Ramsey Commissioners have unanimously agreed to submit a formal offer to the Department of Home Affairs to purchase the Courthouse and grounds for the value of £397,800.

Their offer involves providing a 26-year rent-free lease of the police office within the town hall, for which the DHA currently pays £15,000 a year.

The courthouse has been empty since August 2016 when it was vacated by the Post Office.

The commissioners have expressed disappointment that the historic and socially significant building has been offered for sale, despite ongoing negotiations between themselves and the DHA for the transfer of the property to the town.

On the instructions of the DHA, the building is being offered for sale by Chrystals estate agents for the sum of £475,000.

The closing date for bids is noon on March 31. There is understood to be a third party with a serious interest in purchasing the building.

The decision to put in a formal bid was taken at the monthly board meeting on Wednesday night, which was attended by more than 30 members of the public. Minister for Home Affairs, Bill Malarkey had been invited but was did not attend.

Reference was made to a recent survey undertaken by the commissioners. Out of almost a thousand people who responded, the majority felt strongly that the building should remain in public ownership.

There is also strong concern over the future of the town’s cenotaph, should the building and grounds be sold to a private bidder.

A public requisition meeting is due to be held tonight (Friday) at 7pm in Ramsey Grammar School West Hall. Minister Marlarkey has already indicated that he will not be in attendance. He has however invited the commissioners to meet him at the DHA office in Douglas on April 7.

Writing on social media commissioner Eddie Corkish said: ’I am fuming. Words fail me. He [Mr Malarkey] has granted us with a meeting in April at HIS office so 12 commissioners and four of our staff travel to Douglas where he and his one officer could come to us but maybe Malarkey does not know his way to Ramsey.’