The public inquiry may be over but the row over footpaths on Langness could run for months, according to Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne.

He faced questions in Tynwald this week about when the full report, by the independent inspector who carried out the inquiry, would be published.

Onchan MHK Peter Karran wanted to know when the report would be published, when a final decision would be made and whether the paths would be cleared for walkers before the summer.

But Mr Gawne said those decisions no longer rested with him because he’d taken sides during the debate.

Mr Gawne, in a written answer to the question, said he’d he’d taken a public stand in support of public rights of way and so had delegated the issue to Glenfaba MHK and former Transport Minister David Anderson.

But the paths named in the report can only be opened once they’re on the official departmental maps – and objections to the planned amendments could mean more wrangling.

If nobody objects, Mr Gawne says the paths could be open in the next few weeks – but if the row goes to court, it could take months.

Mr Gawne says the final settlement of the issue will be dictated by the legal process rather than the tourist season.