Douglas Council leader David Christian has expressed shock that the first the council heard of apparent plans for the pedestrianisation of Market Hill was a Facebook post by a member of the public.

The plans, in the form of a letter - apparently circulated by the Department of Infrastructure’s highways services division - which was shared online says this would be the final phase of the regeneration of Lower Douglas.

The letter to businesses and traders in Duke Street and Market Hill states: ’The most noticeable change is that Market Hill will become pedestrianised street in line with the other shopping streets in the town centre from Duke Street to Marina Road. Therefore, there will be no parking bays or loading bays marked out on Market Hill, and it will be subject to a traffic order.’

Vehicular access will be restricted with no vehicle access between 10am and 6pm.

Market Hill links the North Quay with Lord Street. It’s home to the Tandoor Indian restaurant, the Manx Legion Club and the Market Hall.

Douglas Council leader David Christian told the Examiner: ’The first we heard about it, was this Facebook post, we had no plans to pedestrianise this street and we don’t support it. ’This isn’t to say we don’t support regeneration, of course we do, but to close it off between 10am and 6pm, is, to me, ridiculous, businesses also aren’t supporting this, we have had businesses contact us concerned over these plans.’

The letter notes Market Hill is a traditional tarmac street with narrow footpaths and ’looks untidy, tired and drab’. It adds: ’We have funding to give the area a complete facelift’.

A DoI spokesman said: ’The department’s proposal is that both Duke Street and Market Hill would be given the high-quality surfaces that have been installed on Strand Street. This would mean improved links for visitors to Douglas between North Quay and the town centre.

’While Duke Street already has restrictions on vehicles, the department recognises that changes to Market Hill will have an impact and is seeking views from residents, businesses , Douglas Borough Council, the Douglas regeneration committee and similar representative bodies.

’We do recognise that we did not offer local businesses long enough to consider the plans and we will be writing to them again today to extend the consultation to allow a total of six weeks.’

The work is due to begin in September and be completed by TT 2019.

In responses to the initial Facebook post, issues ranging from access to the Legion, loss of parking and a general absence of consultation were raised. Mr Christian and Douglas Council encouraged residents and businesses to make representations to the DoI over the plans.