Government says planning inspector was not misled on rubbish tip

Planning approval was granted to keep using Wright's Pit North in Bride until 2030

A planning inspector who recommended a waste disposal site's life should be extended was not misled, the infrastructure department has said.

Ministers approved the continued use of Wright's Pit North in Bride until 2030 following a report by an inspector.

A Tynwald committee raised concerns the report made reference to plans for a replacement site having been submitted.

However, the department said the inspector had now confirmed there was no record of that having happened.

Permission for disposal of construction and demolition waste at the northern facility expired at the end of 2019.

The Council of Ministers backed the Department of Infrastructure's (DOI) extension bid in October after the planning inspector's report concluded the facility should not close as there was no replacement available.

'No bearing'

The Environment and Infrastructure Policy Review Committee subsequently raised concerns the inspector may have been misled by the DOI over the submission of plans for the replacement facility.

The department previously denied that was the case and said a replacement site was still being "urgently" looked for.

Planning inspector Jennifer Vyse has now confirmed she did not have a record of "who said anything" about a replacement plans being submitted, which was referred to in the report.

However, she said that had had "no bearing" on her "eventual recommendation" to grant an extension to the existing facility, which was based on there being no alternative in place for the waste.

Daphne Caine MHK, who was set to make a bid to have the permission to extended the use of the site annulled at the December sitting of Tynwald, said she would be "carefully considering" whether or not to bring forward the motion following the clarification.

But she said she would still be seeking reassurances from the environment minister that a planning application for a "fully engineered replacement waste facility" was being progressed.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]