A MAJOR scheme is on the cards to regenerate the towns of Port St Mary and Port Erin as tourist destinations with plans which include improved retail areas and car parking.
The project has started today with an announcement by the South-West Regeneration Committee that a consultation period has been launched to asses people’s attitudes towards the south west of the Island and to put together proposals for change.
The consultation is being run on behalf of the committee by Port St Mary-based Costain Heritage and Castletown-based Hugh Logan Architects who were commissioned last month to carry out the work.
“We want Port Erin and Port St Mary to be vibrant centres offering a range of retail outlets which meet the needs of the south of the Island,” said said Phil Gawne MHK, chairman of the committee. “We also want waterfronts that provide a range of relaxation, recreation opportunities, particularly for marine-based sports and family beach days, and marine related work.”
The consultation aims to take a comprehensive look at people's attitudes to Port St Mary and Port Erin, and will result in a bid to the Town and Village Regeneration Fund next year. The work will include consideration of Port Erin and Port St Mary as tourist destinations, improvements to the retail areas, car parking issues, ways of linking the upper and lower parts of each port, quality of signage and information, as well as possible improvements to the harbours.
The project aims to get more local residents and visitors to go to Port St Mary and Port Erin regularly. It also hopes to improve the success of the ports' economies.
An on-line questionnaire has been created to help establish the opinions of people living on the Isle of Man and of visitors and tourists from the UK and further afield. In addition, there will be street consultation, focus groups and collaborative meetings with local organisations such as youth groups, fishermen and sailors, Port Erin and Port St Mary traders, other community groups and key stakeholders such as the Department of Infrastructure.
Street surveys will take place in Port St Mary, Port Erin, Castletown, Douglas, Ramsey, Laxey and Peel, as well as at Ronaldsway Airport and the Sea Terminal. There will also be evening public meetings for local residents in November.
Fritha Costain, director of Costain Heritage, said, “Port Erin and Port St Mary are already very attractive, but this process is about creating realistic ambitions for the future of the ports. We're trying to get as wide a range of views as possible, and hoping young people, parents and pensioners will all take this opportunity to get involved.”
When the consultation has closed there will be an exhibition to present the findings to residents in January, which will be followed by a report to the South-West Regeneration Committee.
To take part in the questionnaire visit www.costainheritage.com and follow the link.
The consultation meetings will held on the following dates:-
Port Erin businesses
4th October, 7pm
Cherry Orchard, Port Erin
Port St Mary businesses
3rd November, 8pm
Living Hope Community Church, Port St Mary
Port St Mary local residents' meeting
4th November, 7pm
Living Hope Community Church, Port St Mary
Port Erin local residents' meeting
1st November, 7pm
St Catherine's Church Hall, Port Erin
Local fishermen
7th October, 7pm
Albert Hotel, Port St Mary
Local divers, power boat users, anglers, sailors and wind-surfers
5th October, 7.30pm
IOM Yacht Club, Port St Mary
Local community groups
6th October, 7.30pm
Port Erin Commissioners Offices
