the local commissioners vision for the town.

The DOI wants to redesign the two bus shelters but the local authority wants them moved out of the town centre.

Plans for the northbound stop include a ‘built out’ design with realigned kerbs allowing the bus to pull up parallel to the pavement.

It’s proposed the southbound stop is built out as an extension from the  pavement, taking away an existing parking space.

It’s hoped the changes will allow buses to pull in closer to the kerb, and improve access from the bus stop to the bus.

Castletown Commissioners discussed the application at a meeting this week, and expressed strong opposition to the DOI’s plans. It has asked for the matter to be deferred for so it can consider the application in more detail.

Members are concerned this a ‘botch job’ and have accused the department of making misleading statements to justify its ‘retrograde’ proposal for a conservation area.

Chairman Colin Leather is disappointed the Parade isn’t being addressed within the wider context of Castletown’s regeneration scheme.

Commissioner Jerry Ludford Brooks said the authority wanted to move the Douglas-bound stop to Farrant’s Way and allow facilities in the town hall to be available to passengers and visitors.

‘I think we’re being rolled over by the Department of Infrastructure here’ said Commissioner Jimmy Cubbon. ‘We try to think strategically about the layout of town, and central government is getting in the way’.

The local authority is disappointed a previous valid application by the DOI for different bus stop alteration scheme has been omitted.

By Ewan Gawne - Local Democracy Reporting Service

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