A significant hurdle has been overcome in the plans to have a youth and community centre at Farmhill in Braddan.

MHK Bill Malarkey and his wife Carol, who is a Douglas councillor, have permission in principle to develop on land owned by Douglas Borough Council, next to the Anagh Coar stores and Heron public house.

The council was against the plans on the grounds of inadequate parking but, after meetings, the opposition has been withdrawn.

There are still some concerns, but after distributing a questionnaire asking people if they wanted such a facility in the area, and if so where it should be situated, Mr Malarkey says other possible sites have been identified and will be investigated.

He told Manx Radio:

"About three other possible sites have come onto the radar.

"We are now having to go back and look at these, and my promise to the council is that David Cretney and myself are going to sit down and look at these sites and do some costings.

"One of the sites, by Ballaughton Nurseries, could be a possible site but it's putting roads in, and whether the DoT would allow you to put the roads in and the infrastructure.

"I'm budgeting for ?200,000 so I can't end up with a site that's going to cost ?300,000 or ?350,000.

"I'll never be able to raise that type of money."