A hotel manager has put his head above the parapet to defend the controversial promenade reconstruction scheme in the capital.

The project, set to cost more than £25m, has been dogged by delays and technical problems.

But Tim Baggaley, general manager of the Regency Hotel at the top end of the prom on Queens Promenade is remaining optimistic despite problems.

He said: ’We can sit here debating what’s happened, but I do not think there is any point.’

Mr Baggaley insisted: ’We are looking forward to the future and we think the promenade refurbishment is going to greatly enhance the promenade. And it will greatly enhance the island’s capital.’

He admits the hotel has ’suffered a bit of pain’ but he refused to go into exact details.

But despite the ’pain’ Mr Baggaley said the hotel’s owners had pushed ahead with ’significant’ investment in the restaurant and other parts of the hotel.

Formerly known as Haworth’s the Regency restaurant is now following a new direction under the mantle of new head chef Richard Johnson, as reported in the Manx Independent (January 9).

Mr Baggaley predicted: ’I think by this time next year it will all have been finished and in this area of the promenade, certainly for the next three or four months, there is no problem with parking.

’We want to buck the trend and want to basically say: ’’Come down here we are very much open for business’’.’

He added: ’The promenade refurishment will, obviously, from time to time, make things hard.’

Mr Baggaley, 55, who has been at the hotel for 14 years, stressed he is not speaking out as a representative of any group or organisation.

He praised the ’My Prom’ team for being a lot more pro-active and are working with businesses and ’I think things are on the up in 2020.’

He turned to a Latin phrase to predict there will be an ’annus mirabilis’ this year - this translates as ’wonderful year’, or ’amazing year’.

And he believes the prom team are showing more ’empathy’ with residents and businesses affected by the works.

’They have a job to do just like we have businesses to run but I think they have listened.’

The 38-bedroom hotel has been privately owned by the same people for the last 28 years.

They also own a nearby lodge that has 10 rooms and there is a 28 room ’guest accommodation’ facility called the Penta further down the promenade.

The number of staff at the hotel, including part timers is about 30.

Mr Baggaley believes the island has become a bit more seasonal in terms of business in hotels - he said corporate business used to be strong throughout the year.

’It has become a bit more seasonal now but I think that is the economy really.

’I think that to get to the Isle of Man, depending on where you are coming from, can be hard work.’

Brexit had also played a part in uncertainty regaring business investment but hopefully things would now improve on that front with the new UK Government in place.

Returning to the prom works Mr Baggaley said he is confident there will be ’light at the end of the tunnel.’

He added:’I’ve gone through all the emotions. It’s a new year and we have a new start, you have got to be positive really.

’The job (on the prom) was always going to cause an awful lot of disruption.

’You can’t dig up two miles of a major traffic lane, a major artery for Douglas, without that.

’There are an awful lot of businesses and residents, you can’t make an omelette without cracking a few eggs.

’I don’t think there is any point sitting here being negative about it.

’That will not get us anywhere, we have to be positive. We have to look forward and look to the end of the project.

Mr Baggaley pointed to the coffee on our table and said: ’I would rather say that was half full rather than half empty.

’And I think negativity will just drive more negativity. It’s like a disease, basically you are going to have to draw a line and move on and make the best of things.’

He said that at the end of the day ’cones are still going to be there and the outcome is going to be the same. I hope I give good vibes out to staff and customers.’