Ideas 'vital' to regenerate town centre in 'decay'

The Northern Chamber of Commerce hopes to stimulate investment

Ideas from residents in the north of the Isle of Man are "vital" to regenerating town centres in "decay", a steering group has said.

The Northern Chamber of Commerce (NCOC) is holding an exhibition in Ramsey, urging people share their views of the town's potential development.

Drop-in sessions in the town hall are running until 14 August, and the NCOC hopes it can use the input to draw up a "master plan" that has the community backing.

NCOC chairman Keith Dalrymple said: "The retail sector in Ramsey is in need of increased footfall, not just [people] visiting the town to shop, but people living in the town and working in the town."

He said public confidence in the island's economic situation was at "a low ebb", as was "confidence in decision makers".

Small businesses and enterprises were "thinking a week ahead not years", he continued, adding he hoped a master plan developed through the exhibition could stimulate investment.

'Empty buildings'

While he said there was "no simple magic bullet that is going to reinvigorate the high streets", he wanted to engage "the whole community" in efforts "to increase footfall, to address the empty buildings, to address the fact that town centres have been allowed to decay over decades".

Mr Dalrymple said: "One only has to walk around the town to see the opportunities that are there.

"But opportunities for development are one thing, making them economically viable and sustainable is another, and this is part of the exercise."

He said the steering group had taken inspiration from volunteers working on the town's dilapidated Victorian Queen's Pier.

They "got tired" of waiting for "anybody else to step in and do something about it, so they're doing it themselves", he said.

The exhibition is open Monday to Thursday from 08:45 until 16:30 BST and on Saturdays between 08:45 until 16:00 BST.

Mr Dalrymple said: "Residents' ideas are vital.

"Ramsey and the north have a proud history, a colourful history.

"We have wonderful assets and we are endeavouring to encourage people to look around, see them and to make their voices heard."