People power appears to have won the day in Peel, over the Department of Transport's plans for a sewage treatment plant close to the power station.

Following last night's vote by the commissioners, who narrowly rejected the proposal, the department says it has put the scheme on hold.

A media release says it will telling the landowner it will not be pursuing negotiations at this stage, although it is not ruling out re-visiting the potential of the site in the future.

The department says it's disappointed by the turn of events, adding that it would be unlikely to obtain permission for an alternative site, outside the boundary of the town and on unzoned land.

The site rejected by the commissioners was close to the outskirts of Peel, which would have kept running costs low.

It had also been zoned for development since 1982.