Residents who live near King Edward Bay House claim they are being increasingly driven round the bend by cars parked on surrounding roads.

They allege Sea Cliff Road, Port Jack, and King Edward Road, Onchan, have become ’unofficial car parks’ for staff of PokerStars and Old Mutual International that occupy the building that dominates the sky line at Onchan Head.

One local, Russell Vaughan, said the area was one of ’outstanding natural beauty used by folk stopping to enjoy the view while they were passing through, stopping for a break or having their lunch’.

Now however, as our pictures show, the idyllic views are obstructed by bumper to bumper parking all along Sea Cliff Road.

Also concerned by the parking in the area is David Hagen of Port Jack who said: ’There are additional vehicles parked in the area, which appear to belong to staff at King Edward Bay House.’

Also coming under criticism from Mr Hagen is the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) and the plans to amend current traffic regulation orders.

These plans include the introduction of a passing area on King Edward Road, which will result in the loss of six parking spaces.

The road will also lose further parking spaces opposite to the tram lines at Port Jack altering the current conditions to create a two-hour parking zone.

’Obviously they are big employers on the island, and this isn’t about rocking the boat, it is just ensuring that residents are also respected and their concerns heard.’

He added: ’Residents need to feel listened to, but there are concerns that the DoI will carry out their plans no matter what the residents want.’

Mr Vaughan believes this will complete Sea Cliff Road as the unofficial car park.

However, Rob Callister MHK is not sure this will be the effect of the DoI plans and said: ’This is a matter of concern for me, I have engaged with residents and businesses as part of the consultation process.

’I hope the consultation will result as being a benefit to residents, this is not a simple problem to solve.’

When asked, the DoI said that ’safety has to be the prime concern for highways and in this instance, King Edward Road is an alternative road for when the mountain is shut.

’There is no room for passing cars or if two wagons came along so it is unsafe.

’We have spoken to Onchan District Commissioners, MHKs and the police over these plans, which are still only a draft and we welcome input.

’But we have had responses from three businesses who think the disc zone will work for them and residents will be issued with passes so they will be able to park where they need to.’

Mr Vaughan also claimed that he and other residents of Sea Cliff Road had been told by an employee of Old Mutual International that the company had instructed members of staff to park there.

Following a request from the Examiner, the company said: ’Old Mutual International is not aware of receiving any complaints from local residents or from our local authority, in respect of parking and certainly nothing within the last three months.

’Within the grounds of King Edward Bay House we provide 240 car parking spaces, for staff use, and we also employ a scheme whereby spaces are utilised when staff are absent from the office.

’This ensures that the car parking facility is always maximised.

’In addition to this, we operate a local coach three times a day (morning, lunchtime and evening) for our staff to assist them and to help reduce the number of vehicles on site.

’We have also begun to look to develop our car sharing scheme and a cycle to work scheme that we hope to launch later in 2018 to further reduce the number of vehicles coming to our site.

’We would always seek to have a good relationship with our local community however should a member of staff wish to legally park off site then this is beyond our control.’

Mr Hagen, Mr Callister and Mr Vaughan have all offered potential solutions to the issues.

Mr Vaughan believes that one solution could be to install a two-hour parking disc zone on Sea Cliff Road, an idea with which Mr Callister agreed.

Mr Hagen had another suggestion: he hoped the DoI would consider the former Summerland site nearby.

In an email to the DoI Mr Hagen said: ’Residents are of the opinion that the 10 allocated spaces as planned is insufficient, particularly in early evening when Port Jack Chippy is at its busiest but the general traffic flow is greatly reduced.

’Another option could be to substitute the double yellow lines with a single yellow line allowing vehicles to park here when the disc zone is inactive between 6pm and 9am.’

Mr Callister added: ’I have been desperately searching for solutions since I was first elected and we need to have wider discussions with all in the area to hopefully find an amicable solution.’

PokerStars told the Examiner: ’Ultimately, we are seeking ways to address the issues related to our staff growth, which undoubtedly is a good thing for the island at large, including encouraging more employees to take the free shuttle service that we run daily.’