Covid memorial garden plans put on hold

Plans for a Covid memorial garden have been put on hold

Plans to create a memorial garden for those who died during the coronavirus pandemic have been put on hold due to budgetary constraints, the chief minister has said.

In July 2021Tynwald backed the creation of a "place to remember loved ones" within six months following a call by Jason Moorhouse MHK.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan told politicians on Tuesday that Cooill y Ree, in St John's, had been identified as a location for the garden, and following initial designs the initial cost of the project had been £150,000.

However, he said the current financial pressures were "immense" and the costs, including factoring in ongoing maintenance of the space, had since risen "fairly significantly".

Under the original plans, the Department of Infrastructure had been due to manage the creation and maintenance of the garden, with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture providing environmental expertise "as required".

Mr Cannan said although a local landscape designer had provided initial designs, there was "no specific budget available" at either department for the project, leading to it being put on hold.

A bid would need to be made to the Capital Fund for the project to receive the funding required, he said.

While it was recognised that Covid had "taken its toll", spending needed to be prioritised, he added.

Saturday will mark the fourth anniversary of the island's first lockdown.