Objectors to public rights of way on the Langness peninsula won't be given the chance to argue their case at a high court hearing.

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Castletown Golf Links and a number of other parties have been told by Deemster Doyle he won't reopen arguments heard at a public inquiry.

The objectors had argued the inquiry set up in 2009 had been biased, they had been refused the opportunity to cross-examine some witnesses, and the independent inspector had acted outside his remit by broadening the scope of the investigation.

But, in a judgement, Deemster Doyle says those complaints should have been dealt with through a petition of doleance at the time, and not with a separate case.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

The hearing has been brought under the Highways Act 1986 to allow the Department of infrastructure to put the new rights of way, as found by the public inquiry, onto the official maps.

But the Clarksons, along with Castletown Golf Links, Castletown Golf Club and a number of individuals and companies argued they should be allowed to reopen arguments over which paths are public rights of way.

However, Deemster Doyle rejected the proposals, saying if anybody thought the inquiry had been wrong in law, they should have made a doleance claim at the time.

He said: 'We must now set a date for the hearing and make progress towards the finalisation of this protracted matter'.