Residents urged to share views on play equipment

Proposals to refurbish the Pulrose United Football Club changing rooms were put forward in 2022

People have been urged to share their views on the provision of play equipment for older children in part of the Isle of Man's capital.

Douglas Council leader Claire Wells said while a "significant amount of money" was needed to refurbish the changing rooms at Pulrose United Football Club, if residents wanted the funds spent elsewhere they should make "their voices heard".

But Ms Wells said the local authority had also received requests for a new skate park in the area.

As a result the council would "form our plans accordingly" in response to the views of residents about whether the money available should be earmarked for something else.

'Fresh requests'

Plans for the new changing rooms, at Spring Valley Playing Fields, were submitted in 2022 and were set to cost £500,000, with half of those funds due to be met by UK Charity, the Football Foundation.

The proposed replacement building on the site would see four changing rooms built to meet Football Foundation standards, along with changing areas for referees, toilets, a storage area and a hatch to serve refreshments to spectators.

Ms Wells told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there had also been "fresh requests" for a new skatepark, despite existing plans to "overhaul" a similar amenity at Noble's Park.

Funding for those works is set to be included in the council's 2025/ 2026 budget.

Although the layout and cost for the existing facilities would be determined in "due course", the council would be "looking to bring proposals forward later this year for the overall Pulrose play environment", Ms Wells said.

While there had been provisions for new play equipment for some time, she said that due to the current "constraints" those had been "deferred", she added.