Ramsey Commissioners say draft area plan isn't 'future proofing' the town 

Local authority believes a lot of development land has been removed since 2022

Last night a public meeting was held by Ramsey Commissioners to discuss the Draft North and West Area Plan.

Despite no residents turning up and only half of the board members being in attendance, a resolution was found.

A presentation was given by the Town Clerk Tim Cowin, which provided background to the draft plan.

In 1982 a town plan was formed, and ten years later there was a boundary extension which are the boundaries that Ramsey is working with now.

Mr Cowin said the draft plan has removed a lot of development land that was previously added to the plan in 2022.

He told the board that the Vollan Fields were re-added because of a current planning application.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of flood protection and prevention development – there is no zoning for the reconstruction of the quay or a flood wall.

Mr Cowin concluded by saying the town is getting ‘less’ zoned land than it did in 1998 and is ‘limiting’ for the future.

He also said the plan has no foresight and the town could be stuck with it ‘well past’ the suggested date of 2026, when the All Island Plan takes over.

A resolution was made by Chair Rob Cowell to adopt the response proposed by the town clerk which is that it’s a ‘premature’ plan and the draft is ‘almost entirely’ negative towards Ramsey.

However, an amendment was put forward by Commissioner Juan McGuinness that the response asks for more land included in the All Island Plan and to ask for assurances that this plan isn’t seen as a ’20 year vision’ for the town.

Mr Cowell and Mr McGuinness believe it's important to have development options available for the future of Ramsey: