Meeting over possible future of northern airfield

The airfield is the site of a former RAF base

Proposals to zone land for the potential future expansion of an airfield in the north of the Isle of Man are set to be discussed at a meeting of the local authority.

Concerns were raise over their inclusion at a two-week public inquiry into the Draft Area Plan for the North and West, which concluded on Friday.

During those discussions the provisional zoning of an extra 2.5km (0.62 mile) of runway at Jurby airfield was discussed.

Jurby Commissioners is holding a meeting at the parish hall on 12 August at 19:00 BST for local residents to discuss the proposals and have invited the island's airport director and local MHKs to attend as well.

The draft plan outlines areas for use for development projects in Ramsey, Glen Mona, Andreas, Jurby, Bride, Kirk Michael, St John's, Foxdale, and Peel.

'Area of scientific interest'

A written submission to the independent planning inspector by the Cabinet Office said that while Jurby Airfield was not currently an airport, it was "desirable in the long term to protect it for future use as a national airport should it be required".

"No development should be allowed in this area which would permanently prejudice the use of Jurby Airfield as a national airport in the future," it continued.

The airport division would need to be consulted for planning applications, it added.

During a public inquiry session, a representative from the Cabinet Office said that the extra runway length would make it roughly the size of Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

But head of conservation for Manx Wildlife Trust David Bellamy said the site was legally protected as an area of special scientific interest.

"Potential future operations at the site may conflict with the longstanding site as a nature reserve," he added.

The Department of Infrastructure, which runs the island's airport in the south of the island, has been contacted for a comment.

The meeting at Parish Hall is set to take place immediately before the commissioners hold their monthly meeting.

Additional reporting by Emma Draper, Local Democracy Reporter.