Douglas Borough Council wishes to clarify the position regarding horse tram passenger numbers carried and income achieved in 2015, the final year the council operated the service.

The clarification comes in response to figures quoted by the Minister for Infrastructure Ray Harmer MHK, during a sitting of Tynwald Court on Tuesday November 15, 2016, who stated that in 2015 48,722 passengers were carried and ?57,915 in income was achieved.

The council can, however, confirm, that in 2015, despite a combination of a proposed cancellation of the service to accommodate renovation works to Douglas promenade (subsequently reversed) and poor summer weather 50,937 passengers were carried.

Additionally, notwithstanding the reduction in passenger numbers, in 2015 income from the horse trams totalled ?117,279, a figure set out in the authority’s public accounts and which includes residents’ tickets, Explorer tickets, special hires, advertising revenue and the December Santa tram service.

Council leader David Christian said: ‘As the former owner and operator of the horse trams which benefited from the long-term financial support of Douglas ratepayers, the council wishes to place on public record the correct audited performance figures for the service while under council stewardship in 2015.’