Government says it will not fund northern tip

The northern tip is again open seven days a week, but its future remains uncertain

The Isle of Man's Department of Infrastructure has confirmed it won't pay a northern rubbish tip's £67,000 shortfall.

The funding issue was caused by Bride Commissioners pulling out of the Northern Civic Amenity Site (NCAS).

Infrastructure minister Tim Crookall said that the remaining local authorities on the tip's board would have to cover the cost and any inflationary increases themselves.

Mr Crookall said his department would not take over operation of the site without a “clear and legally-binding funding mechanism” from all northern authorities.

The minister told the island's parliament that he hoped it would not come to the point where the site was handed back to the Department of Infrastructure (DoI), the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Crookall explained that he would be attending a meeting with the NCAS joint committee on 13 November in order to “find some way forward”.

'No obligation'

After Bride commissioners pulled its ratepayer funding out, the NCAS board gave notice in April for the government to terminate its lease on the site.

At the time, Mr Crookall said that the DoI sent a letter to the board advising on the process that should be followed for a disagreement with any local authority.

The letter also stated: “The department has no obligation in respect of the operation of the civic amenity sites, and... the department would be disappointed if the northern local authorities decided to close the facility.”

Mr Crookall told Tynwald: "With regards to rate setting for 2025-26, the department has advised that it would be prudent for all the constituent authorities to make provision to cover the cost of running the site, plus uplift to cover the inflation and unexpected costs”.