Rushen commissioners submit counter-claim
Rushen Parish Commissioners have hit back in a dispute with their Port Erin counterparts.
It's after an announcement the proposed Port Erin (Boundary Extension) Order 2019 has been withdrawn from this month's sitting of Tynwald.
The Department of Infrastructure says it's because Rushen commissioners have now sent in their own boundary extension application, which also concerns the Ballakilley estate, to being the entirety of it under their control.
The two local authorities have been at loggerheads over the issue, with the estate currently divided between the two of them.
Port Erin's bid to extend its boundary to take in the whole estate had been given the go-ahead following a public inquiry, despite more than 70% of respondents to a consultation being against such a move.
Critics have called Port Erin's plan a 'land grab', while those in favour say the move is a 'sensible' extension of the boundary.
It would also lead to an average £250 increase in the rates paid by the households due to be annexed, whilst also cutting Rushen Parish Commissioners' rates income by around 10%.
Rushen commissioners held an emergency meeting earlier this month to decide how they were going to respond, after it was announced Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer would be bringing the order to the July sitting of Tynwald.
The statement from the DoI says discussions will take place with both local authorities over the coming months, before determining how to proceed.
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