A Douglas businessman has launched a campaign to try and preserve the Castlemona as a hotel and leisure complex.

Martin Moore has arranged a public forum at the Villa Marina, and is extending an open invitation to everybody who has an interest in the building.

Skyland Investments, which owns the Castlemona, ceased trading earlier this month, and went into voluntary liquidation.

Mr Moore says he wants to save the listed building from being turned into apartments, having seen a number of other former tourist sites re-developed in recent years:

The public forum will be in the Colonnade Suite on January 10th. Mr Moore says the two MHKs for East Douglas have already confirmed they will be attending and there will also be representatives from the departments of local government and the environment, and tourism and leisure.

(Picture: The Castlemona Hotel, from manxscenes.com).