Peel Commissioners are in favour of plans proposed for a sewage plant in the west of the island.

They voted unanimously for it - in contrast to neighbours in Patrick Commissioners who last month opposed the application.

The Glenfaba House sewage site (19/00462/B) is designed to stop raw effluent from being discharged into Peel bay.

The proposed site of the sewage works in the parish of Patrick, not in the town of Peel.

It is at the Raggatt, next to the river Neb.

Last month Patrick Commissioners opposed the application at an open meeting. Members and members of the public criticised the location of the proposed plant which would see more than 110 mature trees felled.

Other issues highlighted were possible traffic implications and cost effectiveness of the plant.

Peel Commissioners’ chairman, Alan Jones, said: ’We’ve spent years and years trying to get a sewage plant. No site will be 100% perfect, but this one seems most suitable. The sooner we get our sewage treated in Peel and stop hurting our bay, the better.’

Commissioner Hazel Hannan, added: ’It’s not just for Peel, it’s part of the area in the west.’

She and others touched upon the issue of trees being cut down, but were satisfied with plans to later replant trees within the area.

A number of board members visited the Balladoole sewage plant in Ramsey recently to have their questions answered before making a decision on the Peel proposal, which is part of the Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy.

Similar developments are being looked at by Manx Utilities for the Laxey area.

Ahead of plans for the Raggatt site being approved, Glenfaba House - formerly the home of a 19th century MHK - was demolished in April by Manx Utilities, which insisted that it didn’t need planning consent for the demolition and has followed the correct procedure.

Campaigners believe otherwise claiming that Manx Utilities breached planning control.

This had also been discussed at the public meeting where Patrick Commissioners and residents opposed plans.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, who is chairman of Manx Utilities, told local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne that objections to the choice of site for the sewage plant are disappointing, but will be ’taken onboard’ nonetheless.

We previously reported concerns of Beach Buddies founder Bill Dale and Manx Wildlife Trust chief executive Tim Graham who believe something needs to be done soon to improve the quality of water around Peel Bay.

Mr Dale said: ’We can see the visible evidence of wet wipes on the beaches from Peel to the Point of Ayre, as that’s the general flow of the sea. We want to see something done as soon as possible.’