Peel sewage treatment works planning application delayed

Currently raw sewage is pumped into the sea at Peel

The submission of a planning application for a new sewage treatment works to serve parts of the west of the Isle of Man has been delayed.

The plant, which is proposed for land near Peel power station, would stop waste being pumped into the sea.

Peel Commissioners have raised concerns the delay could push back the completion date for the project.

But Manx Utilities (MU) said extra time was needed to make sure all comments on the project have been considered.

The government-owned utilities provider's was due to submit plans in early November, but confirmed in a statement the application would now be made "later this year".

In May, the authority revealed an agreement had been completed to purchase three fields in-land of the power station in Peel to build a new facility as part of a £40m regional treatment project.

The site would also include the silt lagoon field currently used to store material dredged from Peel Harbour.

A previous plan to use land on Glenfaba Road, just outside Peel, was withdrawn after local objections.

'Disappointed'

In August, MU hosted public drop-in sessions and said the responses would be taken into account before formal plans were submitted.

Chairman of Peel Commissioners Hazel Hannan said she was "so disappointed" the application had not be made in November as planned.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service she said she was concerned it could push back the date the facility may be switched on.

An MU spokeswoman said the submission was a "large, complex document" and it was "imperative" all feedback was included, with any concerns "mitigated appropriately".

By "taking the time to ensure this application is as thorough as possible" the firm hoped the determination period would be as short as possible to provide the "best chance of a successful outcome", she added.

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