There are no plans to stop camping at Sulby Claddagh.

In recent weeks there has been some concern about the future use of the area, after a notice appeared on the door of the Sulby pub saying there were plans to reduce camping in the area and plant more trees.

The 16 acres of land, belonging to the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, isn't an official campsite, although it's been widely used for the purpose since the late 1920s.

Chairman of the Forestry division of DAFF Brenda Cannell, MHK, says discussions on how best to manage the area in the future have been continuing for more than a year, after a public consultation was carried out.

She says it's clear that the vast majority of people want camping to continue at the site, but her department also has to think about the interests of those who live in the area and the fact the land is of great environmental value.

She told Manx Radio:

"We are considering possibly reducing the camping area to two acres, but properly spaced out camping areas where you have got the safety distance between tents and, or camper vans.

"Possibly, and nothing is cast in stone yet, by reducing it to two acres we are looking at possibly 50 tents or camper vans, so we are looking at a maximum occupancy of any one time of 80 people.

"But there also is an acknowledgement there that during period like the TT and Manx Grand Prix we would have to lift those restrictions.

"So we are trying to bring in proposals that are balanced, and fair to all."

Mrs Cannell says some tree planting was done recently along the driveway of a house in the area to try and provide a green "buffer" for the owner, and prevent people camping right up to the garden gate of the property.