Port St Mary Commissioners have on behalf of the community of Port St Mary, raised a Petition of Redress questioning development on a beach within their village. They have objected since 2009 to a planning application showing development on the beach by questioning the ownership. The beach in question has been part of the Designated Harbour Area in Port St Mary since 1890 and, as such, is part of the government estate. It has now been built upon by developers. In taking a Petition of Redress they become the first local authority in the island to use this ancient process to hold the government to account for its actions. Their petition states:

“The general public’s right to enjoy beaches, foreshores, rights of way and other areas that are held on behalf of the Manx nation by the Isle of Man Government is being jeopardised by the Government’s failure to protect this right.

In particular, that as a result of this failure, the community of Port St Mary has been denied free access to a public shore.”

The petition, which has the unanimous support of the Board, is signed by Mr Alan Grace, the Chairman of the Board and Mr Alastair Hamilton, the Clerk to the Board. It is being delivered on Tynwald Hill by Commissioner Alec Merchant and the Clerk. Subscribing to the petition are more than forty residents of the community.

Speaking on the behalf of the Board Mr Grace said, “Government is the custodian of public lands, but only on behalf of this nation. They have a duty to preserve our cherished access to beaches and open spaces. We, as a Board, take no pleasure in mounting this extreme measure to make them honour their responsibilities, but no other community on this island should have its rights overlooked as ours have been.”