Repairs to Marine Parade to cost over £200k

Tue, 02 Aug 2022

Douglas Borough Council has finally been given the green light to progress repairs to the Promenade Marine Gardens.

Winds of up to 80pmh brought down sections of its wall and caused the gardens to be flooded last December, also damaging the Loch Promenade kiosk and the surface of the children’s play area.

Work to clear up any damage commenced as soon as the storm subsided and the local authority immediately sought to undertake repairs, drawing up a number of options for the rebuilding of the structurally unsound sections.

However, it was advised not to carry out any work until a structural engineer assessed the area and the insurance company concluded its review.

Council Leader Claire Wells explained: ‘It is well documented that, as a Council, we have been frustrated by the time it has taken to hear back from the loss adjuster, especially as we acted so quickly and had drawn up a range of options for remedial work before Christmas.

‘However, we were clearly informed we had to wait for the go-ahead and that beginning work could have jeopardised any pay out.

‘Now the process with insurers about possible compensation claims has been completed, we are determined to carry out this work and, after being given the official approval by Council, it is all systems go.’

‘I suspect it will surprise some people that the overall work to rebuild the collapsed sections of Marine Garden walls alone will cost more than £200,000, not just a few thousand as some seem to think. Of course, following Storm Barra, we also need to construct flood protection and accelerate the replacement of the Loch Promenade Play area so overall this is a highly significant investment.

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