More than 500 people have signed an online petition over an ’eyesore’ building in Ramsey.

The petition calls on the government to ’remove the former farmers combine warehouse building from the protected buildings register.’

North of the island based businessman Trevor Hemmings had been planning to demolish the building next to the site of the former Barry Curran motors showroom.

He has high hopes the site can be developed for offices and an online gaming company has already indicated it is interested in coming to Ramsey with the potential of around 250 jobs.

But DEFA (the government’s Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture) unexpectedly presented an order placing the derelict building on the protected buildings register. It was served on one of Mr Hemmingss business interests Shearwater Properties Limitedm based in Ramsey.

Julie Billingsley, from Bride, who launched the petition on Change.org said: ’The old farmers’ combine warehouse building has stood neglected for many years.

’It’s an eyesore and of no use as it is.

’Development of brownfield sites should be encouraged. I’m sure the people of Ramsey would rather see the area regenerated and improved and I’m pleasedso many people have already signed the petition. The proposed development will provide employment to the town.

Miss Billingsley told the Manx Independent the DEFA decision to protect the ’eyesore’ building was ’crazy.

Speaking from his office at the Ballaseyr stud in Andreas, Mr Hemmings confirmed he would be applying for a de-registration of the building and said: ’It should never have been registered in the first place.’

He added: ’I’m trying to invest in the island and being prevented from doing so.’

Mr Hemmings started his working life as a builder’s appprentice and is now one of the most successful business people in the British Isles.

In last week’s Manx Independent the Treasury Minister, Alfred Cannan agreed the former farmers combine warehouse on West Quay does not need to protected.

He said: ’There really was no justification for listing that building and in that way preventing development. The north and Ramsey needs some modernisation, it needs to create jobs.