Campaigners claim victory in planning battle

An Island man says he’s convinced the independent inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the Douglas promenade redevelopment will recommend the plans be rejected.

Murray Lambden helped set up an online campaign opposing the horse trams relocation, one of the proposals in the ?21 million makeover scheme.

The inspector’s report is with the Council of Ministers but its findings have not yet been publicly released.

But Mr Lambden believes the unprecedented number of objections to plans to move the horse trams and preserve the walkway has paid dividends.

Since the inquiry, Douglas Corporation has announced it is no longer 'financially viable' to continue operating the 140 year-old horse trams.

A working party has been set up to see if the service can be retained in one form or another.