Calls for Manx National Heritage to revise its approach to Peggy have fallen on deaf ears.

Peggy, the world’s oldest schooner, is being dried out in a purpose-built facility at Braddan.

She was removed from the cellar of the Nautical Museum in Castletown in January 2015 because damp conditions were rotting her timbers.

MNH aims to house her - restored with masts and rigging - in a purpose-built facility in the old courtyard behind the Nautical Museum which could cost £5m.

But it will take many years - up to 30 was quoted by Castletown Commissioners - to complete.

Residents Richard Bedford, Tony Brown and Rupert Cottrell said this is far too long, is too expensive and the drying out process could crack her timbers.

They compiled an illustrated folder outlining an alternative vision for Peggy. It involves stopping the current dehydration process, returning her within five years to Castletown and displaying her without her masts erected in a much cheaper ’equilibrium moisture content’ environment behind a glass wall, where she can be viewed.

They requested they present it to the trustees at MNH at their meeting in December.

Their request was denied. They then sent copies to MHKs and presented it to the town’s commissioners, who lent their support.

A copy of the folder is publicly available at the town’s library.

In the folder, it said there is ’very considerable concern’ about the delayed return of the Peggy and the cost of the project and this might ’counter FMNH’s ability to raise funds for MNH’ and lead to taxpayers ’suggesting that the government funding of MNH should be withheld’.

In addition, it said there was concern that continuing to dry out the Peggy was ’very likely’ to cause the wood and ultimately the boat to disintegrate.

It adds: ’It seems as if during the five years since the Peggy was removed very little work has in fact been undertaken either to get the Peggy ready to be returned or for funds and other arrangements progressed for a suitable place to be readied within the Nautical Museum to accommodate and display the boat.’

They outline proposals to enable Peggy to be returned to Castletown by 2025 and for the Nautical Museum to exhibit other interesting boats - such as a wooden boat built in Castletown in 1906 and raced in the town’s regattas.

They asked a committee be formed comprising themselves and some of the trustees ’to consider, agree and then quickly action our suggested solutions’. This too was rejected.

Castletown Commissioners said they remain committed to securing the return of The Peggy to her rightful home at the Nautical Museum and will continue to support efforts to see this goal achieved.