'A major blow to the north of the Island' is how the DTL's decision to close the Laxey to Ramsey section of the MER (Manx Electric Railway) this summer has been described.

Ramsey MHK Allan Bell said it'd cut off one of Ramsey's major sources of tourism.

Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw earlier told Tynwald the decision had been made on safety grounds, after a consultant's report deemed sections of the track to be unsatisfactory.

My Bell said he appreciated this but wanted to know what was being set up as a contingency for Ramsey and the north.

Mr Earnshaw said his department had spoken to Ramsey's local authorities already, would meet the Chamber of Trade and also had some initiatives in the pipeline (audio file attached):

(Picture of Manx Electric Railway, courtesy of manxscenes.com)